The adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Paperback)

The adventures of Huckleberry Finn Book Description

-All modern American literatue comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn- There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since.- Hemingway-s comment is scarcely an exaggeration. While critics have argues over the symbolic significance of Huck-s and Jim-s voyage down the Mississippi, none as disputed the greatness of the book itself.

When began modestly as -a kind of companion to Tom Sawyer- grew under Mark Twain-s hand into a work of immeasurable richness. In its distrust of too much civilization and its concern with the way language turns dreamy and corrupt when divorced from life, it is a thoroughly modern novel. And more than modern in its hero, who is, according to T.S. Eliot, -one of the permanent symbolic figures of fiction, not unworthy to take a place with Ulysses, Faust, Don Quixote, Don Juan, Hamlet and other discoveries which man has made, about himself.

About the Author(s)
Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835. When Sam was four, the family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi river, where he spent an idyllic boyhood. His father died when he was twelve, and he was apprenticed to a printer, which began his career of reporting and writing entertaining, humorous sketches. But in 1857 he yielded to his boyhood ambition and trained with the great Horace Bixby as a river-boat pilot (from which experience he took the name Mark Twain). The Civil War, however, put an end to the river traffic- and an end to Twains career as well. After a brief, hilarious was experience ( chronicled in The History of a Campaign that Failed) he turned his hand to silver prospecting, went back to journalism, and finally published his first short story in 1865. Mark Twains career was a central, representative one in American letters, making the already established role of humorist into a central post of social observation. His worldwide reputation was based on a gift for mixing the boyish mischief and innocence of a nave, vernacular vision with a dark, bitter view of man as hypocrite, victim and self-deceiver. His finest works are generally considered to be life on the Mississippi (1883), not a novel but a superbly evocative memoir, a brilliant account of pilot age and a criticism of the South; A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthurs Court (1889); The American Claimant (1892); Puddnhead Wilson (1894); and his masterpiece, The adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885); one of the worlds great books Mark Twain died in 1910.

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•   By shailesh 04 Jul 2009
  Stark description of pre civil war American life

  This novel is a truly inspirational as it reflects American society at the time it was written. Many of us would have read this novel, or at least heard about it during our schooldays. Simply speaking, this is Mark Twain’s great masterpiece. As the title of the novel suggests, this is the story of Huckleberry Finns adventures with Tom Sawyer. It is very much a continuation of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, in which Huck was a friend of Tom Sawyer's and his exploits continue in this second book. The focus is on Tom's life in the first book, while Huck is at the centre of the story in the second. Set in the 1830's and 40's, the story raised a great controversy at that time when it was published in 1884, but it is still controversial today, though for a totally different set of reasons. Through this book, we get a glimpse into what it would have meant to be American at that time. Huck is looked after by an abusive drunken father. He is adopted by a widow called Douglas and Miss Watson, who try to civilize him by inculcating their own values, some of which has to do with accepting slavery However, Huck is not interested and then decides to escape from the family. He is then seized by his father and though he enjoyed staying with his father for a short time, he plans his escape once more because he cannot withstand his beatings. He escapes once again and rows off to an island where he meets Jim, a slave owned by Miss Watson. They share a lot of adventures between them as they travel by raft down the Mississippi river, and eventually meet Tom again. Though Jim is recaptured in many adventures as the story proceeds, he is finally a free man in accordance with Miss Watson's will. This story is a stark reality on the slavery conditions that existed in American life at that time. More specifically, Mark Twain uses his humour and satire to point out various social ills existing in American society during that period such as corruption, slavery, ignorance, and cruelty.

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•   By Radha 24 Jul 2008
  Incredible

  Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is an enduring monuments of United States literature as the book talks bout slavery and racism. Twain is brilliant in developing the characters of the novel. The characters are real and timeless. The story is set in the pre-civil War American South and is about Huck, a eleven year old poor white boy whose mother is no more and his father is an abusive alcoholic. His best friend is Tom Sawyer. Tom’s aunt has a African slave named Jim who also want to run away. Tom helps both of them and they succeed to elope to Mississippi for a better life. Then starts their adventurous journey where they meet many colourful characters. Their relationship is beautifully written; Twain's vision of an interracial friendship is a significant milestone in U.S. literature. They both mutually develop a strong bond of friendship. Then Huck realizes that Jim is a man, no matter if he is black. Their journey is hilarious and entertaining. The author gave a peaceful message to the nation with the quality and the wittiness of the book. A very good book that emphasizes on humanity and friendship rather than racism. This is children’s book, but adults equally enjoyed it. My favorite character in the story is Jim who is true, caring and a good human being. He is the real hero for me. Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a great piece of satire.

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