Mark Twain in the German Language Press - User contributions [en]

Heidelberg

2026-06-03T11:08:02Z

HK:

Samuel Clemens arrived in Heidelberg on April 22, 1878. It was the first extended stay on his trip through Europe during the years 1878-1879. He was accompanied by his wife, [[Olivia Langdon Clemens]], his two daughters [[Olivia Susan Clemens|Susy]] (6 years old) and [[Clara Langdon Clemens|Clara]] (3 years old), Olivia’s friend Clara Spaulding, and the German nursemaid Rosina Hay ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/2ERH5HZF/ N&J2, 43]).

[[File:Heidelberg_schlosshotel_illustr.jpg|frameless|left|{{File:Heidelberg_schlosshotel_illustr.jpg}}]]
There seems to be no record of why Heidelberg was chosen as a temporary place of residence. Since Clemens was looking for a location to withdraw from the hassle of life in Hartford, he might have found it appealing to hear about Heidelberg offering “a peaceful state of rest and content” – a phrase that Charles Dudley Warner, his next-door neighbor and a collaborator on ''The Gilded Age'', had used in his travel book ''Saunterings'' ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/KBBTRUMQ/ 1872, 43]). Similarly, the American poet Bayard Taylor had envisioned Heidelberg as “a place for rest and quiet study” (56) in his book ''Views A-Foot'' ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/9TUHZMCQ/ 1846, rev. ed. 1872]). Clemens had been in touch with Taylor since 1877 ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/VHQUGKJP/ Kersten, 253]). Now his trip to Europe aboard the steamship “Holsatia” afforded him the opportunity to spend the two-week voyage from New York to Hamburg in close proximity to Taylor, who was en route to begin his term as America’s German envoy.

[[File:Heidelberg_schlosshotel_card.jpg|frameless|right|{{File:Heidelberg_schlosshotel_card.jpg}}]]
A letter written in February 1878 mentions Dresden as a possible place for a longer stay ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/collections/DAE6W88D/items/CPVPYE4Q/item-list MTHL I, 220]), but the idea never materialized. In March Clemens wrote to Mary Fairbanks that he wanted to “find a German village where nobody knows my name or speaks any English” ([https://www.marktwainproject.org/letters/uccl01542/ UCCL 01542]). Even shortly before the departure of the “Holsatia,” he informed a ''New York Times'' reporter that he was “going to the most out-of-the-way place in Germany I can find [...] fifty miles away from any railroad” ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst 2006, 15]). Upon their arrival in Hamburg, however, the Clemens family contemplated Heidelberg as a potential destination for an extended stay. “We shall [...] go to Heidleberg [sic] where we shall probably stay nearly two months” Olivia wrote to her mother on April 26 (from Olivia Langdon Clemens to Mrs. Jervis Langdon, original letter at the ''Mark Twain Project'').

The Clemens family arrived in Heidelberg, a city of approximately 28,000 inhabitants ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/ICN55MKZ Luks, 86]), on the afternoon of 6th May 1878. Until now, German newspapers, even with digital reproductions available, have provided little assistance in reconstructing Clemens’s visit to Heidelberg. It appears that there is only a single reference to his presence in the city. The ''Heidelberger Zeitung'' printed a list of newly arrived visitors (“Fremdenliste”) in the city, including the line “Hotel Schrieder [...] Clemans [sic] und Fam. a. New-York” (7 May, 1878, 4).
[[File:Hotel_schrieder_adv_murray_1878.png|frameless|left|{{File:Hotel_schrieder_adv_murray_1878.png}}]]
Hotel Schrieder had a long history in Heidelberg and advertized itself as a first-class hotel (see image left). In July 1877, it had accommodated former US president Ulysses S. Grant and his wife (see [https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/newspaper/item/3QYUA7CZ7EKB2MHZSKC2AW7FB4AOKJSG?issuepage=2 ''Der Landbote, Anzeiger für den Amtsbezirk Sinsheim und Umgebung'', 21 July, 1877, 2]). But something must have troubled the Clemens family to such an extent that Olivia referred to it as “a most miserable hotel” ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/Z44NN233 Snedecor 104]), prompting Clemens to quickly move them to better quarters at the Schloss-Hotel, a relatively new hotel located near the famous Heidelberg Castle.

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File:MT funeral NY Elmira.jpg

2026-06-03T11:05:06Z

HK:

Photograph of the coffin being carried out of Brick Church to a carriage; a large crowd has gathered to the left and right. From ''Harper’s Weekly'', 7 May 1910.

