As I stepped into foyer of Twain’s steamboat house in Hartford, Connecticut, I was blown away. The stenciling on the walls, the dark wood work, and the dark paint quickly reinforced the idea that Twain truly desired to be surrounded by the finest things available. Several beautiful chandeliers, solid wood furniture, and even running hot water set Twain’s house among the most innovative and fancy of his time. Yet, at the same time, you can still see Twain’s younger side throughout the house. His upstairs writing place, or his billiards room, reminded me of a room in which he could relax and enjoy the company of his peers. After all, all work and no play isn’t any fun.

These two sides of Twain really solidified the concept of his dueling nature. From his works, we can easily see that Twain has a serious side concerned with achieving greatness in his life, and at the same time, he wants to revel in the fantastic and picaresque qualities of life. One thing is for sure, when he designed his home, Twain called on both Huck and Tom for decorating advice!