She was considered to be frail in health it is likely that clemens was informed early on by mr. Twain was a passenger aboard a ship to the holy land when he met his future brother in law who showed twain a picture of his sister. Clemens believed that the rearing of the children was the responsibility of his wife, olivia, while the fathers duty was to entertain them. Mark twain, whose real name was samuel clemens, was the celebrated author of several novels, including two major classics of american literature. Olivia langdon clemens was born olivia louise langdon on nov. She was partially paralyzed after a fall on some ice and was unable to leave her bed for nearly two years. His father, a selfmade man, was the owner of a prosperous coal business as well as an abolitionist. Mark twain met his wife in 1867 through her brother charles. Love at first sight is how he later described his feelings about. Soon after they married, they conceived their first child, langdon clemens, who was born prematurely in 1870, but died soon after at age 2. Clemens met charles langdon on this cruise and fell in love with the picture of his sister olivia langdon, who would later become clemens wife. Although the exact origins of the name are unknown, it is worth noting that clemens operated riverboats, and mark twain is a nautical term for water found to be two fathoms 12 feet 3. Charles charley langdon, the son of jervis and olivia lewis langdon, met slc as a passenger on the quaker city cruise 1867.
It was a love match that lasted 34 years and produced four children. They were engaged in november 1868 and married in february 1870. On saturdays his daughters, susy, clara and jane known as jean, would invite friends over and they would stage selections from mark twains writings, with the authors help. I mean exposure to factors like family, region, political, social, media and personal psychology. Olivia langdon cleans up mark twains act and his copy. Harris presents a radically different view of a woman often ignored by history. In 1972, they had their first daughter, olivia susan clemens, who. Annis eastman archives center for mark twain studies. Langdon clemens was the son of samuel langhorne clemens, better known as author mark twain. On thanksgiving day, 1868, olivia langdon yielded a conditional consent to sam.
In retaliation, this article will focus on the mark twain they didnt teach us in school. Review the courtship of olivia langdon and mark twain. Samuel langhorne clemensmark twain notes flashcards quizlet. Langdon was right, for twain proved to be a faithful and loving husband to olivia. She had a younger brother, charles, and an adopted older sister, susan. Burn it, livy, i did not think i was writing so clownishly and shabbily.
By age 18 charles, heir to this fortune, had not shown much interest in it or in maintaining the familys. Slc dined with charleys family in new york in december 1867. Twain married a woman named olivia langdon in 1870. Her childhood home from 1847 to 1862 was the building at what is now 4 lake street. Olivia susan clemens called susy by her family was the.
A friend, charles langdon, showed twain a photo of his sister olivia. He died of diphtheria on june 2 1872 at the age of only 19 months. Just one look at a photograph of olivia langdon and mark twain was done for. It was aboard a steamship that mark twain first laid eyes on a photograph of olivia langdon, known as livy. Mark twain married olivia langdon in elmira, new york. Mark twain was born on november 30, 1835, at florida, missouri.
For much of the 20th century, literary scholars have viewed olivia langdon clemens, the wife of samuel clemensor mark twain, as he is better knownas a neurotic, dull, and excessively proper woman. Mark twain means two fathoms or 12 feet, and is the depth a ship must have not to run aground. At their home in hartford, connecticut, twain wrote the novels that made him an american treasure. Olivia langdon cleans up mark twains act and his copy new. The langdons experimented with a variety of health treatments to aid olivia. Olivia came from a wealthy and liberal ny family, who cultivated a wide circle of liberal and progressive activists. Olivia langdon was born in 1845 in elmira, new york, to jervis langdon and olivia lewis langdon. Perhaps twains appreciation was hindered by his seat in the middle of the theatre, or perhaps he was distracted by his companion. While working as a steamboatman, mark twain met charles langdon who showed him a picture of his sister, olivia.
For mark twain, it was love at first sight history. He also supported womens rights and suffrage the adventures of huckleberry finn is sometimes. For 50 years references to mark twain have included the notation that there are. Twain witnessed another strange event a few years later when a young woman that he knew named olivia langdon became an invalid at age 16. For mark twain, it was love at first sight the aspiring author knew olivia langdon was the one when he first laid eyes on a photograph of her the wife. Twain claimed to have fallen in love at first sight. Samuel met olivia through her brother charles in 1867 and the two carried on a courtship for.
When he married olivia langdon in 1870, he married into a wealthy family from elmira, new york and moved east to buffalo, ny and then to hartford, ct where he collaborated with the hartford courant publisher to cowrite the gilded age, a satirical novel about greed and corruption among the wealthy after the civil war. Sam clemens, husband of olivia, and mark twain, artist and writer. Although olivia langdon rejected his first proposal of marriage they married this year in new york. If i shall meet him in a place some day, where he shall beg for brimstone he will beg in vain. Jean clemens 18801909 was the youngest of the three daughters of samuel langhorne clemens better known by his pen name mark twain. Twain began corresponding with olivia and proposed marriage to her. Twain, who was particularly close to his oldest daughter, is devastated. At 19 months, langdon clemens was in carriage, riding with his parents in 1872. Start studying samuel longhorne clemens mark twain. Twain saw the photo of olivia, an ivory miniature, in 1867 during his fivemonth cruise to europe and the holy land. Sam blamed himself all his life for taking the child out with what he later saw as an inadequate amount of clothing. He was, after all, on his first date with olivia langdon, the woman who would become his wife a couple of years later.
