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Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on this day in 1835. He is better known by his pen name Mark Twain. His family moved to Hannibal, Missouri when he was 4 years old. When he was 16 he began working as a typesetter and contributor of articles and humorous sketches for the Hannibal Journal. In 1867, he published his first book, a book of short stories called The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Two years later he published The Innocents Abroad, a humorous book of travel writing. It was an immediate best-seller. Mark Twain is best known for his books Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

 

I visited his home and museum in Hartford, Connecticut in June of 2012. He was famous for entertaining and the home was often filled with admirers. He lost his only son at 19 months and two of his three daughters died before he died on April 21, 1910. He invested in an automatic typesetter, the Paige Compositor and he was forced to file bankruptcy. In 1905 he held a huge party at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City to celebrate his 70th birthday. He had a tough life, but he lived it fully.

 

Live From Here this week is a live show from New York City.  Special guests include Cat Power, Jacob Collier and Matteo Lane.  You will be able to watch the show live on YouTube if you choose.  Otherwise, tune in on radio or your smart phone at 5pm CST on Saturday and 11am CST on Sunday on your favorite MPR News station. 

 

“The secret to long life is to only smoke when awake and avoid exercise at all costs.” Mark Twain. (1835-1910)