Source: ''Harper’s Weekly'', 7 May 1910 (page 11). Public domain, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015036683103?urlappend=%3Bseq=651%3Bownerid=115358951-650.

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File:MT funeral viewing.jpg

2026-06-03T11:04:05Z

HK:

Photograph of the line of visitors (blurry due to the long exposure time) in Brick Church queuing up to view the body of Mark Twain. From ''Harper’s Weekly'', 7 May 1910.

Source: ''Harper’s Weekly'', 7 May 1910 (page 11). Public domain, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015036683103?urlappend=%3Bseq=651%3Bownerid=115358951-650.

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File:MT funeral viewing.jpg

2026-06-03T11:03:42Z

HK:

Photograph of the line of visitors (blurry due to the long exposure time) in Brick Church queuing up to view the body of Mark Twain. From ''Harper’s Weekly'', 7 May 1910.

Source: Harper’s Weekly, 7 May 1910 (page 11). Public domain, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015036683103?urlappend=%3Bseq=651%3Bownerid=115358951-650.

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Pen Name

2026-06-03T10:58:20Z

HK: Updated the conventional account to reflect more recent scholarship about the origin and the meaning of the pseudonym.

"Mark Twain" was not the only pen name Samuel L. Clemens used ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/scharn/titleCreatorYear/items/WNUC8IG7 Scharnhorst, ''Early Years''] 190), but it was the one he employed most consistently in print and private life. First used in a letter published in the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise on 3 Feb. 1863, it remained his principal pseudonym throughout his career and became central to his public identity (see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/FIZ6WARP/ Rasmussen et al. 2:774]).

The name's origin has long been associated with Clemens's years as a Mississippi River pilot. According to the traditional explanation, "mark twain" was a leadsman's call indicating a depth of two fathoms (twelve feet), signifying safe water. This interpretation has been widely repeated in newspaper accounts, popular biographies, and scholarly works.

Although alternative explanations have circulated since 1942, they attracted comparatively little attention until [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/scharn/titleCreatorYear/items/WNUC8IG7 Scharnhorst] revived the debate in the first volume of his 2018 biography of Clemens (190-192) and developed the argument further in his [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/scharnh/titleCreatorYear/items/EELE5HBM/ 2025 article] "Mark Twain's Pseudonym One More (Last?) Time." Scharnhorst contends that the riverboat explanation was a deliberate misdirection and that the pseudonym instead originated in Virginia City, where "Mark Twain" referred to Clemens's habit of ordering two drinks and having two chalk marks entered against his account at a local saloon (232).

German-language newspapers frequently mention both "Samuel L. Clemens" and "Mark Twain," though many refer to him simply as "Mark Twain." They also frequently repeated the traditional account of the name's riverboat origin, sometimes as a brief biographical curiosity and sometimes as part of longer reminiscences about Clemens's life and his years as a Mississippi River pilot.

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German Chicago

2026-03-02T14:55:59Z

HK:

In 1891, Clemens agreed with the New York ''Sun'' to write six travel letters during his stay in Europe ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/FIZ6WARP/ Rasmussen et al. 2:813]). His report on Berlin, the last in the series, was published in the New York [https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1892-04-03/ed-1/seq-24/ ''Sun'', April 3, 1892]. [[File:Virchow_birthday_pittsburgh_dispatch_03_04_1892.png|frameless|right|{{File:Virchow_birthday_pittsburgh_dispatch_03_04_1892.png}}]]On the same day, the Chicago ''Daily Tribune'' released a version of the text as “The Chicago of Europe”, illustrated by Dan Beard and Harold R. Heaton. A [http://www.twainquotes.com/Travel1891/April1892.html transcribed version], including reproductions of the illustrations, is available on Barbara Schmidt’s ''Twainquotes''. Under the title “Giants of Germany,” the article, along with two of the illustrations from the ''Tribune'', was printed in the [https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024546/1892-04-03/ed-1/seq-19/ ''Pittsburgh Dispatch'', April 3, 1892], where it was featured next to the first instalment of Henry James’s story “The Real Thing.”
[[File:German_chicago_london_illustrated_news_1892.jpg|frameless|left|{{File:German_chicago_london_illustrated_news_1892.jpg}}]]
''The Illustrated London News'' published the text in three instalments, [https://archive.org/details/sim_illustrated-london-news_1892-09-24_101_2788/page/396/mode/2up September 4, 1892], [https://archive.org/details/sim_illustrated-london-news_1892-10-01_101_2789/page/429/mode/2up October 1, 1892], and [https://archive.org/details/sim_illustrated-london-news_1892-10-22_101_2792/page/516/mode/2up October 22, 1892]. This time, it was accompanied by ten original illustrations created by Amédée Forestier (1854-1930), an artist who, at the time, enjoyed great popularity with readers of English books and magazines and who also garnered respect for his artistic technique ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/A22ZAITQ/ Sketchley 93]).<br />
“The German Chicago” was later included in several collections of Mark Twain’s works, for example in ''The £1,000,000 Bank-Note, and Other New Stories'' ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/HFE6WTAM 1893, 210-232]), ''The American Claimant and Other Stories and Sketches'' ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/WBZXC9FF/ 1898, 502-517]), and ''In Defense of Harriet Shelley, and Other Essays'' ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/VS6TMW4K 1918, 244-262]).

