88 DAYS IN THE MOTHER LODE: MARK TWAIN FINDS HIS V

Episode 1 of 1

Through Mark Twain's own words from his letters home, his short stories, books and his autobiography, discover how three months is California's Sierra Nevada Mountains led to the writing of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and helped transform Sam Clemens into Mark Twain. In November of 1864, just days after his 29th birthday, Samuel Clemens posted a $500 bail bond for a friend with money he didn't have. The friend jumped bail and Clemens had to escape San Francisco. He sought refuge in a cabin on Jackass Hill in Tuolumne County, California. He would spend the next 88 days on the hill and in nearby Angels Camp drinking a little, smoking a little, mining a little and listening a lot - to people and the stories they told. More than just "the place he heard the story about the frog," Clemens three month stay in the Sierra Nevada Foothills would help change the course of his life and he would write about his time there in stories, sketches and essays for the rest of his life. Filmed on location in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties where the actual events took place, this documentary takes an in-depth look at those pivotal 88 days in the life of Sam Clemens and the career of Mark Twain.

Previously Aired

Day
Time
Channel
11/26/2015
8 p.m.
11/27/2015
2 a.m.
11/29/2015
4 p.m.
11/30/2015
3 a.m.
12/3/2015
2 p.m.
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