Ron Chernow

He said, I have to speculate, such being my nature. He admits late in his life, after he's lost several fortunes, he said, I was always the easy prey of the cheap adventurer. And there was something very, very compulsive about the speculation because the tragedy of the story is, you know, here's a man who made a fortune in book royalties. He made a fortune in lecture fees.

He said, I have to speculate, such being my nature. He admits late in his life, after he's lost several fortunes, he said, I was always the easy prey of the cheap adventurer. And there was something very, very compulsive about the speculation because the tragedy of the story is, you know, here's a man who made a fortune in book royalties. He made a fortune in lecture fees.

He marries an heiress from upstate New York. To a coal fortune. Coal and rail and timber. They're living in a 25-room mansion in Hartford with six servants. He blows his own fortune. He blows Livy's inheritance. they're forced into exile to economize in Europe for nine years. Because it's cheaper to live in Europe. Cheaper to live in Europe.

He marries an heiress from upstate New York. To a coal fortune. Coal and rail and timber. They're living in a 25-room mansion in Hartford with six servants. He blows his own fortune. He blows Livy's inheritance. they're forced into exile to economize in Europe for nine years. Because it's cheaper to live in Europe. Cheaper to live in Europe.

He marries an heiress from upstate New York. To a coal fortune. Coal and rail and timber. They're living in a 25-room mansion in Hartford with six servants. He blows his own fortune. He blows Livy's inheritance. they're forced into exile to economize in Europe for nine years. Because it's cheaper to live in Europe. Cheaper to live in Europe.

But still, you know, they're living like in a, you know, 28 room villa in Florence to quote unquote economize. Yeah. You know, they're living in a... There's no Airbnb. There's no Airbnb.

But still, you know, they're living like in a, you know, 28 room villa in Florence to quote unquote economize. Yeah. You know, they're living in a... There's no Airbnb. There's no Airbnb.

But still, you know, they're living like in a, you know, 28 room villa in Florence to quote unquote economize. Yeah. You know, they're living in a... There's no Airbnb. There's no Airbnb.

Then they're living in a very lavish suite of hotel rooms in Vienna. In fact, they go on one trip to Europe and they buy so many objects to beautify their house in Hartford that they come back with like 12 crates and 25 boxes of things. They were like the original consumers. And Livy was usually the restraining force on Twain's worst excesses. But she herself was the original shopper.

Then they're living in a very lavish suite of hotel rooms in Vienna. In fact, they go on one trip to Europe and they buy so many objects to beautify their house in Hartford that they come back with like 12 crates and 25 boxes of things. They were like the original consumers. And Livy was usually the restraining force on Twain's worst excesses. But she herself was the original shopper.

Then they're living in a very lavish suite of hotel rooms in Vienna. In fact, they go on one trip to Europe and they buy so many objects to beautify their house in Hartford that they come back with like 12 crates and 25 boxes of things. They were like the original consumers. And Livy was usually the restraining force on Twain's worst excesses. But she herself was the original shopper.

And she wrote a very beautiful letter to her mother at one point and said, it's terrible how attached we become to material things. So here was a man, a couple, who should have had a lovely, placid life, had everything in the world. He had talent. He was making an enormous amount of money. He'd married into an enormous amount of-

And she wrote a very beautiful letter to her mother at one point and said, it's terrible how attached we become to material things. So here was a man, a couple, who should have had a lovely, placid life, had everything in the world. He had talent. He was making an enormous amount of money. He'd married into an enormous amount of-

And she wrote a very beautiful letter to her mother at one point and said, it's terrible how attached we become to material things. So here was a man, a couple, who should have had a lovely, placid life, had everything in the world. He had talent. He was making an enormous amount of money. He'd married into an enormous amount of-

And actually the most famous American in the world. In the world, yeah. But particularly in the United States, he was so fascinated that if he walked into a restaurant theater, everyone would stand up and applaud. He was that famous. Well, it happens.

And actually the most famous American in the world. In the world, yeah. But particularly in the United States, he was so fascinated that if he walked into a restaurant theater, everyone would stand up and applaud. He was that famous. Well, it happens.

And actually the most famous American in the world. In the world, yeah. But particularly in the United States, he was so fascinated that if he walked into a restaurant theater, everyone would stand up and applaud. He was that famous. Well, it happens.

But you know, it's all, you know, the problems are self-inflicted wounds.

But you know, it's all, you know, the problems are self-inflicted wounds.

But you know, it's all, you know, the problems are self-inflicted wounds.