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'''Samuel Langhorne Clemens''' (1835-1910), best known under the pen name '''Mark Twain''', was a great [[United States of America|American]] writer and humorist. On his death, the ''New York Times'' wrote that "his personality and his humor have been an integral part of American life for so long that it has seemed almost impossible to realize an America without him.<ref>"His Countrymen's Tribute," The'' New York Times,'' April 22, 1910, p. 2</ref>  Mark Twain was famous as both a writer and a performer, having toured many years as a comedic lecturer. His cynical witticisms earned him a reputation as one of America's foremost personalities.

'''Samuel Langhorne Clemens''' (1835-1910), best known under the pen name '''Mark Twain''', was a great [[United States of America|American]] writer and humorist. On his death, the ''New York Times'' wrote that "his personality and his humor have been an integral part of American life for so long that it has seemed almost impossible to realize an America without him.<ref>"His Countrymen's Tribute," The'' New York Times,'' April 22, 1910, p. 2</ref>  Mark Twain was famous as both a writer and a performer, having toured many years as a comedic lecturer. His cynical witticisms earned him a reputation as one of America's foremost personalities.

In his semi-autobiographical ''Roughing It'' (1871), Twain comically wrote, “[[God]] save you from ever being obliged to beat in a game of chess, whose stake is your life, you having but four poor pawns and pieces and your adversary with his full force unshorn. But if you are, provided you have any strength with breadth of will, do not despair. Though mesmeric power may not save you, it may help you; try it at all events.”<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8052431-god-save-you-from-ever-being-obliged-to-beat-in</ref>

In his semi-autobiographical ''Roughing It'' (1871), Twain comically wrote, “[[God]] save you from ever being obliged to beat in a game of [[chess]], whose stake is your life, you having but four poor pawns and pieces and your adversary with his full force unshorn. But if you are, provided you have any strength with breadth of will, do not despair. Though mesmeric power may not save you, it may help you; try it at all events.”<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8052431-god-save-you-from-ever-being-obliged-to-beat-in</ref>

Mark Twain was a devotee of Saint [[Joan of Arc]], and even spent twelve years researching (including traveling to France to access archives) and writing a biography of her that he called his "best and favorite work":<ref name="Joan">http://www.stjoan-center.com/twain/atheists.html</ref>

Mark Twain was a devotee of Saint [[Joan of Arc]], and even spent twelve years researching (including traveling to France to access archives) and writing a biography of her that he called his "best and favorite work":<ref name="Joan">http://www.stjoan-center.com/twain/atheists.html</ref>

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[[Category:American Authors]]

[[Category:American Authors]]

[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]

[[Category:People who were Educated at Home]]

[[Category:Humorists]] [[Category:Presbyterians]]

[[Category:Humorists]] [[Category:Presbyterians]]