#312 Mark Twain

In this episode, the host delves into the transformative journey of Samuel Clemens, who, against the backdrop of the Civil War, pivoted from an unemployed riverboat pilot to the iconic Mark Twain. Clemens' odyssey from Missouri to Hawaii, via Nevada and San Francisco, is a tale of reinvention, as he navigates through various failed ventures and near-suicidal despair to his first viral hit, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." This success propels him into a lecture tour, leading to a journalistic scoop in Hawaii and ultimately to his first major book success, "The Innocence Abroad." Along the way, Clemens receives pivotal advice from influential figures like Andrew Wilkinson, Artemis Ward, and Burlingame, emphasizing the importance of refining one's work and associating with superior intellects. His journey culminates in a fulfilling marriage with Olivia Luis Langdon and a prolific writing career, embodying Twain's belief in the possibility of continuous self-reinvention.

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• The book "Lighting Out for the Territory" by Roy Morris Jr. explores Mark Twain's life before he became a renowned writer.
• It covers Twain's journey from Missouri to Hawaii, including his adventures in the Wild West.
• The book highlights Twain's personal growth and self-discovery through various occupations and experiences.
• Twain's early ambitions did not include writing; he aspired to be a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River.
• The Civil War was a turning point in Twain's life, leading to the end of his piloting career and the beginning of his writing journey.
• Twain's story exemplifies the ability to reinvent oneself and the unpredictability of life's path.
• The host discovered the book in a small used bookstore and was drawn to the author's perspective on the impact of one's upbringing on their future.

"By the time it was over, he would find himself reborn as Mark Twain, America's best loved and most influential writer."

This quote summarizes Twain's transformation from Samuel Clemens to Mark Twain, emphasizing the significance of his experiences in shaping his literary career.

• The concept of 'power law people' is that their absence leaves an irreplaceable void.
• Twain's decision to avoid the Civil War and travel west was pivotal in his development as a writer.
• If Twain had died in the war, his literary contributions would have been lost.
• Twain's fear of being conscripted as a riverboat pilot during the war pushed him to seek opportunities elsewhere.
• The Civil War's disruption of riverboat piloting forced Twain to consider alternative paths.

"It would, however, have reduced the literary inheritance of the United States by an incalculable amount."

This quote highlights the potential loss of Twain's literary legacy had he not avoided the Civil War, demonstrating the concept of a 'power law person.'

• Twain's restlessness and desire for independence were central to his character.
• He valued the freedom of being a riverboat pilot, which the Civil War ultimately took away.
• Twain's life story is a testament to the idea that one can always reinvent themselves despite failures.
• The importance of mentors in guiding and teaching valuable skills is evident in Twain's relationship with Captain Horace Bixby.

"He is always going to optimize for freedom."

This quote reflects Twain's prioritization of personal freedom and independence throughout his life and career choices.

• Samuel Clemens, known as Mark Twain, cherished his time as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River.
• Twain's teacher, Bixby, was unique and effective, helping Twain become an exceptional pilot.
• Twain's pilot apprenticeship lasted two years, after which he became a fully licensed steamboat pilot.
• Twain viewed becoming a steamboat pilot as his greatest achievement and expected it to be his life's work.

"It was the Mississippi river itself that he fell most deeply in love with, and he would remember that attachment with undiluted, misty eyed affection for the rest of his life."

This quote emphasizes Twain's profound connection to the Mississippi River, which played a significant role in his life and writings.

"Your true pilot cares nothing about anything on earth but the river. And his pride in his occupation surpasses the pride of kings."

Twain's quote reflects the deep sense of pride and dedication that steamboat pilots like himself felt for their profession.

• Steamboating was considered the technology industry of its day.
• Riverboat pilots were esteemed and well-compensated, earning $250 a month.
• Twain enjoyed the perks of his career, including financial freedom and the ability to support his family.

"Riverboat pilots were lords of all. They survived, and they had an insanely salary of $250 a month."

This quote highlights the high status and income of riverboat pilots during the golden age of steamboating, which Twain was a part of.

• The outbreak of the Civil War marked the end of Twain's steamboat career.
• Twain was drafted into the Union army, which he considered his worst nightmare.
• He managed to escape military service, which is a recurring theme of evasion in his life.

"The riverboat pilot understood that for the foreseeable future, the most glorious part of his life was over."

This quote captures the moment Twain realized that his beloved career on the river was coming to an end due to the Civil War.

"It was Clemens' worst nightmare sprung suddenly to life."

The drafting into the Union army was an unexpected and dreaded turn of events for Twain, as expressed in this quote.

