Those Extraordinary Twins

Mark Twain's ‘Those Extraordinary Twins’ follows conjoined twins, Luigi and Angelo.

While the former is something of a sensualist, often drinking to excess and constantly wreathed in cigarette smoke, the latter, Angelo, is much more conservative, loathing cigarettes and, despite being teetotal, enduring the hangovers his brother doesn’t.

When they visit a small village, Twain explores the reaction of the inhabitants and the twins’ reaction towards them. A short story, ‘Those Extraordinary Twins’ is a perfect mix of humour and seriousness, and it takes an intriguing glance at how people interact with one another.

This short story is a perfect read for fans of Mark Twain or for anyone who is simply looking for something quick and fun.





Mark Twain is the pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, (1835-1910). He was an American humourist, lecturer, journalist, and novelist who acquired international fame for his adventure stories of boyhood, especially 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' and 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.

Twain transcended the apparent limitations of his origins to become a popular public figure and one of America’s most beloved writers.

So many of Mark Twain's stories have been made into films that it is impossible to name them all. The most popular ones are "The Adventures of Huck Finn" (1993), starring Elijah Wood, "Tom Sawyer" (1973), starring Jodie Foster, and "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990), produced by Walt Disney animation.