#39: Mark Twain
Born in the heartland of Missouri in 1835, Mark Twain was a wordsmith extraordinaire, spinning tales that have left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. His pen brought to life iconic characters like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, with novels like “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876) and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1885) catapulting him to literary stardom.
Twain’s writings were more than just stories; they were a riotous blend of wit and satire, often holding up a funhouse mirror to society’s quirks and foibles. Many hail him as the patriarch of American literature. Still, he was also a profound observer of the human soul, plumbing the depths of morality, freedom, and justice through his narratives.