Mark Twain’s Candid Literary Critique: Insights into Poe and Austen
This page was updated March 30,2025
In the winter of 1909, from his home at Stormfield in Connecticut, Mark Twain penned a characteristically witty and unfiltered letter to his dear friend and fellow literary giant W.D. Howells. The letter reveals Twain’s unvarnished opinions on two titans of literature – Edgar Allan Poe and Jane Austen – while showcasing the warm, irreverent friendship between these two influential American writers.
What follows is a remarkable glimpse into Twain’s literary tastes and his trademark humor, including his notorious dismissal of Austen’s work with a jest about her death that only Mark Twain could deliver with such audacious charm. In just a few lines, Twain manages to express appreciation for Howells’ writing, share pointed literary criticism, challenge his friend’s perspective on Poe’s accountability, and extend a warm invitation – all with the distinctive voice that made him America’s most beloved humorist.
To W. D. Howells, in New York:
STORMFIELD, REDDING, CONN.,
Jan. 18, ’09.
Dear Howells,
I have to write a line, lazy as I am, to say how your Poe article delighted me; and to say that I am in agreement with substantially all you say about his literature. To me his prose is unreadable—like Jane Austin’s. No, there is a difference. I could read his prose on salary, but not Jane’s. Jane is entirely impossible. It seems a great pity that they allowed her to die a natural death.
Another thing: you grant that God and circumstances sinned against Poe, but you also grant that he sinned against himself—a thing which he couldn’t do and didn’t do.
It is lively up here now. I wish you could come.
Yrs ever,
MARK
Why This Letter Is Important
This seemingly casual note from Mark Twain to W.D. Howells holds significant literary and historical value. First, it captures the unfiltered literary opinions of one of America’s most celebrated authors. Twain’s blunt assessment of Poe and especially his scathing dismissal of Austen (“It seems a great pity that they allowed her to die a natural death”) provides valuable insight into his aesthetic preferences and the literary debates of his era.
The letter also illuminates the close friendship between Twain and Howells, two titans of American literature. Their comfortable intellectual sparring and honest exchange of views demonstrates how important such relationships were in shaping American literary culture at the turn of the 20th century.
Perhaps most valuably, this correspondence reveals Twain’s authentic voice in private communication—the same irreverent wit, hyperbole, and personality that made his published works so distinctive. His willingness to challenge Howells’ view on Poe’s culpability in his own downfall shows Twain’s nuanced thinking about human agency and fate, themes that appear throughout his major works.
Finally, the letter serves as a historical snapshot of a pivotal moment in American letters. Written from Stormfield in 1909, just a year before Twain’s death, it represents one of the final exchanges between these literary giants who helped define American literature’s coming of age. Through this brief correspondence, we gain access to the unguarded thoughts of a cultural icon whose influence continues to shape our understanding of American identity and literature.
Mark Twain: A Brief Biography
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), known as Mark Twain, rose from humble beginnings in Missouri to become America’s most celebrated author and humorist. After working as a riverboat pilot, journalist, and miner, he achieved fame with works like “The Innocents Abroad” (1869). His masterpieces “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1876) and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1884) revolutionized American literature with their authentic vernacular and unflinching social commentary. Twain’s distinctive writing combined sharp wit, keen observation, and profound insight into human nature. Despite personal tragedies and financial setbacks in his later years, his literary legacy endures as the quintessential American voice. He died in 1910, having been born and died during appearances of Halley’s Comet.
Further Reading
For those interested in exploring Mark Twain’s world and works more deeply, consider these essential books:
- “Life on the Mississippi” by Mark Twain – His memoir of steamboat piloting that provides crucial context for understanding his formative experiences and literary influences.
- “The Autobiography of Mark Twain” (Volumes 1-3) – Published 100 years after his death as specified in his will, this unfiltered self-portrait reveals Twain’s personal thoughts and reflections.
- “Mark Twain: A Life” by Ron Powers – A comprehensive and engaging biography that captures the complexity of Twain’s character and career.
- “The Letters of Mark Twain and William Dean Howells” – The complete correspondence between these literary friends offers fascinating insights into their relationship and the literary landscape of their era.
- “Mark Twain’s America” by Bernard DeVoto – A classic study that situates Twain within the social and cultural currents of nineteenth-century America.
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Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens) are two different people.
I’m here to announce that both Edgar & Samuel were in fact related. Very distantly. But still related. My family is very proud to enstate that Samuel is apart of my family. He was my 5x great uncle. Recently searching my family tree I stumbled across a Maria Clemens who is undoubtedly Poe’s adoptive mother. Which in turn was Samuel’s distant cousin. Though they aren’t related by blood, it is still amazing to be the one to come to this conclusion. Both Samuel and Edgar are distant cousins, adoptively.