Mark Twain and the Holy Land: A New Look
Grand luxury tours of the Holy Land from the U.S. began in earnest in 1867. On board the steamer Quaker City, charged with chronicling the voyage for the press, was a young writer named Mark Twain. His memorable and irreverent accounts, appearing first in newspapers and later in his bestselling book Innocents Abroad (1869), did much to set the stage for what would become a major tourism industry. Marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Innocents Abroad, discover the story and impact of Twain’s remarkable journey.
Join us for an interview with Jonathan Sarna, University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University. He has written, edited, or co-edited more than thirty books, including Lincoln and the Jews: A History, which he co-authored with Benjamin Shapell. Gil Troy (moderator) is Professor of History at McGill University.