History Alive! Mark Twain: The Early Years

Mark Twain is celebrated as one of America’s great authors and humorists. As the young country rapidly grew into an international power in the second half of the 19th century, Twain shared his observations through writing and speeches. His best known novels are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but his work includes nonfiction, magazine articles, monographs, and commentaries that provide interesting insight into the American story. Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Clemens.

Portrayed by Doug Riley.

Riley had been portraying Mark Twain for the past 16 years. He has presented Mark Twain in hundreds of performances throughout the state of W.Va., working for the West Virginia Humanities Council’s History Alive! program. His reputation as Twain has provided him the opportunity to accept invitations to perform at the Paul Revere Inn, Syracuse, NY; University of Ohio, Ironton, OH; and the Lee-Jackson Inn, Winchester, VA.

Doug Riley retired after 32 years in education as a history teacher and administrator. In 1992 he finished a career in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Combat Arms Officer having served with NATO forces in Germany.

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Don't miss Mark Twain's presentation on "The Later Years" of his life, at the Clendenin Branch Library, on Tuesday, June 13, at 6 p.m.

This presentation is a History Alive! program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.