文档介绍：◆ Mark Twain was a great American writer and his real name was Samuel Clemens. He was born in Florida and he was not a healthy baby. In fact, he was not expected to live through the first winter. But with his mother's tender care, he managed to survive. As a boy, he caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play jokes on all of his friends and neighbors. He didn't like to go to school, and he constantly ran away from home. Early life experience ◆ Born in a little town in Mississippi ◆ At 11, he lost his father ◆ At 13, he stopped schooling ◆ Tramp printer ◆ Steamboat pilot on the Mississippi ◆ Confederate guerrilla ◆ Prospector ◆ Reporter on the far western frontier ◆ Traveler abroad His Marriage At 34 years old he married Olivia Langdon Clemens, daughter of a New York coal magnate, a member of the country ’ s wealthy elite. In His Middle Ages By 1900 Twain had e America ’ s foremost celebrity. Reporters met him at every port of call, anxious to print a new quip from the famous humorist. To enhance his image, he took to wearing white suits and loved to stroll down the street and see people staring at him. His Later Life There are many tragic events in his later life: the failure of his investments, his fatiguing travels and lectures in order to pay off his debts, and added to this, the death of his wife and two daughters which left him absolutely inconsolable. Some critics link these tragic events with the change of style in his later works, from an optimist and humorist to an almost despairing determinist. Mark Twain ’ s Masterpieces His Famous Words “ Wisdom teaches us that none but birds should go out early, and that not even birds should do it unless they are out of worms. ”“ The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. ”让自己高兴起来的最好办法就是设法让别人高兴起来。“ Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand. ”“ Humor is mankind's greatest blessing. ”