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How Mark Twain Shocked London Society In His Bathrobe
The famous American author clearly chose convenience over etiquette
American author and humorist Mark Twain became a renowned figure around the world through his pen and his wit. He was also a gregarious man with a limited filter no matter how many people he was with or the setting. This included an occasion when as an old man he was in London for an audience with the King, but first shocked British society when he was seen roaming the streets of the city in his bathrobe in search of a good bath.
Twain built his illustrious career on his way with words, both speaking and writing. Best known for novels like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the man born Samuel Clemens authored more than two dozen books and many short stories. As he increased in fame and age, his presence became more desired around the world.
In 1907, he traveled to London to attend a garden party of King Edward VII. They had met previously and the monarch was so enamored by their interactions that he desired to meet up with him again.
Lodging at Brown’s Hotel, Twain was a seasoned traveler who apparently thought little of stifling his impulses in the face of proper societal behavior. The June 21, 1907 issue of the Chicago Tribune…