• Twain's journey west began as he accompanied his brother to the Nevada territory to avoid the Civil War.
• The trip west was perilous, with many potential dangers such as disease, natural disasters, and attacks.
• Twain was fascinated by the American West and the sense of adventure it represented.

"To enjoy such a trip, a man must be able to endure heat like a salamander, mud and water like a muskrat, dust like a toad, and labor like a jackass."

This quote describes the harsh and demanding conditions faced by those traveling westward during the 19th century.

• Twain was intrigued by the Pony Express, a fast and innovative mail delivery service.
• The service was the brainchild of entrepreneur Russell, who sought to dramatically reduce mail delivery times across the country.
• The Pony Express attracted adventurous young men willing to risk their lives for the thrill and challenge of the job.

"The male was carried in a special designed pouch which fit over the saddle and could be transferred from one horse to another in a matter of seconds."

This quote details the efficiency and design of the Pony Express system, which was a significant innovation of its time.

• Twain met various interesting characters in the West, including outlaws and leaders like Brigham Young.
• He had humorous and sometimes exaggerated interactions, which he later recounted in his writings.

"Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over 18. Must be expert writers willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred."

This legendary ad for Pony Express riders illustrates the dangerous and demanding nature of the job and the type of individuals it attracted.

• Twain's arrival in Carson City, Nevada, was marked by violence and chaos, typical of boomtowns at the time.
• Carson City was named after the explorer Christopher "Kit" Carson and was near a significant silver discovery.

"The day they get there, there's a gunfight and a windstorm. And so that's just a normal day in the Nevada capital."

The quote portrays the tumultuous environment of Carson City, where Twain and his brother settled for a time.

• Twain attempted to get rich through various ventures, including mining and speculation, but found no success.
• He realized that true wealth often required hard work and was not easily found on the surface.
• Twain's experiences in the West ultimately led him to pursue a career in writing and public speaking.

"The purest veins were usually the deepest."

This metaphorical quote from the transcript relates to Twain's realization that the most valuable resources, like silver veins or life opportunities, require deep exploration and effort.

• The region Twain is in is heavily engaged in buying and selling shares of largely non-existent mines.
• Twain believes he can make money without physical labor by selling the ledges to others.
• He soon realizes that the shares he owns in various mines are mostly worthless.
• This realization contributes to Twain's depression and is seen as a step towards becoming the writer Mark Twain.

"Twain owned several shares in a bunch of mines. It did not take him long to realize that most, if not all, were utterly worthless."

The quote highlights Twain's discovery that his investments were not going to yield the fortune he had hoped for, marking a significant turning point in his life towards his literary career.

• Twain had tried ten different occupations without dazzling success.
• His repeated failures in various vocations contribute to his self-perception as a failure.
• This sense of failure and the search for a meaningful career path are pivotal in Twain's life journey.

"I had gained a livelihood in various vocations, he said, but I had not dazzled anybody with my successes."

This quote reflects Twain's own acknowledgment of his lack of remarkable success in his various jobs, which fuels his determination to find a more fulfilling path.

• Twain is offered a staff writer position at the Virginia City territorial Enterprise out of the blue.
• The job offer comes after Twain had been humorously contributing to the newspaper without any expectation of employment.
• This opportunity represents the beginning of Twain's career as a writer and is a turning point after his previous failures.

"The answer came entirely out of the blue. The business manager for the Virginia City territorial Enterprise... wrote to Sam in late July to offer him a $25 a week staff writer position on the newspaper."

The quote captures the unexpected job offer that serves as a catalyst for Twain's shift towards a writing career, illustrating how opportunity can arise unexpectedly after a period of loss or failure.

• Twain receives critical advice from important figures throughout his life.
• He is advised to "get the facts first" and then play with them, which becomes a staple in his fiction writing.
• Twain learns the value of confidence over nuance in reporting, which he later applies to his fiction.
• The advice to trust his instincts is a lifelong lesson that Twain adheres to.

"Successful people listen. Those that don't listen don't last long, right? Twain listens, and in many cases, he hears advice from three or four people that he uses for the rest of his life."

This quote underscores the significance of listening to and learning from others as a key to success, a principle that Twain embraces throughout his career.

• Twain first uses the pen name Mark Twain while working at the Virginia City newspaper.
• His job at the newspaper teaches him valuable lessons in writing and comic delivery.
• Twain's experiences and the advice he receives lay the foundation for his future success as a writer.

"It was this job in Virginia City that he first used the pen name Mark Twain."

The quote signifies the moment when Twain adopts the pen name that would become synonymous with his identity as a famous writer, marking the beginning of his literary persona.

