Mark Twain's witty, satirical tale of childhood rebellion against hypocritical adult authority, the Penguin Classics edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is edited with a critical introduction by Peter Coveney. Mark Twain's story of a boy's journey down the Mississippi on a raft conveyed the voice and experience of the American frontier as no other work had done before. When Huck escapes from his drunken, abusive 'Pap' and the 'sivilizing' Widow Douglas with runaway slave Jim, he embarks on a series of adventures ...
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Mark Twain's witty, satirical tale of childhood rebellion against hypocritical adult authority, the Penguin Classics edition of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is edited with a critical introduction by Peter Coveney. Mark Twain's story of a boy's journey down the Mississippi on a raft conveyed the voice and experience of the American frontier as no other work had done before. When Huck escapes from his drunken, abusive 'Pap' and the 'sivilizing' Widow Douglas with runaway slave Jim, he embarks on a series of adventures that draw him to feuding families and the trickery of the unscrupulous 'Duke' and 'Dauphin'. Beneath the exploits, however, are more serious undercurrents - of slavery, adult control and, above all, of Huck's struggle between his instinctive goodness and the corrupt values of society which threaten his deep and enduring friendship with Jim. Based on the first edition of 1884, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn includes a chronology and list of further reading by Richard Maxwell. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) trained as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi river; 'Mark Twain', a phrase used on riverboats to indicate that the water is two fathoms deep, became the pseudonym by which he was best known. After the Civil War, Twain turned to journalism, publishing his first short story in 1865. Dubbed 'the father of American literature' by William Faulkner, Twain led a colourful life of travelling, bankruptcy and great literary success. If you enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you may like Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, also available in Penguin Classics. 'All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn ... There has been nothing as good since' Ernest Hemingway 'Huckleberry Finn, like other great works of imagination, can give to every reader whatever he is capable of taking from it' T.S. Eliot
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Seller's Description:
Near Fine. A solid, Nearly Fine copy of the book, with no repairs or restoration. Spine gilt a bit dulled and slight rubbing at the spine ends and corners. Cloth generally fresh and bright and in excellent condition internally. Contemporary gift inscription on the front paste-down dated "May 18, 1885." With all three generally accepted first printing points and the frontis bust of Twain in the first state. A copy in Fine condition made $52, 920 at Christies in 2023. Housed in custom quarter-leather clamshell over marbled boards. Recounting the adventures of Huckleberry Finn as he flees his own abusive father and aids Jim in his escape from slavery, Twain's novel has been praised for its "distinctly American voice, " putting at its center two common people who find an uncommon friendship. "Today perhaps the novel's greatest significance lies in its conception of childhood, as a time of risk, discovery, and adventure. Huck is no innocent: He lies, steals, smokes, swears, and skips school. He accepts no authority, not from his father or the Widow Douglas or anyone else. And it is the twin images of a perilous, harrowing odyssey of adventure and perfect freedom from all restraints that so many readers find entrancing" (Mintz). A metaphor for a young and rebellious nation, as well as its individualist inhabitants, Huckleberry Finn defies genre by being simultaneously an adventure story, a road novel, a coming of age tale, an expression of nostalgia for the expansive natural spaces lost to industrialization, and an exploration of race and class. Listed on the American Scholar 100 Best American Novels and one of the 100 Best Novels Written in English. BAL 3415. MacDonnell, 31. Near Fine.
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First edition, first issue of Twain's masterpiece, one of approximately 500 copies bound in publisher's three-quarters morocco binding. Octavo, original three-quarters brown morocco and marbled boards, gilt-decorated spine, marbled endpapers. Lithographic frontispiece and with 174 illustrations by E.W. Kemble, photographic portrait frontispiece of the bust of Mark Twain by Karl Gerhardt. Copies of Huckleberry Finn in the original publisher's leather bindings are quite rare: "The relative rarity of the cloth and leather bindings is clear. Less than two weeks before publication, [the publisher] Webster announced that he was binding 20, 000 copies in cloth, another 2, 500 in sheep, and 500 copies in three-quarter leather. The remaining 7000 copies of the first printing were probably bound up in similar proportions leather copies dried out, cracked apart, and have survived in even fewer numbers than the original production numbers would promise" (MacDonnell, 35). In very good condition, rebacked with light rubbing to extremities. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A very nice example. Twain initially conceived of the work as a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer that would follow Huckleberry Finn through adulthood. Beginning with a few pages he had removed from the earlier novel, Twain began work on a manuscript he originally titled Huckleberry Finn's Autobiography. Twain worked on the manuscript off and on for the next several years, ultimately abandoning his original plan of following Huck's development into adulthood. He appeared to have lost interest in the manuscript while it was in progress, and set it aside for several years. After making a trip down the Hudson River, Twain returned to his work on the novel. Upon completion, the novel's title closely paralleled its predecessor's: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer's Comrade). Twain composed the story in pen on notepaper between 1876 and 1883. Paul Needham, stated, "What you see is [Clemens'] attempt to move away from pure literary writing to dialect writing." For example, Twain revised the opening line of Huck Finn three times. He initially wrote, "You will not know about me", which he changed to, "You do not know about me", before settling on the final version, "You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'; but that ain't no matter." The revisions also show how Twain reworked his material to strengthen the characters of Huck and Jim, as well as his sensitivity to the then-current debate over literacy and voting. Ernest Hemingway once declared about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain. It's the best book we've had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing since."
