Given the facts of Sam Clemens’ early life – his growing up only two blocks from the steamship landing in Hannibal and his pursuing a career as a pilot for several years – he was probably predestined to write
Life on the Mississippi(LOTM). However, the opportunity to begin the project came on October 24, 1874 when he received a request from William Dean Howells to submit a literary piece for the
Atlantic.Clemens, at first, declined the invitation, but later in the day he took a long walk with his pastor, Joseph Twichell. During the walk Clemens recounted many stories about his experiences as a pilot on the Mississippi, and Twichell suggested that they would be an excellent subject for a magazine article. When Clemens returned home, he sent a telegram to Howells proposing a series…
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Citation: Loges, Max Lester. "Life on the Mississippi". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 May 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3959, accessed 25 November 2024.]
