The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Bantam Classics)

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A seminal work of American Literature that still commands deep praise and still elicits controversy, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is essential to the understanding of the American soul. The recent discovery of the first half of Twain's manuscript, long thought lost, made front-page news. And this unprecedented edition, which contains for the first time omitted episodes and other variations present in the first half of the handwritten manuscript, as well as facsimile reproductions of thirty manuscript pages, is indispensable to a full understanding of the novel. The changes, deletions, and additions made in the first half of the manuscript indicate that Mark Twain frequently checked his impulse to write an even darker, more confrontational book than the one he finally published.

Book Description

Hilariously picaresque, epic in scope, alive with the poetry and vigor of the American people, Mark Twain's story about a young boy and his journey down the Mississippi was the first great novel to speak in a truly American voice. Influencing subsequent generations of writers -- from Sherwood Anderson to Twain's fellow Missourian, T.S. Eliot, from Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner to J.D. Salinger -- Huckleberry Finn, like the river which flows through its pages, is one of the great sources which nourished and still nourishes the literature of America.

Customer Reviews:

An Adventure.......2007-08-30

It has been said that all American literature begins with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Reading this book for the first time was a delight. Though I was thoroughly familiar with most of the story, I still found the book to be a page turner. The character of Huck, the manchild, has to be one of the most fascinating in all of literature.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Bantam Classics).......2007-08-05

I read this book years ago when I was very young, but it still stands today as my alltime favorite. As I turned the pages, I lived that exciting adventure along with Huck and Jim. The language is a bit difficult at first, but you get the hang of it rather quickly. It is recommended reading for all ages.

The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn.......2007-07-19

Again, I am never disappointed in purchasing books from you because they are always superior to buying local. Thanks for your service you provide to your customers.

Legendary.......2007-06-25

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: classic. I really enjoyed this book. Mark Twain managed to keep the boyish atmosphere of the Adventures of Tom Sawyer while adding in adult like concepts, such as decisive moral choice and honor, to create a work of fiction that many hail to be the "Great American Novel."

If you're not familiar with the story: Huck, after having found riches with Tom Sawyer, is living with the Widow Douglas and no longer leading a life of vagrancy. I won't go too deeply into the story because: a) there are a lot of plot elements and it would be impossible and b) it really is something that you have to experience through the eyes and in the language of Huck Finn (the entire story is written from his perspective and in his dialect as opposed to the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which was written in Twain's distinct voice). Notable plot elements: Huck's escape from Pap, Jim and Huck's travel down the Mississippi, the Duke and the Dauphin and the Royal Nonesuch, and Huck and Tom's (who is present at the end of the book) contrivance to "free" Jim (you'll understand the "quotations" after you read the book).

Overall, all the hype surrounding this book is well deserved. Anyone who can read the English language should read this book (it should be a requirement punishable by death). You won't be disappointed.

An adventurous novel, my favorite book!.......2007-06-12

Witness Huck's transformation into maturity, through reading this captivating book that preaches independence and loyalty. Huck's dedication to his friend, Jim, is truly touching and serves as an inspiration to all!
Since the beginning of Huck's journey, Huck is living on his own without real adult supervision for the first time. He escapes from the custody of his abusive and manipulative father, and runs into Jim, who becomes a father figure to Huck later on in the story. Along with this "independence" Huck is forced to make his own decisions, which Huck first derives from the racist thoughts he had learned growing up, which he was having problems applying to his new African American, and escaped slave, friend. As Huck sees the cruelties of the world, where the white race call African Americans "[...]" and when the life of a slave is not valued, he eventually decides that what he was taught as a young child, no longer applied to the circumstances that he now lived in. As a reader, we can read and marvel at the brave adventures that Huck takes on and acknowledge him for his independent thinking!
Huck's refusal to give up their friendship and trust, and the knowledge and wisdom that Huck gained should be envied by everyone. Therefore, Huck is an inspiration for courageously breaking away from the negative views of society by upholding honor and establishing his individuality. Don't miss out on a book that can change your own outlook on life, learn the positive impact your decisions can make on the world!

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (The Classic Collection)

Average customer rating:

Great Classic
Excellent Audio CD of Classic
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (The Classic Collection)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: CD Unabridged
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1587886006
Release Date: 2001-08-01

Book Description

When we first met "the pariah of the village . . .the son of the drunkard" in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", Tom was "under strict orders not to play with him", so he played with him every time he got the chance. Twain took his most outrageous and outcast character (and perhaps the one he loved the most), Huckleberry Finn, from the book and wrote his own Adventures.

This giant work, in addition to entertaining boys and girls for generations, has defined the first-person novel in America, and continues to demand study, inspire reverence and stir controversy in our time.

Customer Reviews:

Great Classic.......2006-07-16

This is a great book and deserves the place it has as a literary classic. The audio version was very good with the narrator using very different voices for the various characters so there is no confusion about who is speaking - a weakness with less talented narrators. The reason that I gave this product 4 and not 5 stars was the packaging - which I found to be inadequate - the case is cardboard and each CD comes in a paper envelope - not good for storage over the years, especially if it is used on a consistent basis by multiple persons. But the actual narration was first class and brought the well known book to life.

