Mark Twain was born in 1835 in Missouri, is widely regarded as the Father of American Literature. His stories, which often unblinkingly described America during its shameful period of human slavery, have brought him much fame--and infamy as well. Ernest Hemingway wrote: All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn, while Thomas Edison declared, An American loves his family. If he has any love left over for some other person he generally selects Mark Twain.