Customer Reviews

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Everyman's Library)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just want to point out that this hardcover Everyman's Library edition is not abridged. Most of the reviews posted here apply to the Signet mass market edition, which apparently is abridged. The Everyman's edition contains both novels in full.

A wonderful edition which includes both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (very handy for the Twain lover). It also has a red bookmark attached to the binding so you can easily find your place. The book is small and light so it is ideal for travelling and reading out of your home. It also includes a nice introduction and a comparative chronology of Twain's life. For a Twain collector, this is a lovely, readable copy.

This is a collection of two books that are often considered for children. However, they are suitable for both adults and children. The kids will love the adventure, the wonderfully irreverent and humorous view of childhood and the characters with their loyalty and friendship. The adults will also enjoy the satire of life in the "proper" lower middle-class society of the South with the sendups of hypocricy, false religiousity, racism and slavery and the like.

Tom Sawyer is probably more oriented for children than the other one. Here, the focus is Tom, who is largely a child prankster. His romantic ideals of doing things like running away to be a pirate are the source of great amusement and reflection for him - and worry for his family.

Huckleberry Finn has more adult themes. Here, the mockery of society is much harsher as Huck escapes from his abusive, drunk father to sail down the Mississippi with Tom and Jim (a runaway slave). Along the way the get to see the best and worst of what America on the river has to offer.

These books should be treasured and deserve their fame. Twain informs and relates in a totally entertaining and warm way.

Wow.....wow....I mean, really, this book is just amazing. Abso-f-in-lutely wonderful. It's role as the quintessential American novel is so well deserved you can't help but wonder if this is the best read you might ever have. I m currently going through all the classics of the world, and have such joys as Moby Dick, War and Peace, Robinson Crusoe, among many, many others awaiting me. However, I feel like I ve already found the love for the written word that I felt I may aquire after reading perhaps a dozen or so of the worlds finest.

To the novella: He tells the tale with such heart, such character, such life that I will attest that I dont think I ve ever felt so strongly for a character as I do for Huck Finn. He is so vivid and alive and real; its absurd.

Yes, it is quite racist on the surface, and during the 250 odd pages of the story you might read more racial slurs and statements than you have in your life, but in the heart there is nothing racist about this story. I ve heard it defended because thats just how it was in Twains time, and alas, that is how it was then, and the reason it is all so blatant, but there is really nothing racist about the portrayal of Jim. He is so loving and deep and pure. Surely one of the sweetest people you could ever want to meet.

The charm of this story, the unending humor and delight of all the dialects and wordage, the manner of conversation and the subjects....my loves for this story are unending. Its a must read. I know you ve heard that;I know you know that. But damn it, off your ass and DO IT!

Twains masterpiece, and for that matter, a masterpiece of all literature in the history of the world.

I wish I could recommend this Kindle edition more highly. However, after downloading the sample, I was very disappointed at the poor quality reproductions of the books' original pen-and-ink drawings.

They're unbelievably blurry, looking more like they were sketched in pale, dull pencil than pen and ink. There's no reason they should look like that... the pen-and-ink screen savers on Kindle are sharp and clear.

Still waiting for a really good illustrated version of these two classics.

All the controversy over the "N" word in Huck Finn drove me to read these two classics. Now I know why they are classics! Tom Sawyer's Adventures warmed my heart and made me laugh out loud, remembering how a child's mind works. Huckleberry Finn is a naked look at how life used to be in back country areas: their daily lives, values, prejudges, etc. Not a word should be changed. I can't believe I waited 50 years to read them! This version is the original works, so I recommend it highly.

This purchase was part of my son's school curriculum and for some reason, it was hard to find in my area, which I was surprised to learn since this is such a classic reading piece. However, I decided to get it online and I am pleased with the purchase. My son is enjoying the reading so far, and it is exciting to see how a good book never gets old.

Some reviews have complained about the formatting, and the sample didn't impress me strongly, but I needed a copy yo read. I was pleasantly surprised to see the purchased version look very readable. One complaint only--that I cannot skip ahead by chapters as I can with most Kindle editions.

Excellent leather-bound copy of the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Very good buy!

This is the kind of book parents should read to their children. It's a kind of tactile experience that enhances the stories in a timeless manner.