Excellent Audio CD of Classic.......2004-03-09

Finally, a reading of a classic that is worth the money.

This story's narration covers a total of 9 Cds, and each disc has about 97 tracks (each track is only about 30 to 45 seconds). The good aspect of this is that it is quite easy to find your spot and, then pick up where you left off, if you happen to stop reading in the middle of a chapter. The negative aspect of short tracks is that it is difficult to skip around to particular chapters without "guessing" where a chapter might end (because there is no insert to tell which chapters are contained in each disc).

Overall, Dick Hill does a superb job of reading in this unabridged version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Hill's voice personifies Huck's narrative, and he keeps the Southern flavor of Twain's novel intact. What makes this reading particularly great is that Hill has a great ability to not only take on Huck, but other characters as well. Hill changes his voice for other characters such as Tom Sawyer, Jim, the Duke and the king, Pap and others. For this reason, this CD is a great tool for the reluctant readers in classes, and serves as a great supplement for the study of this novel.

I have found that buying audios to classic to be a gamble because you never really know what you are getting, but this is one of the best I've gotten.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.......2004-02-21

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a really interesting book about a boy and his adventures. The main character, Huck, narrates it. This gives it a certain amount of intimacy that it would not otherwise have. One of the things I found most interesting about this book is that Huck befriends a slave, Jim and helps him escape to freedom. This presents a large moral dilemma for him, because he does not want to be considered an abolitionist, but Jim is his friend. In the end he decides to help Jim and they raft down the Mississippi together. The description of their friendship is the best description I have ever read. Another aspect of the book that makes it all the more interesting to read is the colorful characters they meet along the way. Mark Twain has an incredible imagination and you then find yourself becoming attached to the characters as you move through the book. This is one of Mark Twain's greatest strengths. In the end I would recommend this book to readers of all ages because I think someone of any age could get something from it. Whether you read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as a means of entertainment, to gain a life lesson, or to understand the social pressure associated with befriending a black man prior to the Civil War, you will definitely be able to gain something from reading this novel.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Signet Classics)

Average customer rating:

Nietzsche's choice
Tom and Huck

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Signet Classics)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Signet Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451528646

Book Description

Few books capture both the simplicity and complexities of American life quite like these enduring "boyhood" classics by Mark Twain.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Take a lighthearted, nostalgic trip to a simpler time, seen through the eyes of a special boy named Tom Sawyer. It is a summertime world of hooky and adventure, pranks and punishment, villains and young love.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
He has no mother, his father is a drunkard, and he sleeps in a barrel. He's Huck Finn-liar, sometime thief, and rebel against respectability. But when Huck meets a runaway slave named Jim, his life changes forever. And on a raft floating down the Mississippi, the boy nobody wanted matures into a young man of courage and conviction.

Now includes a new introduction.

Customer Reviews:

Nietzsche's choice.......2006-08-03

In a letter to his friend Franz Overbeck dated 14, November, 1879, Nietzsche says, "If you do not know the latest book by Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, it would be a pleasure for me to make you a little present of it."

Both novels define the picturesque masterpiece and are the twin highpoints in American prose.

Tom and Huck.......2004-07-24

I LOvED this Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved the adventure, the excitment, and the comedy!!!!!!!!!

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Penguin Classics)

Average customer rating:

Better than Tom Sawyer
An adventurous novel, my favorite book!
a shame
The American Odyssey
Mark Twain

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Penguin Classics)
Mark Twain , and Guy Cardwell
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142437174

Book Description

Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. More than a century after its publication it remains a major work that can be enjoyed at many levels: as an incomparable adventure story and as a classic of American humor.

Introduction by John Seelye and Notes by Guy Cardwell

Customer Reviews:

Better than Tom Sawyer.......2007-07-15

I enjoyed this book more than Tom Sawyer because it seemed to flow better and was more interesting. I agree with another reviewer who pointed out how the story seemed to stall after Tom enters the scene. It is still worth reading and as entertaining as Tom Sawyer.

An adventurous novel, my favorite book!.......2007-06-12

Witness Huck's transformation into maturity, through reading this captivating book that preaches independence and loyalty. Huck's dedication to his friend, Jim, is truly touching and serves as an inspiration to all!
Since the beginning of Huck's journey, Huck is living on his own without real adult supervision for the first time. He escapes from the custody of his abusive and manipulative father, and runs into Jim, who becomes a father figure to Huck later on in the story. Along with this "independence" Huck is forced to make his own decisions, which Huck first derives from the racist thoughts he had learned growing up, which he was having problems applying to his new African American, and escaped slave, friend. As Huck sees the cruelties of the world, where the white race call African Americans "niggers" and when the life of a slave is not valued, he eventually decides that what he was taught as a young child, no longer applied to the circumstances that he now lived in. As a reader, we can read and marvel at the brave adventures that Huck takes on and acknowledge him for his independent thinking!
Huck's refusal to give up their friendship and trust, and the knowledge and wisdom that Huck gained should be envied by everyone. Therefore, Huck is an inspiration for courageously breaking away from the negative views of society by upholding honor and establishing his individuality. Don't miss out on a book that can change your own outlook on life, learn the positive impact your decisions can make on the world!

a shame.......2007-03-30

This classic was truly a disappointment in my eyes, because not only was the storyline chopped up and completely random, Twain's writing style made me put my book down at numeriosu times throughout the book, unable to fathom why anyone would want to go through the same pain and suffering as i did.

