sam clemens and the celebrated jumping frog [ 16:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup

Though the rest of the country thinks of Samuel Langhorne Clemens as a southerner, it was a spell in San Francisco and the wilds of California which turned young Sam into "Mark Twain".

This week’s podcast tells the story of how a misfired duel, a bungled gold-mining claim, a suit for libel — and yes, a frog — conspired to create a work which took New York by storm and helped to forge an American original.

For further edification:
» The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
» Sam Clemens biography – albert paine
» Mark Twain in the west – pbs.org
» Annik’s “domain-jumped” website – restored!

Musical support:
Thanks to Tom Joad for the banjo tune “Bonaparte’s Retreat” – provided under a Creative Commons license