Mark Twain and the Idea of American Identity
(Room JW Grand Ballroom 2)
04 Jul 18
6:00 PM
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7:15 PM
For more than a century, Mark Twain has been regarded as a “quintessentially American” figure, and that image has guided interpretations of his work and his place in national culture. But while such readings elevate his celebrity, they also obscure his potential value to 21st century American readers, as well as his really extraordinary role in international literary and political history. This talk revises the Twain of the 20th century for new generations of readers, examining the richness of his cosmopolitan roots and vision, his participation in anti-imperialist discourse, and in particular his writings on race and youth.