The first thing you notice about the novel is that loosely related events follow one after another, in such randomness that I spent half the time not reading, but deciphering the "code". set in the late 1800s, this book does give a somewhat accurate view of southern society and segregation, as portrayed by Jim. That's where the good stuff ends, i'm afraid. Twain's writing style makes this almost impossible to read, by including either an overabundance of detailed description or none at all, thereby making this almost like a fun puzzle, in which you try to piece the different parts together without any instruction. Twain surely does not assist the reader in understanding what he has to say, but instead, makes everything utterly unfathomable.

The American Odyssey.......2007-03-21

Twain's characters are so much a part of popular culture and our national subconscious that any summary of the story would be repetitive. The book is a masterpiece - the call to adventure and subsequent journey of Huck Finn provide both a glimpse into antebellum America (the relations between whites and blacks, patterns of speech and pace of life are long gone) as well as a cold, hard look at who we are now (racially, socially, and the irrepressible urgency of being young). A classic of American literature in every sense of the word, it also is a fun read and a great story. Highly recommended.

Mark Twain.......2006-11-30

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain is an absolute must read. Twain masterfully creates an interesting story line while staying true to the times, setting, and language. Huck's tale of his adventure down the Mississippi will keep you turning the pages. It is very interesting because things happen when you least expect it. This is an amazing story full of adventure and fun.

But of course, you will find the way the characters speak is either annoying or downright confusing. But remember this takes place in the past! It was normal for people to talk like that. Also you think this book is not good because the use of the N word in describing Jim. Although use of that word is offensive and insensitive now, it was not like that in those days. And most of the young boys of the south spoke in such a manner then. If you read this book then you will find this is really a good book. I am sure that you will appreciate this book as one of the greatest classics of American literature.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Cliffs Notes)

Average customer rating:

A good basic resource
Huckleberry Finn's Critique for Dr. K's Class at RMU
Excellent

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Cliffs Notes)
Robert Bruce
Manufacturer: Cliffs Notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764586041

Book Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.

In CliffsNotes on Huckleberry Finn, you follow the Mississippi River adventures of Mark Twain's mischief-making protagonist Huck Finn and the runaway slave Jim.

Just like Huck's makeshift raft, this study guide carries you along on his incredible journey by providing chapter summaries and critical analyses on life in the late-19th-century American south. You'll also gain insight into the man behind this American classic — Mark Twain, a.k.a. Samuel Clemens. Other features that help you study include

Character analyses of major players
A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
Critical essays
A review section that tests your knowledge
A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Customer Reviews:

A good basic resource.......2004-02-16

I think this is probably best for people that need basic info. For the person that needs to write an indepth paper or do indepth research this is probably not the choice for you. It's a good basic tool for the beginner though.

Huckleberry Finn's Critique for Dr. K's Class at RMU.......2002-11-28

JWD at RMU

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn "Critique"

Huckleberry Finn introduces himself as someone who appeared in an earlier book reminding us of what happened towards the end of that story. Though he won't mention it until later in the story, when his irresponsible father has left him by his self. Huck has been living with Ms. Douglas a widow, a kind woman who wants to teach him all the things his father has neglected, the things all normal kids would usually learn.

He tells us about Miss Watson, the widow's sister, who is strict on teaching Huck good manners and religion, and about Tom Sawyer and his stories, a boy like Huck looks up to because of his wide reading and imagination ability. He is also friendly with Jim, the black slave. Huck's father returns and takes him away from the widow. A pig has murdered when his father begins beating him, Huck runs away and makes it look as though Huck. He hides out on a nearby island, intending to take off after his neighbors stop searching for his assumed dead body.

Jim the black slave of Miss. Watson is also hiding on the island, since he has run away from Miss Watson, who was about to sell him and separate him from his wife and his deaf little girl. They decide to escape together, and when they find a large raft, their journey on the Mississippi River begins. After a couple of adventures on the Mississippi River, a steamboat hits their raft, and Huck and Jim are separated. Huck goes ashore and finds himself at the home of the Grangerfords, which allow him to come and live with them. At first Huck admires these people for what he thinks is their class and good taste. But when he learns about the deaths caused by a feud with another family, he becomes disgusted with the Grangerfords. By this time Jim had time to repair the raft, and Huck rejoins him. Two men who are escaping the law and who claim to be a duke and the son of the king of France soon join them. Huck knows they are actually small-time crooks, but he pretends to believe their stories.

