Those Extraordinary Twins

Mark Twain

2021년 7월 · Otbebookpublishing

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Twain originally envisioned the characters of Luigi and Angelo Capello as conjoined twins, modeled after the late-19th century Italian conjoined twins Giovanni and Giacomo Tocci. He planned for them to be the central characters of a novel to be titled Those Extraordinary Twins. During the writing process, however, Twain realized that secondary characters such as Pudd'nhead Wilson, Roxy, and Tom Driscoll were taking a more central role in the story. More importantly, he found that the serious tone of the story of Roxy and Tom clashed unpleasantly with the light tone of the twins' story. As he explains in the introduction to "Those Extraordinary Twins": The defect turned out to be the one already spoken of – two stories on one, a farce and a tragedy. So I pulled out the farce and left the tragedy. This left the original team in, but only as mere names, not as characters. The characters of Luigi and Angelo remain in Pudd'nhead Wilson, as twins with separate bodies. Twain was not thorough in his separation of the twins, and there are hints in the final version of their conjoined origin, such as the fact that they were their parents' "only child", they sleep together, they play piano together, and they had an early career as sideshow performers. "Those Extraordinary Twins" was published as a short story, with glosses inserted into the text where the narrative was either unfinished or would have duplicated parts of Pudd'nhead Wilson. (Amazon)

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Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, is one of America's most celebrated authors and humorists. Twain's early life was marked by a series of adventures and misadventures along the Mississippi River, which would later provide rich material for his literary works. His pen name, "Mark Twain," is a riverboat term indicating a depth of two fathoms, safe water for navigation, symbolizing his deep connection to the river.Twain's writing is renowned for its wit, satire, and keen social commentary. He tackled issues such as racism, class disparities, and human folly with a sharp, often humorous lens. His works, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Life on the Mississippi," remain staples in American literature, offering insight into 19th-century life and culture.Twain was also a vocal critic of imperialism and a supporter of civil rights, using his platform to challenge societal norms and injustices. His friendship with figures like Frederick Douglass and his outspoken views on slavery and human rights positioned him as a progressive voice in a tumultuous era.Controversies surrounding Twain often stemmed from his unflinching critique of society and his use of regional dialects, which some contemporaries found crude. However, these elements have cemented his legacy as a pioneer of American realism.Twain's influence extends to countless contemporary writers who admire his narrative style and fearless exploration of social issues. His revolutionary ideas and enduring works continue to resonate, making him a timeless figure in the literary world.