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Ernst Otto Hopp

2025-12-01T10:37:04Z

HK: Added dates to Hopp's publications

Ernst Otto Hopp (1841-1910) was a German-born educator, journalist, editor, translator, and author with a keen interest in the United States. He was born and raised in Germany and received his education there before making his way to the United States in the winter of 1866. Hopp spent about a decade in the US, during which he worked as a teacher at a grammar school in New York and pursued a career as a journalist (see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/collections/DAE6W88D/search/ward/titleCreatorYear/items/SM7337D3/item-list Ward 136]).

After returning to Germany in 1875, Hopp maintained his interest in the United States and continued to write about American life, history, and culture. Some of his journalism was printed in German-American newspapers in the 1880s and 1890s. Hopp was a prolific author and wrote extensively about the United States, publishing numerous books on a wide variety of topics. In his 1876 article "Die humoristische Poesie der Amerikaner" ["The Americans' humorous poetry"], Hopp translated representative poems by Oliver Wendel Holmes, John Saxe, James Russell Lowell, and other writers ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/UHERT6ZT 60-68]). His book ''Unter dem Sternenbanner: Streifzüge in das Leben und die Literatur der Amerikaner'' [''Under the Star-Spangled Banner: Forays into American Life and Literature''] (1877) devotes a chapter to the humorous poetry of Bret Harte and Joaquin Miller ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/7R4VNMDF 3-60]), but contains no mention of Mark Twain.

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Vienna

2025-07-23T08:37:04Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|500x500px|frameless|{{File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png}}]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2). For more information on the Hotel Krantz, see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 241-243.

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 72). He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

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Vienna

2025-07-23T08:34:39Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|500x500px|thumb|{{File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png}}]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2). For more information on the Hotel Krantz, see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 241-243.

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 72). He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

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File:Arrival in vienna neue freie presse 1898.png

2025-07-23T08:19:07Z

HK:

Notice from ''Neue Freie Presse'' announcing Mark Twain's stay at the Hotel Krantz in Vienna.

Vienna

2025-07-22T13:26:48Z

HK: /* Visit to Parliament */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2). For more information on the Hotel Krantz, see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 241-243.

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 72). He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

2025-07-22T12:59:32Z

HK: /* Visit to Parliament */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2). For more information on the Hotel Krantz, see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 241-243.

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time (Dolmetsch 72). He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

2025-07-22T12:57:20Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2). For more information on the Hotel Krantz, see [https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/dolmetsch/titleCreatorYear/items/97PABR4V/item-list Dolmetsch] 241-243.

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time. He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

2025-07-22T12:33:05Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2).

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time. He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

2025-07-22T12:29:48Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
On October 16, 1898, the Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4:2-3).

In letters to Henry H. Rogers, Clemens reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have." This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the hotel which he called a "palace" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 355), "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360). Months before Clemens and his family moved into the hotel, the owner had displayed in the lobby "the finest portrait" of him that his wife had ever seen. "We don't know who made it nor when, but we recognize that it is a hotel that has taste," Clemens joked ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 356). Apparently, Clemens got along well with the owners, because when Joseph and Marianne Krantz celebrated their silver wedding anniversary at the hotel, Sam, Olivia, and their daughters attended. The ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported that "der illustre Schriftsteller" ("the illustrious writer") joined the celebration and offered words of congratulation to the couple ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981115&query=%22twain%22&ref=anno-search&seite=6 Mark Twain als Gratulant]," ''NFP'', Nov 15, 1898, 6:2).

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time. He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

2025-07-22T11:31:18Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
The Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben on October 16, 1898, with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4, 2-3).