After watching these frauds bilk people of their money in two towns, Huck is forced to help them try to swindle an inheritance out of three young girls who were recently orphaned. He goes along at first because he doesn't want them to turn Jim in, but eventually he decides that the thieves have gone too far. He invents a complicated plan to escape and to have them arrested. The plan almost works, but at the last minute the two crooks show up and continue to travel with Huck and Jim. When all their moneymaking schemes begin to fail, they sell Jim to a farmer in one of the towns they're visiting. Huck learns about this and decides to free Jim. The farmer turns out to be Tom Sawyer's uncle, and through a misunderstanding he and his wife think Huck is Tom. When Tom himself arrives, Huck brings him up to date on what's happening. Tom pretends to be his own brother Sid, and the two boys set about to rescue Jim.

The true to his imaginative style, Tom devises a plan that is more complicated than it has to be. Eventually they actually pull it off and reach the raft without being caught. Tom, however, has been shot in the leg, and Jim refuses to leave until the wound has been looked at. The result is that Jim is recaptured and Tom and Huck have to explain what they have done. Tom, it turns out, knew all along that Miss Watson had set Jim free in her will, so everyone can now return home together. Huck, however, thinks he's had enough of civilization, and hints that he might take off for the Indian Territory instead of going back to his home.

Excellent.......2001-06-25

I found this book an excellent choice of words to describe Mark Twaine's Huck Finn

Mark Twain : Mississippi Writings : Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, Pudd'nhead Wilson (Library of America)

Average customer rating:

Puddin' head Wilson: A Brief Review
Great edition
Wonderful book, wonderful series
A Grand View of A Grandeur
ACCESSIBLE TWAIN IN A HANDSOME BOOK

Mark Twain : Mississippi Writings : Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, Pudd'nhead Wilson (Library of America)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0940450070

Book Description

Here for the first time in one volume are the most famous and characteristic of Mark Twain's works. Through each of them runs the powerful and majestic Mississippi. The river represented for Twain the complex and contradictory possibilities in his own and the nation's life: the place where civilization's comforts meet the violence and promise of freedom of the frontier. It was the place, too, where Twain's youthful innocence confronted the grim reality of slavery. The nostalgic re-creation of childhood in "Tom Sawyer"--"simply a hymn put into prose form to give it a worldly air," said Twain--and the richly anecdotal memoir of his days as a riverboat pilot in "Life on the Mississippi" give way to the realism and often dark comedy of "Huckleberry Finn" and the troubled exploration of slavery in his mystery, "Pudd'nhead Wilson." Together, these four books trace the central trajectory of his life and career, and they can be read as a single masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

Puddin' head Wilson: A Brief Review.......2004-01-17

One of the most entertaining books I have read in a long time. Truly, "a page turner". Enlightening insight into southern society in smalltown Missouri during the 1840's.

Great edition.......2003-11-04

I doubt that anyone reading these reviews is trying to decide whether or not they will enjoy reading the stories in this volume - most likely they've read them already and want to know if this is an edition worth buying. This is definitely worth buying. The printing is crisp. The paper is lightweight, smooth-surfaced, and acid-free; over 1100 pages are only 1 and 1/8 inches thick. The dimensions are perfect. The binding appears to be strong yet limber - the book opens easily with good visualization of all margins. Library of America, the publishers, seems dedicated not only to preserving American writings, but doing so with style. I plan to put more of their books on my wish list - Melville and Hawthorne perhaps. My only regret is that I already own the complete writing of Poe from another publisher.

Wonderful book, wonderful series.......2002-06-08

If pressed to mention a series of books I love more than all others, I would have to cite Library of America; this is not because I am a fan of stictly American literature, but because I have never seen a series so dedicated--and so good at--a mission of preserving and presenting a body of literature of such greatness in such a worthy manner. Perhaps some day there will be a Library of Russia, Library of France, Library of England, etc.

Twain is a delight and underrated by modern critics; here lies a good collection of some of his fine works. Especially good are Life on the Mississippi and Pudd'nhead Wilson, along with the indesposable Huckleberry Finn. Also contained is Tom Sawyer, which I cannot praise, but I cannot deny its position as a classic and its deservence to be included in this volume.

A Grand View of A Grandeur.......2002-01-29

Once they were absolute rulers - laws made to meet their needs, unstinting respect their due, their commands obeyed without hesitation or reluctance. They are vanished today, the last of their lineage in tourist boats, unremarked, nearly unremembered. Nearly two centuries ago, the Mississippi steamboat pilot was a legendary figure. Mark Twain conveys us to that time and environment in one of his finest writings. Life On the Mississippi is a superb descriptive achievement in portraying the river scene , but also conveys vivid images of the people living on and along it. It's an outstanding example of painting with both a broad brush and enhancing with fine detail.

