Twain in academic regalia for acceptance of the D.Litt. degree awarded him by Oxford University

In this striking portrait taken in 1907, the great American writer Mark Twain — born Samuel Langhorne Clemens — is seen wearing the academic robes of the University of Oxford, where he was awarded the prestigious Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree. His characteristic white suit replaced by solemn black and ivory, Twain sits with quiet dignity and a twinkle of irony in his gaze — the same sharp wit that made him a literary legend on both sides of the Atlantic.

Oxford’s decision to honor Twain acknowledged his enduring impact on literature through works such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, novels that redefined storytelling with humor, humanity, and deep social insight.

This photo captures not only a man, but a moment of transatlantic cultural recognition. Twain, ever self-deprecating, joked: "I am now a doctor — though the degree only proves how little Oxford really knows me."

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