Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist best known for his novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the latter often called "the Great American Novel." He achieved great success as a writer and public speaker, becoming a national celebrity during his day. His wit and satire earned praise from critics and peers, and he became a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty. A Tramp Abroad was written as part of a series of five non-fiction travel books by Twain, documenting his journey through central and southern Europe with a male companion, closely based on his friend Joseph Twichell. It is similar to and often considered a sequel of the very popular The Innocents Abroad.