Beginning with a history of European "discovery" and exploration of this mighty stream, Twain moves us into his own history as a "cub" pilot. Perhaps no-one before or since has so effectively exposed what it meant to "tackle the river" in learning to safely man the wheel of a river steamer. From his first astonishment at discovering he must "get a notebook and write down" the names of all the points, landmarks, snags and "crossings" through the realization that most of that information would change before his next trip, he comes to understand that a pilot must "know the river" with full dedication. As we follow him through the process he introduces us to the river's wonders and the people it supports. He explains the ranking of pilots, steamboat captains, mates and "hands." None of his observations are boring, from the most mundane river condition to dramatic events such as boiler explosions.

Those fearing that Twain's information may be "outdated" may take heart. Much of the book views his early days on the river from the vantage point of thirty years later. He is reminiscing, but Twain's excellent style brings us with him into each memory. Our feelings readily align with his as he guides us. The latter part of the book is a collection of images of the river valley in the latter part of the 19th Century as Twain revisits the river after a long absence. The only real distinction, apart from the automobile, which did for the railroad what the latter did to the steamboat, are the statistics of agriculture and industry. His descriptions of towns, villages and cities differ little from what we might encounter duplicating his journey.

During this pilgrimage, Twain brings in numerous anecdotal episodes to further sparkle his descriptive and historical accounts. Although all are entertaining at one level or another, several stand out as representatives of Twain's inventive genius. Ritter's Narrative is among the grimmest of Twain's essays in any of his publications. It's a story of a long-term quest for vengeance with a bizarre outcome. A far lighter note is struck with the story of a sleepwalking steamboat pilot. An account of the pilots organizing a "protective association" is told with light humour, not quite obscuring the serious nature of its intent.

In all, no matter that this book's focus lies in a period stretching back nearly two centuries, the writing is vigorous enough to capture today's readers. The history is related with Twain's always lively skill, something as mundane as a sunset is imparted with his special verve. This book can be taken up repeatedly; for reminders of a lost era, for an examination of values or, the best reason of all, for a prime example of what North America's greatest writer could produce in his passion for narrative.

ACCESSIBLE TWAIN IN A HANDSOME BOOK.......2001-09-01

This is the kind of book reserved for the word "volume" and by that I mean it carries all the weight of Twain's most accessible works. All of the Library of America books carry this weight but this was one of the first and deservedly so. I'm reviewing this book not just on its contents but on its sheer style and scholarly editing, its fitness in the hand (or lap), the way it will look on your bookshelf and the 10-point Linotron Galliard printing that makes the very act of reading much easier.
Now, the contents cannot be less magnificent as the river all these writings have in common. Funny, wise and as much a part of 19th century American history as you'll find anywhere, these are great examples of the best American writing in one "volume" by one of the world's most recognized authors. No self-respecting booklover should be without it.

Average customer rating:

My Favorite American Novel
Genius Work but Difficult to Teach
Huck Finn
A great book teaching some of our most valuable morals
Being "sivilized" doesn't mean anything

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Prestwick House Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1580495834

Book Description

This Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition includes a glossary and reader's notes to help the modern reader contend with Twain's language, allusions, and deliberate misstatements and malapropisms.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain's sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, became an instant success in the year of its publication, 1884, but was seen by some as unfit for children to read because of its language, grammar, and "uncivilized hero." The book has sparked controversy ever since, but most scholars continue to praise it as a modern masterpiece, an essential read, and one of the greatest novels in all of American literature. Twain's satiric treatment of racism, religious excess, and rural simplicity and his accuracy in presenting dialects mark Huck Finn as a classic. His unswerving confidence in Huck's wisdom and maturity, along with the well-rounded and sympathetic portrayal of Jim draw readers into the book, holding them until Huck's last words rejecting all attempts to "sivilize" him.

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite American Novel.......2007-08-15

This is a pleasure to read. I have listened to it unabridged on tape 3 times and hope to listen to it more. Full of humor and sadness, it is not a book for children as is Tom Sawyer. Huck is an abused youth who narrates an odyssey that he, the runaway son, and Jim, the runaway slave, have on the river. It is unfortunate that films cannot capture the Huck's narrative.

Genius Work but Difficult to Teach.......2007-07-09

The temptation to teach Huck to high school students must be taken seriously. No matter the racial makeup of the class, the "N" word has to be defused before reading begins. We can explain and discuss and meltdown some of the ascerbity of the word, but unless the issue is fully resolved, the 200-plus appearances of such a slander will eventually work us back to tender. Background reading on Twain is a must. His short story, "Disgraceful Persecution of a Boy," about a boy returning from Sunday School who stops to stone a Chinaman (in San Francisco) makes a pointed comment about the "teaching" of prejudice. This story makes good pre-reading since a reference with a similar point is made in "Huck Finn." When a river boat has an accident, a riverside discussion goes: "Was anybody hurt?" "Nope. Killed a N- though." This bit of dialog slipped in and overheard is painfully offensive and yet such a perfect contrast to Huck's feelings and the "teaching" he has received, both from the Widow Douglas and from life itself. Jim, of course, is the subject of Huck's racial feelings. Throughout the story, Jim is a father, brother and friend to Huck, but never a servant. He is everything, a good man tormented with love for his lost family and Huck, yet in his world, he is literally bound (by chains and threats) and so cannot come close to the dignity of African Americans of today. Huck and Jim's world requires that we board a mental time-machine and accept both the life on the raft and the values on shore as they were then, not now. Teach the book with joy after preparing with compassion.

