Mark Twain's meetings and writings on the Russian Imperial Family
A lot of Americans only know Mark Twain from his folkloric novels Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn that described the childhoods of boys who grew up in the semi-unsettled territories of the border states before the American Civil War.
However, after his success, Mark Twain left the United States for large periods of time and became a cultural and literary figure in London and the rest of Europe. His standing job was as a roving reporter for the popular New York newspaper, the New York Herald and he reported on a lot of the comings and goings of Europe's elite, aristocracy and literary giants of the period. During this period, he met with a small delegation of American notables and the group paid a visit to Alexander II in Yalta thanking the czar for supporting the Union during the American Civil War.
Mark Twain on Czars, Siberia, and Russian Revolution
On this webpage is a collection of writings that Mark Twain wrote about Alexander II, his son Alexander III, and the Russian aristocracy. It appears that Mark Twain changed his opinion of the Russian government over the time period that he covered it. He was initially very impressed with Alexander II. It became very well known in America that Alexander II had emancipated the serf most probably because Alexander II supported the North with supplies and men to fight the Civil War. Twain was initially very impressed with Alexander III and compared him favorably to his father and much more favorably to a certain Shah of Persia who shared the stage with the future Alexander III in a conference in London. Twain's initial view of Alexander III was of a stout, simple man who despite his modesty commanded armies and a whole nation.
Later though his attitude about Alexander III began to change and more importantly he began to look with dismay at the Russian aristocracy. He decried the corrupting force of power in the Russian aristocracy and government.
I find this change of view somewhat interesting and I suspect that Twain had not very well thought out his initial first good impression of Alexander II and III for what Twain was most impressed with was the immense power that both men had. Invariably when you look at men of great power, one can find some unsavoury side effects of that power.
Part of my skepticism about Mark Twain stems from the fact that he originally supported the South in the Civil War so initially he was not at all favorably disposed towards Lincoln, Grant, or any of the other notables from the Northern side of the Civil War.
But its interesting to see his viewpoint change over the years and I also find it fascinating to see the meeting of two cultures such as the meeting of Mark Twain's little delegation to Yalta to meet Alexander II. And their rather humble but very corny letter thanking the czar is simply priceless!
