The Missouri town that inspired ‘Tom Sawyer’ celebrates his 150th birthday
About this episode
The episode discusses the 150th anniversary of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and its significance in American culture, featuring insights from Mark Schneider.
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" introduced readers to characters inspired by the childhood of its author Mark Twain. June 9 is the 150th anniversary of the book's publication in 1876. Multiple events are planned in Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, marking the book’s real-life setting and literary impact. Mark Schneider, development and marketing manager at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, talks about the history of Twain’s book, its unique place in American culture and history, and why its language, characters and lessons remain relevant today – and hotly debated.
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