In a letter to Henry H. Rogers, Mark Twain reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have." This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the "fine building," which was "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/search/leary/titleCreatorYear/items/99C4I5YG/item-list Leary] 360).

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time. He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

2025-07-22T11:30:44Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Mark Twain, accompanied by his wife Olivia and his daughters Jean and Clara, stayed in Vienna from 27th September 1897 until 26th May 1899.

== Book Announcement ==

This book announcement was a joke made by Mark Twain during his last week in Vienna and everybody believed it. In an interview with Dr. Johannes Horowitz, correspondent for the ''New York Times'', Mark Twain further expanded on his joke by explaining that his book would not be published until 100 years after his death, because then he would not have to bear the consequences of offending anyone ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/TJGIKW4J/ Scharnhorst, ''The Complete Interviews'']). The Viennese people were very concerned, fearing what the usually very outspoken Mark Twain had to say about them. A few days later, Mark Twain felt obligated to clarify his joke through his friend the journalist Eduard Pötzl (see [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwg&datum=18990527&seite=4&zoom=33 "Mark Twain über den Weltfrieden," ''Neues Wiener Tageblatt'', 27 May 1899]). The reason for this joke, as Carl Dolmetsch concludes, was to draw attention to his actual works written during his time in Vienna ([https://www.zotero.org/groups/4437667/mtxdigital/items/97PABR4V/ 311]).

== Hotel Krantz ==
[[File:1898-10-16-MT-Hotel-Krantz-Vienna-arrival.png|left|frameless|500x500px]]
The Austrian daily newspaper [https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nfp&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=5 ''Neue Freie Presse'' reported] that Mark Twain arrived at the Hotel Krantz from Kaltleutgeben on October 16, 1898, with the intention of spending the winter in Vienna. Although the hotel had opened only a few months before Mark Twain's arrival, it had already earned a good reputation. It was described as comfortable and known for serving good food and drinks. This reputation was also reflected in the guest book, which listed such illustrious names as His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Bavaria and the Duke of Oldenburg, Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, Prince Albert of Belgium, Duke Günther of Schleswig-Holstein ("[https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=nwj&datum=18981016&query=%22hotel+krantz%22&ref=anno-search&seite=4 Hotel Krantz]," ''Neue Freie Presse'', Oct 16, 1898: 4, 2-3).

In a letter to Henry H. Rogers, Mark Twain reports that the new hotel had offered him a stay because the owner saw his presence as "the best advertisement they could have." This put the writer in a position to successfully negotiate a lower monthly rate, leading him to ultimately decide to stay at the "fine building," which was "completely and richly furnished like the Waldorf." The suite he and his family occupied included "a dining room, a parlor, a music room, a study, and 4 bedrooms — with bathrooms attached to 3 of the bedrooms" (Leary 360).

In June 1945, the luxury hotel was renamed "Hotel Ambassador". More information about the history of the hotel is provided on the [https://www.ambassador.at/en/history hotel's website].

== Visit to Parliament ==
[[File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg|thumb|right|350px|{{File:Austrian_parliament_harpers_1897.jpg}}]]

Shortly after arriving in Vienna, Mark Twain started to take an interest in local politics. On 28th October 1897, he attended a sitting of the Austro-Hungarian parliament for the first time. He describes it in great detail in his essay "Stirring Times in Austria", first published in ''Harper's New Monthly Magazine'' in March 1898 and later republished in the collection ''How To Tell a Story''. Twain writes that the event was constantly disrupted by heckling of the politicians. Curses and threats were made against the speaker and everybody had wooden planks that were banged on the desks to make loud noises. Many sittings of the parliament went like this, making actual debates almost impossible.

{{TopicLinkList}}

[[Category:Topic Pages]] [[Category:Topic Place]]

Vienna

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HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Vienna

2025-07-22T10:47:47Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Vienna

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HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Vienna

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HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Vienna

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HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

File:Arrival in vienna neue freie presse 1898.png

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HK:

Notice from <nowiki>''Neue Freie Presse'' announcing Mark Twain'</nowiki>s stay at the Hotel Krantz in Vienna.

Vienna

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HK: /* Mark Twain at Hotel Krantz, notice in Neue Freie Presse */

File:Arrival in vienna neue freie presse 1898.png

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HK:

Notice from Neue Freie Presse announcing Mark Twain's stay at the Hotel Krantz in Vienna.

Vienna

2025-07-22T10:28:34Z

HK: /* Hotel Krantz */

Vienna

2025-07-22T10:10:47Z

HK: /* Book Announcement */