Mark Twain was born on November 30th, 1835 over 180 years ago. To celebrate him we’re telling you the story of his time out West, where he launched his career as a writer.
Back then Twain was known as Samuel Clemens. He was a 26-year old former steamboat pilot from Hannibal, Missouri. Here's the story of his formative years in California and Nevada:
TWAIN: That California "get-rich-quick" disease of my youth spread like wildfire. It produced a civilization that has destroyed the simplicity and repose of life, its poetry, its soft romantic dreams and visions, and replaced them with a money fever, sordid ideals, vulgar ambitions, and the sleep which does not refresh.
Click the audio player above to listen to the fully story.
