Customer Reviews

Innocents Abroad, The

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It took me all summer to read this novel, not only because of the dense descriptive writing and banal Biblical references during Twain's travels in the Middle East, but also because of the repeated claims of racial and ethnic superiority by the author. Twain refers to everyone, from the Portuguese to Arabs and even some Italians as savages. The modern reader should be 'understanding', recognizing that this is written in a time when political correctness and the reasons behind it were unheard of, but I couldn't help twinging over Twain's predjudices. Nevertheless, I rarely start a book without finishing, so I kept on, motivated by laugh-out-loud scenarios Twain vividly describes, bold cynicism, and what turns out to be, quite simply, a really good story. It's easy to see why this is not included on most school reading lists, but it has some entertainment value nonetheless. Plus, Twain's writing is superb, like nothing you'll find on today's bestseller lists.

Treat this book like a special dessert! Make it last! This book is full of surprises. If you know anything about Mark Twain, you will appreciate his dry wit. This classic is completely politically INCORRECT and entirely DELICIOUS! I would advise the reader to keep a notepad and pen handy because you will witness the old world through the author's eyes and learn points of history that are no longer taught. There will be things revealed which will cause you to do further research. There will be times when you will have to put the book down to LAUGH OUT LOUD! And that's even when he is not trying to be particularly humorous.
I have a very old printing of this work in two volumes which I am preserving. I wanted a later printing because I will be in and out of this book, like visiting an old friend time and again.