347. Mark Twain: A Great American Author

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, best known as Mark Twain, an American author and humorist. He wrote two the most significant novels, The Adventures of Tom , and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He grew up Hannibal, Missouri, which provided the settings for his .

Clemens held a variety of odd jobs as young man. He was a journalist, miner, printer's , and typesetter, but journalism was what he liked best. His writing style earned him praise from worldwide. William Faulkner, another great American author, called "The Father of American Literature."

Twain was already very successful writer when he wrote The Adventures Tom Sawyer. The main character Tom Sawyer was on his own experiences as a child. His friends were also based on real-life friends Twain up with. Huckleberry Finn, the main character of finest work, was also based on a childhood .

Twain was a prolific writer who penned several , and other publications. Most of his writing was from his life in the western part of United States while traveling with his brother Orion. was born Christian, but later in life questioned faith, and developed negative feelings toward organized religion. was once quoted as saying, "If Christ were , now there is one thing he would not - Christian." Twain died in 1910 from a attack at the age of 74.