Twain’s Nativity

Neither your reviewer, Hugh O’Neill, who said Mark Twain was born in Hannibal, Miss., nor letter writer David Bolendar, who said he was born in Hannibal, Mo., is correct. Twain was born in the small town of Florida, Mo., as he says in the very first sentence of his autobiography. He adds: “The village contained a hundred people and I increased the population by one percent. It is more than many of the best men in history could have done for a town.” He did grow up in Hannibal, however. The Times should correct this birthplace misinformation, or Hal Holbrook will cancel his subscription.

KATHY EASTERLING

Los Angeles