After working on steamships on the Mississippi, Clemens debuted his pseudonym as a journalist in the early 1860s. In 1865 he published the tall tale that launched his career, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. On view in the exhibition is a bright red 1903 edition titled The Jumping Frog; In English, then in French, then Clawed Back into a Civilized Language Once More by Patient, Unremunerated Toil, which he “retranslated” after being frustrated by the poor quality of unauthorized translations that removed the humor from his story. Following the success of the Jumping Frog, Clemens traveled a great deal, writing humorous letters from Europe and the Middle East later published as The Innocents Abroad, his first commercial success and bestselling book throughout his lifetime.
A prolific letter writer, from his early days as a riverboat pilot through his last days in Bermuda, Clemens corresponded with friends, family, and admirers. Many handwritten letters on view show his comedic persona, while others provide glimpses into the man behind the name. On display will be an 1859 letter to family friend 'Aunt Betsey' (Elizabeth W. Smith) in which Clemens complains “I am in a bad way again—disease, Love, in its most malignant form. Hopes are entertained of my recovery, however.”
During and after his life, the name and image of Mark Twain have been used to sell cigars, games, domestic goods, and foods. Many popular examples are on view in the exhibition, including The Good Old Game of Innocence Abroad, a board game named for Twain’s travelogue, created by Parker Brothers in 1888. A video installation shows many Twain-influenced productions from the 1960s to the present day, showing Twain’s enduring presence as a pop-culture phenomenon.
