Mark Twain was one of America's greatest and most celebrated writers. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835 in Florida, Missouri, he grew up in Hannibal, Mississippi, which would later serve as the inspiration for the setting of his most famous novels.

Twain's writing career began in earnest in the 1860s, when he worked as a journalist for newspapers in Nevada and California. It was during this time that he adopted his famous pen name, inspired by his own experiences as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River.

His first major literary success came in 1865 with the publication of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", a humorous short story that quickly became a sensation. This was followed by a series of other popular works, including "The Innocents Abroad" and "Roughing It", both travel narratives based on his own experiences in Europe and the American West, respectively.

But it was with the publication of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in 1876 that Twain truly became a household name. The novel, set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri (based on Hannibal), follows the misadventures of a young boy growing up in the mid-19th century. It was an instant classic and cemented Twain's reputation as a master of American literature.

Twain went on to write numerous other works, including the sequel to "Tom Sawyer", "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", which is considered by many to be his greatest masterpiece. The novel, published in 1884, follows the adventures of Huck Finn and his friend Jim, an escaped slave, as they float down the Mississippi River.

Throughout his career, Twain was known for his wit, humor, and social commentary. He was a master of satire and was not afraid to take on the political and social issues of his day. His legacy as a writer and cultural icon continues to this day, and his influence can be seen in the works of countless writers who have followed in his footsteps.