Mark Twain (1835-1910) was born Samuel Longhorn Clemens in Florida, Missouri. Starting out as typesetter, he went on to work as a steamboat pilot, prospector, and journalist before publishing his first major book, The Innocents Abroad. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows the exploits of Tom Sawyers closest friend, Huckleberry Huck Finn, the son of the town drunk, who is placed under the being guardianship of Widow Douglas. Although life at the windows house is comfortable, Huck finds the Widows attempts to civilize him infuriating. And when his abusive father turns up to make trouble, Huck decides has enough. He runs away and sets off down the Mississippi River.