• Twain learns the art of public speaking from Artemis Ward, which he would later utilize.
• Ward encourages Twain to aim for higher achievements and offers support.
• Twain's experiences and the lessons he learns from others shape his career and writing style.

"Ward offered to bring train along on his tour of Europe and encouraged his newfound protege to write for more sophisticated eastern publications."

This quote reflects the mentorship and encouragement Twain receives from Ward, pushing him towards greater success and sophistication in his writing endeavors.

• Twain moves to San Francisco in search of new opportunities and to escape the monotony of his previous jobs.
• He continues to reinvent himself, trying different professions and seeking a life of novelty.
• Twain's dislike for routine and his constant search for something new are central to his character and life choices.

"Being, like, just a standard beat reporter in San Francisco, he realizes, oh, my God, I'm living the same day every day, which is literal hell for Mark Twain."

The quote illustrates Twain's aversion to monotony and his desire for a life filled with variety and new experiences.

• Twain faces a dark period of financial struggle and contemplates suicide.
• His desperation leads to a significant turning point when he picks up the pen instead of the pistol.
• Twain's writing becomes his salvation and the means by which he finds his true calling.

"He put down the pistol and picked up the pen, as he would throughout his life. In good times and bad, Mark Twain wrote."

The quote poignantly captures the moment when Twain chooses writing over despair, a decision that ultimately leads to his emergence as a celebrated author.

• Twain struggled with writing drafts for a collection and experienced a moment of inspiration from a "small voice" that led him to write about the jumping frog.
• This story became his first viral hit, spreading across newspapers and magazines, despite Twain's own surprise and initial lack of enthusiasm for the piece.
• Twain's acceptance of his talent in humorous writing marked a turning point in his career, leading him to embrace it as his "strongest suit."

"It just wouldn't come, he said. Then one dismal afternoon, as I lay on my hotel bed, determined to inform Ward that I had nothing appropriate for his collection, a small voice began to make itself heard inside of him."

This quote illustrates the moment of inspiration that led to Twain's breakthrough story, highlighting the often unpredictable nature of the creative process.

"The importance of this story cannot be understated. It is his first viral hit."

The quote emphasizes the significance of the jumping frog story in establishing Twain's career and its unexpected viral nature.

• Twain leveraged his newfound fame to travel to Hawaii, then known as the Sandwich Islands, where he wrote a series of letters for a newspaper, extending his stay to four months.
• In Hawaii, Twain befriended an American diplomat, Burlingham, who admired his work and offered him career-defining advice to aim for refinement and excellence.
• Twain's coverage of a harrowing shipwreck survival story in Hawaii gained international attention, propelling him into a successful public lecture career.

"Grudgingly and gradually, Twain accepted his fate. He thought he had a call to literature of a low order... It is nothing to be proud of, he said, but it is my strongest suit."

This quote captures Twain's reluctant acceptance of his talent for humorous writing and his decision to pursue it seriously.

"You have great ability. I believe you have genius. What you need now is a refinement of association."

Burlingham's advice to Twain, as quoted, reflects the importance of surrounding oneself with intellectual and superior company to refine one's work and character.

• Twain's Hawaiian experiences led him to start a public lecture career, a precursor to modern-day podcasting, where he shared stories and added humor.
• He demonstrated marketing savvy by creating attention-grabbing newspaper ads with wit and humor to promote his lectures.
• Twain's response to critics was to focus on the success and profit of his work rather than their opinions.

"A splendid orchestra is in town, but it has not been engaged."

This humorous line from Twain's ad exemplifies his clever marketing strategy to garner interest in his public lectures.

"Everybody has a right to his opinion, even if he is an ass."

Twain's dismissive yet witty retort to criticism underscores his confidence in his work and his focus on its success.

• Twain's life was marked by reinvention and seizing opportunities, from his time as a steamboat pilot to his writing and public speaking career.
• His lecture tours and journalistic successes led to international fame and a trip to Europe, which provided material for his book "The Innocents Abroad."
• Twain's marriage to Olivia Luis Langdon, an heiress from New York, brought stability and further success, leading to a prolific output of literature.

"Twain also found a girl. Or rather, he found the girl's brother. And then he found the girl."

This quote indicates the serendipitous nature of Twain's meeting with his future wife, Olivia, and how it influenced his life and career.

"The contented author produced a remarkable stream of novels, short stories, essays, and travel pieces that today stands as one of the great bodies of work in English literature."

The quote summarizes Twain's literary achievements and his enduring impact on English literature, cementing his status as a celebrated author.