Huck Finn.......2007-06-12

What I appreciate most from this book is its ability to create rollercoaster sensation, in which the reader participates aside with the characters within the novel. The life seems unimagineable but it's that very reason that makes it memorable.
Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn explores the human flaws of an American society through the eyes of Huck Finn, who ultimately triumphs over societal expectations; Twain argues that in order for one to genuinely perceive flaws of a body of people, one has to be truly detached and thus objective of that group. Huck Finn is the epitome of an intrepid individual, who ignores societal expectations, when he learns that it is not he that is abnormal, but the others that are unusual. It is not until then that he truly assumes an objective stance and investigates and analyzes the slave-oriented society. Able to prevail against the initial despairs of isolation, Huck Finn ultimately overcomes through his eventual apathy towards the people's views. He does exactly what the others do not expect him to do so. Instead of diminishing, Finn firmly stands even stronger than before, an attitude that irate the rest. It is then that the individual truly undermines the established norm and understands societal flaws. Following one's moral compass, anyone can rise against and unjust conformity, upholding one's genuine beliefs.
The reason you should read this book is that it becomes good source, as it is cited and referred to in allusions.

A great book teaching some of our most valuable morals.......2007-06-12

In Twain's most prized novel, he reveals the problems in a judgmental, racist society and shows the need for reform. He argues for an end to such acts throughout the novel with Huck's union with the runaway slave and his ultimate decision to leave such a tainted world for more free ground.

Throughout Huck's travels, he struggles with the decision of whether or not he should stay loyal to his most precious and dedicated friend or turn him in just because he is a runaway slave, revealing the problems with judging people based on their skin color alone. In the beginning of the book, before Huck runs away to be alone, he would talk to Jim, Miss Watson's slave and property, on occasion, playing tricks on him with the help of his friends. But once he is able to escape society and discover the runaway Jim along his path, he decides to protect him and they band together in their journey. Although Huck repeatedly refers to him as "my Jim," he sees him as more than property but more in the sense of him being his friend. It is only when Huck is able to abandon all the "ideals" that society had taught him that he accepts Jim as his friend, not at all associated with any means of property. He decides this one night, even willing to go to "hell" for his actions, showing how he achieves Twain's goal of ending the extensive judgment in society based on a man's outward appearances.

As Huck learns more related lessons, he notices many problems that society has and decides that he does not want any part in such actions, abandoning those who do not share his views and becoming the full embodiment of Twain's wishes. Once Huck has decided that he will not dispose of Jim and return him to the hands of his owner he decides that he must break Jim out of "jail." He finds himself once more reunited with Tom and shares his goals, amazed at the fact they Tom is willing to free a runaway slave. He thinks that Tom has changed to share his views, but is once again let down by those who were once close to him. It turns out that Tom only agrees to do this after he learns that Jim is already free. He would not have agreed to help Huck otherwise because he still believes in the fact that slaves are property. When Huck discovers this and Jim is set free as he should always have been, he no longer wishes to live in a place where people are considered property and others do not keep their promises or base their acts on faulty premises. He then decides to leave for the Indian territories--a place where he can act as he knows is right and how things in the world should be.

Being "sivilized" doesn't mean anything.......2007-03-20

I absolutely loved this book. It was assigned for my American Lit class this semester. The book is told in the voice of Huck Finn, the son of the town drunk. Huck starts the novel living with the widow Douglas, who wants to "sivilize" him. He won't put up with that, however, and starts on a series down the Mississippi river in which he befriends a runaway slave named Jim. I will refrain from giving any more thoughts on the book, because although I'm sure most people know the story, I don't want to ruin it for anyone.

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Pleasantly surprised!

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 0786180374

Book Description

Huck Finn is a homeless rebel who loves freedom more than respectability. He isn't above lying and stealing, but he faces a battle with his conscience when he meets up with a runaway slave named Jim, who provides him with his first experience of love, acceptance, and a sense of responsibility.

The title character of this famous novel tells his own story in a straightforward narrative laced with shrewd, sharp comments on human nature. The boy's adventures along the Mississippi River form the framework of a series of moral lessons, revelations of a corrupt society, and contrasts of innocence and hypocrisy.

Customer Reviews:

Pleasantly surprised!.......2007-01-05

I teach high school English, and some students just can't catch Twain's humor without hearing his "voice." I found these recordings to be an effective way to jump-start my students' understanding of Twain's style of writing...many would have jumped ship straight to the cliff (notes, that is.) I planned 2-3 class periods to listen to some of my favorite passages, and it was a great success. Interest was up, and essays improved. Enjoy!

