Samuel Clemens lived 75 years, 50 of them under the pseudonym Mark Twain. His youth could be characterized as sometimes mischievous, his older years as generally eccentric and his writing as always provocative. Twain left a literary canon of nearly 50 books, hundreds of short stories and essays, and a veritable treasury of quotable epigrams. While his words and his works have stood up to the test of time, knowing the man behind the persona, and understanding what inspired and influenced the writer, is crucial to fully appreciating the contributions Twain made to American literature. By skillfully weaving together strands of history with his personal story, this authoritative biography helps readers come to understand more fully the man and his enduring legacy. Starting with a chapter on Clemens' boyhood, readers are treated to a very personal view of Twain's early life. Twain's adult life is chronicled with five expertly developed chapters that explore his early professional years from "printer to pilot", his travels westward and abroad, his "gilded years' with his beloved wife Livy, and his final years of decline as a widower. This engaging biography also delves into the enduring impact of Twain's creative voice and his unique blend of humour with social commentary that not only entertained, but challenged thinking and changed the literary landscape forever.