The Trouble Begins

Jason Silverman on Lincoln & Twain

A lecture on the Twain of Our Republic and the Lincoln of Our Literature: The Historical Connections Between Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain

Everett's "James" vs Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"

On March 19th of this year, Doubleday published a new novel by Percival Everett, for which they reportedly paid more than $500,000, by far the biggest advance of Everett’s long and now quite-decorated career. The novel, James, is an adaptation of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of Huck’s self-emancipated traveling companion, Jim. Seybold argues that Everett’s novel will be many things to many readers, among them an incisive work of Twain Studies, as the narrative directly addresses many of the critical controversies associated with Huckleberry Finn since its publication.

Percival Everett discusses his new book "James"

An action-packed, harrowing, and funny reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, this brilliant new novel by Percival Everett is told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. A New York Times bestseller from the “literary icon” (Oprah Daily) and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Percival Everett, Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion are shown in a radically new light. Percival will be joined in conversation with journalist and political commentator Michael Harriot

Life & Legacy of George Griffin

Kevin MacDonnell will present his new research on Griffin, published in the Spring 2024 edition of the Mark Twain Journal, which provides the most comprehensive look into Griffin’s life to date and brings us face to face with the man who is said to have inspired Jim in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. MacDonnell will then be joined by Dr. Scruggs and Rev. Blanks for a panel discussion moderated by Mark Twain House historian Steve Courtney. The panel will dive deeper into Griffin’s life as a prominent Black man in Hartford in Mark Twain’s era, what we can learn from Griffin, and how his legacy continues.

Benjamin Griffin on editing "Pudd'nhead Wilson"

This critical edition publishes—for the first time anywhere—the original manuscript and revised versions of Pudd’nhead Wilson. The text familiar since 1894, as editor Benjamin Griffin shows, was heavily edited and censored—first by the author himself under pressure from family and friends, then by his publishers.

Paul Schiller on Gillette Castle

Paul, a self-described “Castle Nerd” and “Gillexpert”, will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about Gillette Castle and its namesake, William Gillette.

John Muller on Fredrick Douglass

Calling all Twainiacs and Douglassonians!

Known throughout the country and the world as two of the most recognized Americans of the 19th century, Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass shared numerous associations and friendships across generations and geography.