Christian Science

Twain thought very poorly of Mary Baker Eddy as a person, but he was fascinated by and admired in spite of himself the rapidity with which she established her religious system and its scope. In Christian Science he expressed his incongruity at her claims to heal sickness and her opaque writing style.

Riverboat pilot, journalist, failed businessman (several times over): Samuel Clemens -- the man behind the figure of Mark Twain -- led many lives. But it was in his novels and short stories that he created a voice and an outlook on life that will be forever identified with the American character.