Rethinking Mark Twain, by Ron Chernow
2025, available in print and audiobook
The new Mark Twain biography by Ron Chernow addresses forthrightly the debate about whether his books should continue to be taught in school. Chernow reveals in detail Twain’s strengths as a popular writer in books that, until recently, were part of the canon in many schools. Hemingway and others called Twain’s books “The Great American Novels.” Chernow also relentlessly details Twain’s many weaknesses, not the least of which was the stark racism, including the prolific use of the N-word in Huckleberry Finn.
Chernow charts Twin’s boyhood in Missouri – a slave state – to his late in life support of voting rights and educational opportunities for former enslaved people and their descendants. He personally funded scholarships for Black artists, lawyers, and other promising students, including room and board. Not surprisingly, he drew the line at supporting theology students, a cause he opposed throughout his life, and constantly ridiculed religion and preachers.
With book banning playing a prominent role in many schools nationwide today, Chernow makes the reader reflect on the arguments for and against Twain’s works. While many editions of Twain’s books are purged of offensive language, that risks losing some important insights into the post-Civil War era in which many formerly enslaved people continued, despite their emancipation, to live a miserable existence, sometimes in the same quarters on the same plantations where they had labored without income or freedom. On the other hand, the language of these sorts can so offend students and teachers that learning can come to a halt. Certainly, few people would argue that Twain’s work should be required, but if we want to encourage critical thinking among our students, Twain’s work offers an opportunity to engage in thoughtful debate about the issues. Cherno’s analysis is not just of the novels, but about Twain’s whole career. This scholarly and well-researched book is worthy of consideration.
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