Born July 2, 1806 Aurora, New York U.S. Died September 8, 1874 (Aged 68) Grass Valley, California, U.S. Pen name Old Block Occupation Humorist Nationality American Genres Historical fiction, travel literature, satire, social commentary, newspaper column Notable work(s) Life on the Plains and Among the Diggings Spouse(s) Mary Burt; Maria Harmon Children Fred; Harriet Alonzo […]
writing
Jim Townsend
James William Emery (“Lying Jim”) Townsend (1838-1900) learned the printing trade in his home stand of new Hampshire and began his journalism career on the San Francisco Golden Era in 1859, working alongside Joseph Goodman, Bret Harte, and Denis McCarthy. He worked as a printer on the Territorial Enterprise from the fall of 1862 until […]
Joking Justified
Nov 15, 1863 — Sam wrote โLives of the Liars: Or Joking Justifiedโ In middle November, under “Still Harping,” Twain copied items of censure from Nevada and California papers and made “gruff remarks about ‘picayune papers.’ “Also, he bolstered his defense by compiling “Lives of the Liars or Joking Justified.” By quoting the results of […]