He never fully recovers from her death, which marks the end of his most successful period as a writer. Samuel clemens biography american experience official. Mark twain married olivia langdon on february 2, 1870 and they were considered to be one of the literary worlds most famous love matches. Samuel longhorne clemens mark twain flashcards quizlet.
On december 31st, 1982, 115 years to the day after charles dickens read to charley and olivia langdon and a dumbstruck and unappreciative mark twain, jervis jr. Where mark twain married olivia langdon crossword clue. Olivia langdon clemens wife of samuel clemens mark twain the story behind mark twains ranch in archer county. Clemens, olivia langdon livy 18451904 short biography.
The langdons were strongly religious, reformist, and abolitionist. Upon hearing of his death, president william howard taft said, mark twain gave pleasurereal intellectual enjoymentto millions, and his works will continue to give such. Mark twains letters, 18761880, an electronic edition, volume 2. Mark twain marries olivia livy langdon world history. By jahyra white writing apprentice twain studios when mark twains baby son died of diphtheria, he blamed himself. Book explores relationship between mark twain and his wife. Mark twains portrayal of family and relationships in. Since sam did not enjoy the details of domestic life, he was more than happy to have olivia.
The two met in 1868, were engaged a year later, and married in february 1870 in elmira, new york. Langdon about the supreme delicacy of olivia s health trombley 95. Until when did mark and olivia meet after the first date. Paine writes of olivia clemens that no children had more careful training than hers, no husband more devoted attendance and companionship, no household was ever directed with a sweeter. Mark twain for its claim on a brief portion of the great authors life, for it was livy langdon and her family who helped bring him to. Charles langdon showed a picture of his sister, olivia, to twain. Langdon about the supreme delicacy of olivias health trombley 95. Halleys comet was in the skies both when he was born and died. In their marriage of 34 years, they remained deeply devoted. The wife and daughters of mark twain albert bigelow paine.
The aspiring author knew olivia langdon was the one when he first laid eyes on a. For mark twain, it was love at first sight the aspiring author knew olivia langdon was the one when he first laid eyes on a photograph of her the wife and daughters of mark twain albert bigelow. Charles jervis langdon was born to jervis and olivia lewis langdon into a prominent family of elmira, new york. The langdon family was wealthy, but twain was already earning well from his writing by the time he married olivia. Grandmothers were crucial for human evolution meet the fantastically bejeweled. Langdon clemens was the firstborn child and the only son born to sam and olivia clemens. Olivia langdon 18451904, wife of sam clemens, was born to a wealthy. Mark twain met olivia langdon in december 1867, through her brother charles. Mark twain and the supernatural american hauntings.
Previously unknown mark twain descendant to speak in hannibal. He joined a confederate militia for two weeks at the start of the civil war, but quit before he had to fight he was a strong supporter of putting an end to slavery. Charles jervis langdon 18491916 find a grave memorial. More a biography of langdon perhaps than of twain, the book shows a young woman creating herself to be the kind of woman her culture expected. Later in twains life, after marrying olivia langdon and having three girls, he, for the most part, enjoyed a loving, contented marriage and family life. Olivia langdon clemens november 27, 1845 june 5, 1904 was the wife of the american author samuel langhorne clemens, better known as mark twain. Her father was against the match but twain managed to overcome her fathers initial reluctance. Olivia langdon, familiarly called livy, was born and raised in elmira, new york, the daughter of wealthy coal merchant jervis langdon and olivia lewis langdon. In the roughing it exhibit, climb in a stagecoach and share the mining experiences of sam clemens and the characters, both human and animal, that he brings to life. Introduction if the 19thcentury american dream has any single literary laureate, it is samuel clemens, knownby his pen name, mark twain, announced the family encyclopedia of american history. Diphtheria killed langdon, mark twains baby son write. Olivia langdon 18451904, wife of sam clemens, was born to a wealthy, abolitionist family in elmira, new york. He visited the langdon home and her parents didnt like him because he was trying too hard to. Ida langdon archives center for mark twain studies.
Olivia clemens archives center for mark twain studies. He was prematurely born in 1870 and died at the age of two. When did mark twain first meet olivia langdon and how did they meet. A love letter from mark twain to his future wife, olivia.
It was a very different society to the conservative slave state. He actually had red hair, which of course does not show up in black and white photographs. When did mark visit the langdon home for the first time. Olivia was called livy by her friends and family, and by her husband, samuel l. Olivia langdon and samuel clemens married in february of 1870 and lived in elmira, new. Mark twain was born samuel langhorne clemens in the slaveholding state of missouri in 1835. In 1898, mark twain,at the time living in vienna with his wife, olivia langdon clemens livy, and daughters susy, clara and jean, finally unburdened himself of laura wrights impact on him. Mark twain is buried with olivia, their children, and inlaws. He later married olivia langdon, a girl from a wealthy new york family. Frequently asked questions the mark twain boyhood home. Through his wife, he met people such as harriet beecher stowe and utopian socialist william dean howells.
785 486 858 718 523 1155 1335 1132 327 493 1386 698 509 1432 1093 1238 1204 692 1198 1058 677 334 686 1098 1035 832 611 847 1448 24 378 1367 1243 435 1073 339