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Classics Book ClubCowraReading & Writing

Mark Twain (or Samuel Langhorne Clemens)

By April 22, 2010No Comments

Mark Twain (aka Samuel Lanhorne Clemens) was famous for saying “reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” after his obituary was published in a US paper. But April 21st is the 100th anniversary of the death of this American author and he gets a mention here because he's the writer Cowra Classics Book Club is currently discussing. On Tuesday 27 April at 12.30pm at Cowra Library the group will talk about the life of Mark Twain and his visit to Australia during a world wide lecture tour to raise much needed funds. According to Ernest Hemingway, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn . . . ,” and some would argue that it's still one of their best books. In addition to many books, he published hundreds of stories, essays, and nonfiction pieces. Here are some more classic quotes:
” “A discriminating irreverence is the creator and protector of human liberty.”
” “High & fine literature is wine, & mine is only water; but everybody likes water.”
” “They spell it Vinci and pronounce it Vinchy; foreigners always spell better than they pronounce.”