The complex and fascinating life of Mark Twain as told by a Pulitzer prizewinning biographerBorn in 1835 the man who would become Americas first and most influential literary celebrity spent his childhood dreaming of piloting steamboats on the Mississippi. But when the Civil War interrupted his career on the river the young Mark Twain went west and accepted a job at the local newspaper writing dispatches that attracted attention for their brashness and humour. It wasnt long until the former steamboat pilot from Missouri was recognized across the country for his literary brilliance.In this rich and nuanced portrait of Twain Ron Chernow brings his powers to bear on a man who shamelessly sought fame and fortune and crafted his persona with meticulous care.