Tuesday, February 21 at 7pm ET - Buddy Levy on EMPIRE OF ICE AND STONE: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk with Deborah Blum (Virtual)

Considered “a life-and-death drama…brimming with malevolence and malfeasance but also humble charity and true nobility,” Empire of Ice and Stone?tells the story of the ill-fated 1913 Canadian Artic Expedition of the wooden-hulled brigantine?Karluk—considered the last great voyage of “The Age of Discovery.” An exploration of the forces that drive our hearts to extremes, Empire?of?Ice?and?Stone?is filled with heroism, tragedy, and scientific discovery—and draws out details about the role of indigenous people in not only the Karluk’s expedition, but Arctic discovery in general.

FREE Virtual Event! LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Thursday

Thursday, February 23 at 7pm ET - Mark Dawidziak on MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe with Jordan Costanza (Virtual)

In his new biography of Edgar Allan Poe,?Mystery of Mysteries, Mark Dawidziak examines the renowned author’s life through the prism of his mysterious death and its many possible causes. In a compelling dual-timeline narrative alternating between Poe’s increasingly desperate last months and his brief but impactful life, Mark Dawidziak sheds new light on the enigmatic master of macabre.

Virtual Event! $5 Registration. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Saturday

Saturday, February 25 starting at 7pm ET - GET A CLUE MURDER-MYSTERY TOURS featuring Sea Tea Improv (In-Person)

GET A CLUE Tours, based on the classic board game, are played in this interactive tour of The Mark Twain House! Be a detective using the various rooms (secret passageway, conservatory, billiards room, and more) of the Twain house — and some of the author’s favorite literary characters — as part of the game. Who killed that varmint Pap Finn? Was it Tom Sawyer in the Library with the Wrench? Come find out. It is different every time!

IN-PERSON event! LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Quotable Sam

Help Us Find the Next Great American Novel!

The Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award is given to distinguished fiction that speaks with an American voice and tells a uniquely American story. We believe that America represents a wide diversity of races, ethnicities, and modalities. This country is an extraordinary tapestry of experiences, and we look for prize winners that explore that richness in all of its complexities. Authors need not be residents of this country, but the stories must be clearly American in their perspective.

We are seeking readers to read some submitted novels. The volunteer readers' combined feedback will guide us in selecting a “long list” of titles. To inquire about joining the American Voice reading committee please email Literary Programs Coordinator Omar Acevedo at [email protected].

Coming Next

Tuesday, February 28 at 7pm ET - Joseph Early Thomas on SINK - A Memoir with Kiese Laymon (Virtual)

Thomas will discuss Sink, his coming-of-age memoir in which he explores growing up with lessons of toxic masculinity that were drilled into his body and a cycle of violence that permeated the very fabric of his environment. But even in the depths of the isolation this created, there were unexpected moments of joy: from summers where he was freed from the injurious structures of his surroundings to the first glimpses of kinship. He would eventually come to an understanding of what it means to lose the desire to fit in and how good it feels to build community, love, and salvation on your own terms.

Virtual: $5 non-members and members. Admission price will be deducted from your signed copy of the book with purchase. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Thursday, March 2 at 12pm ET: Ann-Helén Laestadius on STOLEN - A Novel with Laurel Sanders and Tiffany Quade (Virtual)

Based on real events, the award-winning novel Stolen follows a young indigenous woman, daughter of Sámi reindeer herders in Sweden, as she struggles to defend her family’s herd and culture amidst xenophobia, climate change, and a devious hunter whose targeted kills are considered mere theft in the eyes of the law. Part coming-of-age story, part love song to a disappearing natural world, and part electrifying countdown to a dramatic resolution—Stolen is a searing depiction of a forgotten part of Sweden.

Virtual: $5 non-members and members. Admission price will be deducted from your signed copy of the book with purchase. LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE.

Come Visit!

Plan your visit to America's Best House Museum (Forbes Magazine, 2021) by CLICKING HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: The museum will be closed on Tuesdays through March. We will be open all other days from 9:30am to 4:30pm, with the final tour of the day stepping off at 3:15pm.

Upcoming Events
V = Virtual Event; IP = In-Person Event

February 21 - Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk with Buddy Levy (V)

February 23 - Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe with Mark Dawidziak (V)

February 25 - Get A Clue Murder-Mystery Tour (IP)

February 28 - Stolen: A Novel with Ann-Helén Laestadius (V)

March 7 - Wild, Beautiful, and Free: A Novel with Sophfronia Scott (V)

March 9 - A Few Days of Trouble: Revelations on the Journey to Justice for My Cousin and Best Friend, Emmett Till with Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr. and Christopher Benson (V)

March 31 - Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours of The Mark Twain House (IP)

More to be announced soon!

To see all event information and registration, CLICK HERE.

To preorder books for our upcoming events, CLICK HERE. Signed books will be mailed after the event. Please note that we cannot ship outside of the U.S. at this time.

Your donation to The Mark Twain House & Museum helps us meet our mission to preserve the home and legacy of Mark Twain. Thank you for your generosity!

Support the House

Author programs at The Mark Twain House & Museum are sponsored by Connecticut Public Broadcasting and the Wish You Well Foundation. Virtual author programs are supported by Suzanne Hopgood in the memory of former MTH&M Trustee Frank Lord.
Programs at The Mark Twain House & Museum are made possible in part by support from CT Humanities; the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts; Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee; the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign; The Hartford; The Mark Twain Foundation; The National Endowment for the Humanities; and Travelers.