Twain's equal? I see Mark as being the best of HL Mencken and PJ O'Rourke. To compare him to Twain would be difficult unless it were to say that Steyn is the Twain of our century.
That was pretty much the gist of what I posted about Twain, i.e. the only current essayist who "compares" is Steyn. I would
never equate the two.
Now if Mark Steyn continues writing till he's in his 70's, publishes a pair of classic stories that are still being read in the year 2250, goes on regular lecture tours to packed houses, and someday has an actor make an entire career of impersonating him, we can talk.