| Plot Summary of Mark Twain |
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"Ron Powers writes about the man, the writer, the journalist, the husband and father, the fledgling entrepreneur, the social critic. Powers begins with Twain's birth in the humble backwater of Hannibal, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi River and traces his evolution as a writer: novelist, short story writer, humorist, and, later in life, biting social critic. In addition to providing the details of his long and busy life, he describes the background and composition of all of Twain's major works. "
James Keenley, Resident Scholar
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" Samuel Clemens was born two months premature on November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri, and became an adult as our nation was both expanding, and threatening to come apart. As an adult he would become known by his professional name of Mark Twain. One of Twain's most significant achievements was in going against the grain of the conventional New England literary culture, and leading a movement that would revolutionize American literature.
Twain's married into a prominent and wealthy family, and he considered the leading figures of the so-called "Gilded Age" to be his best friends. Twain was a multi-layered, and complex man, and although he was an optimist, he was also susceptible to bouts of depression and angst.
Mark Twain personified the America of the late 19th century. He was divided, just as our nation was still divided from the Civil War. He possessed wealth, but it spent it recklessly and quickly, which served as a perfect metaphor for the Gilded Age. He was every bit as wild and forceful as the Mississippi River, which was such a major character in his stories.
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Nathaniel Ford, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Mark Twain |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession:
- writer
Job/profession/poverty story
Yes
Period of greatest activity?
- 1800's
Subject of Biography
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- writer
Age:
- long lived adults
Eccentric/Mental
Yes
Eccentric:
- eccentric
Biography of famous person?
Yes
Ethnicity
- White
Nationality
- American (!)
How sensitive is this person?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other people
Physique
- average physique
- healthy but a geeky weakling
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 4 (a fair amount)
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
- Midwest
Misc setting
- Fancy Mansion
Century:
- 19th century
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Book makes you feel?
- in awe
- thoughtful
Is book humorous?
Yes
If humorous, kind of humor
- sarcastic/sardonic
- gentle
Commentary on society?
Yes
Commentary on
- capitalism
- war
Writer's slant towards subject:
- very favorable
- favorable
Story of entire life, or part?
- story of nearly entire life
Pictures/Illustrations?
- A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
A LOT of info about personal vices?
Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life?
- 51%-75% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story?
- 0-25% of book
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