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Answers to Readers' Questions on Biographies:
Mark Twain
The following 8 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Views on Civil War
- Direct me to summary of Huckleberry Finn
- Mark Twain's connection with U.S. Grant
- Has early picture that looks like Mark Twain
- Mark Twain invented the suspenders
- Why did Clemens use a pseudonym?
- Twain's quote
- Twain's gravesite.
Views on Civil War
Question
June 13, 2009
Greetings-
I just finished reading through your write up on Smauel Clemens life. You mention him taking up with the Confederate Army....and how his brother was such a Union Abolitionist. You mention Mr Clemens leaving teh Confederate forces and and taking up work with his brother. You then state what a change of 'political views', applying the Myth that Lincoln's war was over slavery. I understand that is because the way people have been taught through the federal backed schools systems, the liberal media, and Hollywood. Anyone, that has studied early history of the states....and of this war can see that it is Not true. Ive spent years studying lincoln's war and it blows my mind after all of my Real education that people are blind enough to think that the yanks were moralistic freedom loving friends of the black man, and the God-fearing Southerners were just a bunch of cruel black hating, whooping, taskmasters. I wonder if these people have any idea who brought blacks over here? Which state first legalized slavery? (it wasnt in Dixie) Who dealt in the african slave trade? How lincoln really felt about blacks? Why lincoln stated he fought the war? What lincoln had stated about secession? Who started segregation? Where were the states that Outlawed blacks settling? (it wasnt in Dixie)...I could go on and on. You all did Not outright state it, But you did imply with the earlier mentioned statements that it was about slavery. One of the best books a person in the states could ever read is 'Myths of AMERICAN Slavery' by an author named Kennedy. I have gave this book to from friends and families to pastors. I did enjoy the rest of your write up on Smauel Clemens.
matt - UK
17903
Answer
Thank you for your comments.
Although freeing the slaves was one factor in causing the U.S. Civil War, the issue of the right of states to make their own laws and even secede from the Union was more of a factor. After the war was over, there was actually more initial acceptance of Blacks in the South than in the North.
Before and after the Civil War there were moral people in both the northern and southern states that felt slavery was wrong. But of course, with the cotton farms, many in the South had a great financial incentive to continue slavery.
Hollywood glamorizes certain aspects of all wars. But Hollywood movies are not an accurate depiction of history.
Clemens was interested in politics. Rather he was an observer and writer about people and how foolish many of them act.
Direct me to summary of Huckleberry Finn
Question
March 5, 2009
Can you direct me to a summary of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn?
Ceil - USA
17458
Answer
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/huckfinn/summary.html
Mark Twain's connection with U.S. Grant
Question
February 22, 2009
What was Mark Twain's connection or relationship to U.Grant?
Ceil - USA
17316
Answer
Mark Twain had some financial difficulties on bad investments in the 1880s. When he heard that the Ulysses S. Grant wanted to have his memoirs published, he visited Grant and proposed to publish his memoirs, giving Grant 75% of the profits. Grant also had financial troubles, so he agreed to let Twain do the job.
Unfortunately, Grant died shortly after finishing the manuscript. The book was a great success, and Grant's widow received over $400,000 in royalties. Twain also made a good profit, but the money wasn't enough to get him out of debt.
Has early picture that looks like Mark Twain
Question
September 21, 2006
In an early album of cartes de visites,one page has a few celebrities and dated pictures from early to mid 1860s.One looks to be Mark Twain, a little younger than the c1868 photo on u.of virginia site. Who would you recommend to give an opinion? I can Email an excellent close up copy.
Stephen Richards
Stephen - Canada
11979
Answer
A good source to check is the Bancroft Library of the University of California in Berkeley. They have a Mark Twain Project with extensive resource on Twain.
See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/MTP/contact.html for contact information. They may be able to help you and would be interested in the picture.
Mark Twain invented the suspenders
Question
December 23, 2005
Last night at a trivia game, one of the questions dealt with the invention of suspenders. The answer credited Mark Twain for the invention...What do you know of this???
- USA
9459
Answer
On December 19, 1981, Mark Twain received a patent for the invention of suspenders.
Why did Clemens use a pseudonym?
Question
December 6, 2005
why did he use a en name
patricia - USA
9272
Answer
Many writers and actors use a different name in their work. Some do it because they want a more memorable name, while others do it to keep their personal life private.
Samuel Clemens used Mark Twain in his works as something that he thought was clever. It relates to an expression used by river-men. But I think he was sorry in later years, because he would have rather be known by his real name.
Twain's quote
Question
November 3, 2003
Can you tell me exactly where in Twain's works this quote appears?
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
-Mark Twain
yale -
1061
Answer
I checked www.boondocksnet.com/twainwww/quotes.html and www.twainquotes.com/quotesatoz.html but did not find that quote.
Twain's gravesite.
Question
September 11, 2003
I have been fascinated with Samuel Clemens; visited his home in Hartford twice. After watching his 2 hour special last night on PBS, I understand some family members have been buried in Elmira, NY. Please tell me if he is also buried there, as I will be in that area soon and would like to find his gravesite. Thank you very much for any help.
Kathy -
470
Answer
Yes, Samuel Clemens is buried in Elmira, NY. Check with their Chamber of Commerce or historical society to find where his gravesite is.
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