American Fiction and the Fourth of July

Posted by Leslie Poston Jul 3, 2006

I find that certain authors from the American Fiction lexicon spring to mind immediately every Fourth of July. Not necessarily because they have written about the holiday, or American independence, but more because they embody a feeling of "Americana".

Contemporary authors such as Fannie Flagg and Joyce Carol Oates certainly make the list, but the one that tops it each year for me is Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens. His rich tales of early American life paint vivid pictures of an era. He is a true American icon.

Excerpted from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:

Tom joined the new order of Cadets of Temperance, being attracted by the showy character of their "regalia." He promised to abstain from smoking, chewing and profanity as long as he remained a member. New he found out a new thing-namely, that to promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing. Tom soon found himself tormented with a desire to drink and swear; the desire grew to be so intense that nothing but the hope of a chance to display himself in his red sash kept him from withdrawing from the order. Fourth of July was coming; but he soon gave that up - gave it up before he had worn his shackles over forty-eight hours - fixed his hopes upon old Judge Frazer, justice of the peace, who was apparently on his death-bed and would have a big public funeral, since he was so high an official. During three days Tom was deeply concerned about the Judge's condition and hungry for news of it. Sometimes his hopes ran high - so high that he would venture to get out his regalia and practice before the looking-glass. But the Judge had a most discouraging way of flutuating. At last he was pronounced upon the mend - and then convalescent. Tom was disgusted; and felt a sense of injury, too. He handed in his resignation at once - and that night the Judge suffered a relapse and died. Tom resolved that he would never trust a man like that again.

Samuel L Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, will be the featured Author Snapshot Biography this week.