Mark Twain
By Ron Chernow
Publisher: Penguin Press
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer portrays the life and career of the literary celebrity and political pundit.
Review by By The Books Reviewer
Ron Chernow's latest opus, "Mark Twain," is a behemoth of a biography, sprawling over 1,200 pages. ([publishersweekly.com](https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780525561729?utm_source=openai)) Chernow, renowned for his meticulous explorations of historical figures, now turns his gaze to Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. While the ambition is commendable, the execution leaves much to be desired.
Chernow's narrative delves into Twain's early life in Missouri, his adventures as a riverboat pilot, and his eventual rise to literary fame. However, the biography often meanders into excessive detail, testing the reader's patience. For instance, the exhaustive account of Twain's financial misadventures, including his ill-fated investment in the Paige Compositor, becomes repetitive and tedious. ([theatlantic.com](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/06/ron-chernow-mark-twain-review/682584/?utm_source=openai))
The portrayal of Twain's personal life is equally problematic. Chernow's focus on Twain's relationships with young girls, whom he referred to as his "angelfish," is unsettling. While the author asserts that these relationships were chaste, the emphasis on this aspect of Twain's life feels prurient and unnecessary. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ron-chernow/mark-twain-5/?utm_source=openai))
Furthermore, Chernow's analysis of Twain's literary works is disappointingly superficial. Classics like "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Innocents Abroad" are glossed over, with little new insight offered. ([theatlantic.com](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/06/ron-chernow-mark-twain-review/682584/?utm_source=openai)) Instead, the biography is bogged down by an overemphasis on Twain's personal tribulations, overshadowing his literary genius.
In conclusion, while "Mark Twain" by Ron Chernow is a comprehensive biography, it is marred by excessive detail, a prurient focus on certain aspects of Twain's personal life, and a lack of depth in literary analysis. Readers seeking a balanced and insightful exploration of Twain's life and works may find this biography lacking.
Not recommended.
Recommendation: Not recommended.
written on: 5/22/2025