Mark Twain: Selected Works, Deluxe Edition (Burlesque Autobiography/the Prince)

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Wonderful Collection

Mark Twain: Selected Works, Deluxe Edition (Burlesque Autobiography/the Prince)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0517053578
Release Date: 1990-10-02

Book Description

It was from his experience on the Mississippi that Samuel Clemens took his nom de plume — Mark Twain, the call used by riverboat pilots when taking soundings of the river. The nom de plume was especially appropriate for Clemens, reflecting both his love of the Mississippi and his wry sense of humor. This Library of Literary Classics edition contains his best works including: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
This deluxe edition is bound in padded leather with luxurious gold-stamping on the front and spine, satin ribbon marker and gilded edges. Other titles in this series include: Charlotte & Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels; Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works; William Shakespeare: The Complete Works; Charles Dickens: Four Complete Novels; Lewis Carroll: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works; and Jane Austen: The Complete Novels.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Collection.......2006-12-14

This is a wonderful book, all the classic stories in a beautiful leather book. Explore the world with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, enjoy the short stories that Mark Twain wrote, by yourself or share them with your children. I know that I will enjoy it for many generations to come.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Modern Library Classics)

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An interesting journey, takes its sweet time though
The Best Work of Mark Twain
ok
Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Modern Library Classics)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375757376
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Book Description

'All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn,' Ernest Hemingway wrote. 'It's the best book we've had.' A complex masterpiece that has spawned volumes of scholarly exegesis and interpretative theories, it is at heart a compelling adventure story. Huck, in flight from his murderous father, and Nigger Jim, in flight from slavery, pilot their raft thrillingly through treacherous waters, surviving a crash with a steamboat, betrayal by rogues, and the final threat from the bourgeoisie. Informing all this is the presence of the River, described in palpable detail by Mark Twain, the former steamboat pilot, who transforms it into a richly metaphoric entity. Twain's other great innovation was the language of the book itself, which is expressive in a completely original way. 'The invention of this language, with all its implications, gave a new dimension to our literature,' Robert Penn Warren noted. 'It is a language capable of poetry.'

From the eBook edition.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting journey, takes its sweet time though.......2006-05-05

Huckleberry Finn, best friend of Tom Sawyer, runs away from his brutal, white-trash father for an easy-going life of floating down the Missisippi river on a raft. But just as he sets out he meets up with runaway slave Jim. Their escape and adventure they have together as with each mooring of the raft they encounter a new problem, friend, fued or foe. Each and every time Huck manages to worm out of the situation by telling huge lies so he can get back to the raft, escaping one fine mess to end up in another.

Huckleberry Finn speaks volumes of the era it was written in. There's no such thing as political correctness here as the 'N' word is thrown around so casually and frequently you might have to stop yourself from repeating it after putting the book down. To justify this, one might consider that Huck and Jim are considered to be the most common and ruffian of black and white so would naturally go together like peas in a pod. Jim's role as a surrogate father cements this theory also.

The only ongoing plot thread is that of Jim evading his captors. Other characters and story arcs come and go. I do realise that Mark Twain wrote the book over a period of many years so this may account as to why it has a stop/start feel to it. It does seem as meandering as this Missisippi river itself.

Some have voiced dismay at the cop-out ending. But you can look at like so many movie plot-holes of today. Without suspension of disbelief or some necessary contrivances there simply wouldn't be a story or, ultimately, any adventures to tell of.

It's written in many different dialects and can be a bit tricky to get ahold of. But if you stick with it, the effort will pay off. I don't consider Huckleberry Finn to be a life-changing book but it does deserve its status as a classic and has huge amounts of drama and character.

This edition features a lengthy introduction by George Saunders, a lost chapter and critical reviews.

The Best Work of Mark Twain.......2006-04-29

The most charming element of Mark Twain's writings is that he masques his utter disdain at the defects and foibles of society under a superficial layer of humour. Indeed the simmering screen of wit and hilarisity so readily associated with this great 19th.century American novelist lends an air of deceit to his work. Now,humour and comic satire have always been great writers' subtle instruments to deflate the ever-expanding balloon of society's corrupt lifestyle and the gift of employing boisterous means to mirror moral decay is firmly exploited by Mark Twain in his remarkable novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn",arguably the best work of the author.

For those who haven't read Twain's previous book "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer",a meeting with Huckleberry Finn for the first time would prove both awkward and interesting. Huck Finn,as we know from his plethora of adventures with Tom Sawyer in the aforementioned book,is a mischievous urchin always in the uttermost fear from his drunken,never to do well father. At the end of this book,we discern Huck Finn to be fed up with being,or rather trying to be,a decent,well-furnisheeeed lad and even runs away from his adopted mother-of-sorts Old Widow Douglas only to be brought back by Tom Huck takes up the funny and great tale of boyish mischiefs from there and himself accounts in his very own American dialect in a conversational tone that imbibes the readr's interest and takes him through his various adventures,misadventures,joy,agony and an innocent and gradual maturation.

