John Hay, Lincoln's private secretary and later secretary of state under presidents McKinley and Roosevelt, and Samuel Langhorne Clemens, famous as "Mark Twain", grew up 50 miles apart on the banks of the Mississippi River in the same rural antebellum stew of race, class, and want. This shared history drew them together in the late 1860s, and their mutual admiration never waned in spite of sharp differences.
(24 lectures, 30 minutes/lecture) Course No. 2567 Taught by Stephen Railton
Samuel Clemens, the man known to history as "Mark Twain," was more than one of America's greatest writers. He was our first true celebrity, one of the most photographed faces of the 19th and 20th centuries. This course explores Twain's dual identities as one of our classical authors and as an almost mythical presence in our nation's cultural life.
While many elements of civilized culture provided much comic fodder for Mark Twain, detectives occupied a portion of his observations and writing for a time. The story of the Stolen White Elephant, though entirely preposterous, is rumored to be modeled after real life efforts of an actual police department who misplaced the body of a deceased victim. This audio story will leave you laughing out loud.
Amongst the greatest of all stories, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" will always remain an outstanding favourite with young and old. You'll enjoy every word and picture of Mark Twain's memorable novel.
Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), an American author and humorist. The Innocents Abroad is considered to be his first book. Reuploaded Thanks to arcadius
