Full Steam Ahead: Mark Twain’s Short Story, ‘Mark Twain: A Child’s Biography’

"Steamships and goods on the dockside at the levee in New Orleans," circa 1860 by William A Walker. MPI/Getty Images

The haphazard, changing nature of life can make it difficult to stay true to one’s self. But if we surrender to change, we sacrifice our chance to find our destiny. In his short story, “Mark Twain: A Child’s Biography,” Mark Twain (or Samuel Clemens) shows how he stayed true to himself throughout all of life’s many changes. His steadfastness allowed him to become the man he was supposed to be.

Twain portrays the haphazard nature of his childhood by writing in a haphazard manner. What seem to be random, unimportant events turn out to be crucial moments that helped his growth.

Early Years

Samuel Clemens lived with his father, John Clemens, and his mother, Jane Clemens, in Florida, Missouri. Together, the couple had seven children. When he was young, little Samuel Clemens was not a strong boy and not many believed he would live long. But the little boy relished stories, especially the stories told by the slave, Jennie, and the black farmhand, Uncle Ned.