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1835 – 1910 : The story of Mark Twain – America’s most famous literary icon
1835 – 1910 : The story of Mark Twain – America’s most famous literary icon
‘I’ve struck it!’ Mark Twain wrote in a 1904 letter to a friend. ‘And I will give it away – to you. You will never know how much enjoyment you have lost until you get to dictating your autobiography.’ Thus, after dozens of false starts and hundreds of pages, Twain embarked on his ‘Final (and Right) Plan’ for telling the story of his life.
The Mississippi River. His most famous work, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn begins (and ends) on the mighty Mississippi River. This powerful river flowing south from northern Minnesota some 2,300 plus miles to the Gulf of Mexico is the setting for the adventures of this famous boy.
This is the real setting to visit and there is a great deal of interest in their local writer who penned such an iconic book. How about standing on the very bridge named after the writer which crosses the very river he evoked in his adventure stories?
The Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum is a must see.
The fictitious town of St. Petersburg, Missouri is where Huck Finn resides at the beginning of the novel. It was heavily based on the town the author called home.
The island Huck later moves to. There are many islands in the Mississippi River so take your pick – squint in the Missouri sun and see if you can see Tom and Huck!
Destination: Hannibal, Mississippi River Author/Guide: Mark Twain Departure Time: 1835 – 1910
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