The Biographers

As we press on with the life of Mark Twain, trouble starts to brew in the early years of the 1870s. Some personal tragedy will strike the Clemens family, and Sam will experience some of his first true professional failures. Regardless, Sam and his true-love, Livy, remain hopelessly in love, and their family will continue to grow. Through the tragedies, however, Sam's ever-increasingly nostalgic brain will receive the first sparks of creativity that will ultimately lead to the creation of both The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of HuckleberryFinn. Tune in for part six of Mark Twain to learn more! (Ep. 066)

In part five of our series on Mark Twain, the author is officially back stateside after a trip through Europe and the “Holy Land.” From these experiences, he would write his first novel, The Innocents Abroad; or, The New Pilgrim’s Progress — a smash hit that fundamentally changed the fabric of American literature. He would also launch a new lecture series called American Vandal that would receive widespread critical acclaim and send shockwaves of controversy throughout America. It would also be around this time that Mark Twain would meet the true love of his life, a beautiful and brilliant woman named Olivia Langdon. Tune in for part five of Mark Twain to learn more! (Ep. 065)

As we continue our series, we witness the steady rise of legendary author and orator, Mark Twain, following the publication of his famous short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. After a trip to the Sandwich Islands (later known as Hawaii), Twain takes to the stage before making his way from San Francisco to New York. It’s in New York that he meets the massively influential preacher and theologian, Henry Ward Beecher, who is planning the world’s first pleasure cruise. Quick to buy a ticket, Twain later uses the story of his excursion as the basis for his first major hit: The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrim’s Progress. Tune in for part four of Mark Twain to learn more! (Ep. 064)

The American Civil War has officially begun! In part three of our series on Mark Twain, we see the not-yet-writer briefly join the Missouri State Guard before fleeing west with his brother. After a few failed business attempts and an accidental case of arson, Sam Clemens lands a job as a journalist, and officially takes up the pen-name of Mark Twain. His popularity as a journalist increased over time, eventually leading him to San Francisco and the high-life that the city offered. Eventually, however, Sam's pocketbook would run dry, and to avoid a debt collector, he would lay low in a small cabin outside Sonora, California. It would be here that Sam would hear the story of a certain jumping frog in Calaveras County that he would soon thereafter turn into his first national smash-hit. Tune in to part three of Mark Twain to learn more! (Ep. 063)

In part two of our series on Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain), we follow young Sam as he enters the working world, becoming a typesetter’s apprentice in his hometown of Hannibal. His small town couldn’t hold him for long, however, and he soon hit the road, traveling around the East Coast of the United States. Eventually, Sam began to pursue a career as a steamboat pilot, spending countless hours navigating up and down the mighty Mississippi River. It was around this time that he started keeping a regular journal, noting the sights and sounds along the river and cataloging his ever-evolving wit and moral compass. But tragedy would soon strike (no spoilers!), followed not long after by the outbreak of the American Civil War. Tune in for part two of Mark Twain as we continue exploring this fascinating life! (Ep. 062)

In series 12 of The Biographers, we're talking about one of the truest titans of American literature to ever put pen to paper: Mark Twain. Given the name Samuel Langhorne Clemens at birth in the pre-Civil War era of America, our next subject would grow up in a time of slavery, witness its abolition, and grow to become an outspoken opponent of racism. His childhood was often times idyllic, but was not without its moments of extreme trauma and tragedy. Thankfully, literacy was on the rise, and through the magic of books, young Sammy Clemens was able to find an escape from the drudgery and sadness of his youth, and forge some unforgettable friendships. His childhood would abruptly come to an end, however, and at just 12 years old he would enter the workforce. Tune in for part 1 of Mark Twain to learn more! (Ep. 061)

It's time for another laid-back episode of Office Hours! A bit of nonsense as usual, chatting about mini vans, how they are superior to SUVs, and how trucks are worst, but we also talk a lot about corrections and answers to questions from the past series on Alexandre Dumas. We're relaxing this week, but will be back in two weeks as we start up a monster series on the legendary Mark Twain!

In the final episode of our series, we cover the last years of General Alexandre Dumas. With the smoldering wreck of The Orient sinking in Aboukir Bay, Dumas and his men abandoned their military charge and were reduced to a single objective: survive. With the help of Napoleon's band of academic geniuses, the French armies were stabilized, and the world's first institute of Egyptology was established. After putting down a revolt in Cairo, Dumas set sail for home, only to discover that the ship he had boarded was falling apart at sea. When he and his men were forced to dock in Italy, they were greeted by an unexpected host — an encounter that would later inspire his son to write The Count of Monte Cristo. Upon finally returning to France, Dumas realized that it was no longer the republic he had left behind, and his many years as a soldier would soon begin to catch up with him. Tune in to our final episode on General Alexandre Dumas to bid this hero a fond farewell! (Ep. 060)

In part four of Alexandre Dumas, we cover General Dumas's time under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte. Dumas would be sent to engage the "unwindable" parts of France, laying siege to the city of Mantua, and recovering a secret letter just in time to save his troops, but would have his named wiped from the newspapers by a jealous Napoleon. Demoted for “insubordination,” Alexandre went on to lead a subdivision in pursuit of the Austrians through the northern mountains of Italy. Personal tragedy fueled his rage, and Austrian soldiers gave him the bitter moniker “The Black Devil.” After an unbelievable shootout on the Bridge of Tyrol, Dumas would be sent on a secret expedition before a massive armada set sail for the sands of Egypt. Here, Alexandre would begin to truly understand the dangerous ego of the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte. Tune in for part four to learn more! (Ep. 059)

In part three of our series on Alexandre Dumas, we see the French Revolution enter phase two with the arrival of the Reign of Terror, led by the infamous Maximilien Robespierre. During this turbulent period, Alexandre earned a reputation as a commander with a remarkable ability to transform undisciplined troops into effective fighting forces — a skill that eventually elevated him to the rank of General. However, his rise was not without hardship. The French armies suffered heavy casualties under the rule of a government that had recently adopted the guillotine to dole out punishment. Through it all, Alexandre remained principled, denouncing the regime's bloodthirsty tactics while staying loyal to a country determined to see its revolution through. Tune in to part three of our series on Alexandre Dumas to learn more! (Ep. 058)