In addition to the entire text of what some consider the quintessential American novel, this comprehensive volume features materials that help place the novel in perspective with its time and place. "Contexts" includes essays on the composition of the novel, the people and history of the Upper Mississippi Valley, slavery, and the critical reception of the novel upon its publication. "Readings" includes Henry Nash Smith's introduction to the 1958 Riverside Edition of the novel, as well as critical essays.
Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells the story of a teenaged misfit who finds himself floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with an escaping slave, Jim. In the course of their perilous journey, Huck and Jim meet adventure, danger, and a cast of characters who are sometimes menacing and often hilarious.
Though some of the situations in Huckleberry Finn are funny in themselves (the cockeyed Shakespeare production in Chapter 21 leaps instantly to mind), this book's humor is found mostly in Huck's unique worldview and his way of expressing himself. Describing his brief sojourn with the Widow Douglas after she adopts him, Huck says: "After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people." Underlying Twain's good humor is a dark subcurrent of Antebellum cruelty and injustice that makes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a frequently funny book with a serious message.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Exactly what I ordered!:
This book came on time and was exactly what I ordered. I had absolutely no problem with this order and the price was great!
purchased Huck Finn on 12/08/09:
Purchased Audio CD 12/08/09.
Was very disappointed did not receive Audio of Huck Finn til after Christmas.
one of the best books EVER:
I may be only 11, but I know a good book when I see one and this is one of them!
The Misadventures of the Runaways:
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is universally considered Mark Twain's masterpiece, surpassing "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Yet Tom Sawyer's story continuously outsells Huck Finn's for the simple reason that "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is the more enjoyable read. That does not mean that "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" isn't enjoyable, but that perhaps Twain tried too hard to impress and outdo himself that he muddled his story with unnecessary tangents. Everyone is familiar with the... more info