Huck is saturated with putting on a fresh and fair appearance and longs to escape the realm of Old Widow Douglas,Miss Watson and others propagating 'civilization' and returns to his old familiar,accuatomed ways of 'uncivilized' living. His drunken father's whim to take him back with him and his fortunes enentually proves to be a blessing in disguise as he escapes from his perpetually inebrited and cruel father only to meet with another fugitive in the shape of Jim,a "nigger" and and slave of Miss Watson. Jackson Island proves too insecure an abode to sustain life with the whole of St.Petersburg hot on their heels and so Huck and jim make a raft and flow along the Mississippi river and what "a raft of trouble" their floating journey would turn out to be.

The eponymous protagonist of the novel and the frightenrd slave encounters numerous characters on their journey. Huck Finn undergoes changes in his perceptual capabilities as he decodes the latent meanings in ordinary and seemingly harmless folks' intensions. Most notably Huck and Jim meet two men,old in years but youngat deceit,and enforcrd by trying circumstances to accept them in their journey,are subjected to myriad critical moments,which when congregated,direct at the moral corruption of people. Huck and Jim have to harmonise reluctantly with these two characters in their success in fooling a whole village and then in attempting rob an innocent family of its money. Huck learns to refine the good from the evil and foolowing the echo of a pure conscience saves many a misfortune from crashing upon a number of innocents. Huck and Jim are finally successfully in absconding these two men but land up in Uncle Silas Plhep's place,two miles below Pikesville,and then the inevitable takes place. Huck is kept back under the care of Aunt Sally,Uncle Silas's wife.

"The Adventures of Hucleberry Finn" reflects a typical Mark Twain---witty,hilarisity and sarcastic. This book goes much deeper and is more intense in the sense of exposing the debaucheryand sheer foolishness that society favours to live in. What the American great sketched in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", he finishes addind the final touches in this novel---the abject custom of slave-trade and racism. The easy and nonchalent manner in which the poor villagers are taken in by the two "Royal Nonesuch rapscallions" mirror the intellectual bankruptcy of humans in a smaller landscape. Hollow laws are mocked at and individual pecularity ridiculed. But Twain doesn't make this essentially boys' book a dark,exhaustive social novel and riddled with with comedy and fun,this novel is then added by a hint of romanticism when the representative of all boys Tom Sawyer arrives onto the scene and both enthralls and pleases te audience the audience with the implementation on his notion of heroism and style.

The plethora of dialects used in the book do make it difficult for the reader to properly absorb their meanings but with the passage of time,he gets to comprehend them and finds them somewhat funny. The word "nigger" too is an utterly controversial one as scattered through the pages actually divert the major essence of the book. And Jim's marvellous escape from the jaws of death after being bitten by a rattlesnake becomes a trifle too romantic. Is it really possible to survive a rattlesnake bite that easily?

Even after taking the flaws into consideration,one must ackowledge its conguency to the life of a boy undermined by a boozed father,uncompromising circumstances and bitter society. Huck finn is the eternal effigy of a street-urchin captivated within the narrow scope of civilization and in his urge to free himself from the shackles of civil codes,this "poor devil" confronts the harh realities of life and through his innocent,pure perception,learns more about the world and the umpteen dark aspects of it. His explicit desire to return to his old days of uncivilized manners is never realised as escaping from Widow Douglas,he falls into the grasp of Aunt Sally. Indeed the book ends in the rstoration of all pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and pehaps this fairy-tale gratification is a vital part of life that propels us to carry on with our own adventures.

ok.......2005-12-03

This book interest meh because it has everything that I look for in a book. It has comedy, drama and suspense. It takes us down the Mississippi River, running through trouble and adventures every step of the way. While the main characters, Huck and Jim goes further and further away, they realize that their's more to friendship than their eyes see.

Huck and Jim became close friends eventhough society permits it. It talks about the bad thing African-Americans went through. It thought me that it's ok to lie to protect a friend. You have to follow your heart because most of the time, your brains tells you what others want you to do, while your heart tells you want you want to do. I would give this book 3 stars because... eventhough I like the whole book and it's lessons, I find the ending a little bit frustrating. But all in all, it's still an above average book and I would suggest this book to everyone!

Huckleberry Finn.......2002-11-11

I thought that this was an exciting book, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventure. Southern dialect is used throughout the entire novel, and it was difficult to understand at first, but once I had read a little ways into it, the language added tremendous reality to the story. This book is about a young boy who runs away from his dad, the town drunk, and is later joined by a slave, Jim, who is running aways at an attempt for freedom. It questions a lot of the values that Americans had when it was written (before the Civil War), and it's message is timeless. It was an awesome book, and you should definitely check it out!

Huckleberry Finn.......2002-11-11

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