Mark Twain certainly lived by the dictum that one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story, and his life, whatever truth can be told of it, is a great tale in itself. Born by the name Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835 - 1910), Twain is one of America's best known and loved authors. His novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered one a few Great American novels. Twain was well traveled, vastly popular, and utterly quotable. His sharp and witty sayings make up a body of literature in themselves.

This biography on Twain is Albert Paine's best known work, and it features scenes from their friendship as well as a pretty accurate reckoning of Twain's life. As a biography it is lucid and eloquent, and it's composed from direct sources such as letters, notes, and diaries. Explore the life and times of one of America's - and the world's - most celebrated authors.