<P> Twain was raised in Hannibal , Missouri , which later provided the setting for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn . He served an apprenticeship with a printer and then worked as a typesetter , contributing articles to the newspaper of his older brother Orion Clemens . He later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River before heading west to join Orion in Nevada . He referred humorously to his lack of success at mining , turning to journalism for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise . His humorous story , `` The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County '' , was published in 1865 , based on a story that he heard at Angels Hotel in Angels Camp , California where he had spent some time as a miner . The short story brought international attention and was even translated into French . His wit and satire , in prose and in speech , earned praise from critics and peers , and he was a friend to presidents , artists , industrialists , and European royalty . </P>
mark twain first piece of writing that garnered attention
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County