The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Conn., has described the writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher and lecturer as "the quintessential American author." Others have praised Twain (real name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens) as "the father of American literature" and "the greatest humorist the United States has produced." Although Twain died more than a century ago, his wit and wisdom remain the stuff of legend.
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."