Mark Twain

In the Prelude, Chernow explores Twain’s formative connection to the Mississippi River, portraying it as a symbol of freedom, independence, and self-definition. As a young man, Twain became a licensed steamboat pilot—a role he would later remember as the happiest of his life. 

In 1882, Twain embarked on a nostalgic journey down the river to gather material for Life on the Mississippi. Though saddened by changes to the river and its towns, Twain was momentarily restored by the chance to pilot a boat again, briefly reclaiming the joy of his youth.

Chapter 1 traces the roots of Mark Twain’s parents, John Marshall Clemens and Jane Lampton, detailing their ancestry, temperaments, and troubled marriage. John, a proud but gloomy lawyer obsessed with status and speculative land wealth, repeatedly uprooted the family in search of prosperity. Jane, lively and imaginative, had married John on the rebound and brought warmth and wit to an otherwise cold household. Their union, devoid of affection, created a household marked by disappointment, ambition, and emotional distance. These dynamics shaped Twain’s childhood and left a lasting imprint on his emotional needs, worldview, and eventual career as a satirist and humorist.