The Tar Baby and the Tomahawk: Race and Ethnic Images in American Children's Literature, 1880-1939

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

Samuel Clemens (also known by his pseudonym, Mark Twain) (1835 - 1910) was an American author and humorist, recognized as “the father of American literature.” Twain is perhaps best known for his two novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885). Clemens and Harris maintained professional and personal interest in each other’s lives and work. Both began their writing careers as authors of comedic sketches for newspaper publication and both were interested in preserving regional speech and culture through their writing.