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Seller's Description:
First edition, first issue of Twain's masterpiece, one of approximately 500 copies bound in publisher's three-quarters morocco binding. Octavo, original three-quarters brown morocco and marbled boards, gilt-decorated spine, marbled endpapers. Lithographic frontispiece and with 174 illustrations by E.W. Kemble, photographic portrait frontispiece of the bust of Mark Twain by Karl Gerhardt. Copies of Huckleberry Finn in the original publisher's leather bindings are quite rare: "The relative rarity of the cloth and leather bindings is clear. Less than two weeks before publication, [the publisher] Webster announced that he was binding 20, 000 copies in cloth, another 2, 500 in sheep, and 500 copies in three-quarter leather. The remaining 7000 copies of the first printing were probably bound up in similar proportions leather copies dried out, cracked apart, and have survived in even fewer numbers than the original production numbers would promise" (MacDonnell, 35). In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A nice example. Twain initially conceived of the work as a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer that would follow Huckleberry Finn through adulthood. Beginning with a few pages he had removed from the earlier novel, Twain began work on a manuscript he originally titled Huckleberry Finn's Autobiography. Twain worked on the manuscript off and on for the next several years, ultimately abandoning his original plan of following Huck's development into adulthood. He appeared to have lost interest in the manuscript while it was in progress, and set it aside for several years. After making a trip down the Hudson River, Twain returned to his work on the novel. Upon completion, the novel's title closely paralleled its predecessor's: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Tom Sawyer's Comrade). Twain composed the story in pen on notepaper between 1876 and 1883. Paul Needham, stated, "What you see is [Clemens'] attempt to move away from pure literary writing to dialect writing." For example, Twain revised the opening line of Huck Finn three times. He initially wrote, "You will not know about me", which he changed to, "You do not know about me", before settling on the final version, "You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'; but that ain't no matter." The revisions also show how Twain reworked his material to strengthen the characters of Huck and Jim, as well as his sensitivity to the then-current debate over literacy and voting. Ernest Hemingway once declared about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain. It's the best book we've had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing since."
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Seller's Description:
Fine. 174 Illustrations by E.W. Kemble & photogravure portrait bust by Karl Gebhardt. 8vo, handsomely rebound in dark green morocco with the entire original front cloth cover pictorially stamped in black & gilt inset. New York: Charles Webster, 1885. First Edition. The text block is clean, with occasional small brown-stains.
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Written over an eight-year period, Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was controversial from the outset, attacked by critics for its crudeness, coarseness and vulgarity. Upon issue of the American edition in 1885, several libraries, including the Concord and Brooklyn Public Libraries, banned it from their shelves. Twain later remarked to his editor, "Apparently, the Concord library has condemned Huck as 'trash and only suitable for the slums. ' This will sell us another twenty-five thousand copies for sure! " The book nevertheless emerged as one of the defining novels of American literature, prompting Hemingway to declare: "All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain. It's the best book we've had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing since."
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Seller's Description:
Very Good + A Very Good+ copy of the book. Spine gilt a bit dulled and some wear at the spine ends and corners. Cloth a bit rubbed. Generally clean internally. With all three generally accepted first printing points. Frontis bust of Twain in the first state. An attractive copy overall. Recounting the adventures of Huckleberry Finn as he flees his own abusive father and aids Jim in his escape from slavery, Twain's novel has been praised for its "distinctly American voice, " putting at its center two common people who find an uncommon friendship. "Today perhaps the novel's greatest significance lies in its conception of childhood, as a time of risk, discovery, and adventure. Huck is no innocent: He lies, steals, smokes, swears, and skips school. He accepts no authority, not from his father or the Widow Douglas or anyone else. And it is the twin images of a perilous, harrowing odyssey of adventure and perfect freedom from all restraints that so many readers find entrancing" (Mintz). A metaphor for a young and rebellious nation, as well as its individualist inhabitants, Huckleberry Finn defies genre by being simultaneously an adventure story, a road novel, a coming of age tale, an expression of nostalgia for the expansive natural spaces lost to industrialization, and an exploration of race and class. Listed on the American Scholar 100 Best American Novels and one of the 100 Best Novels Written in English. BAL 3415. MacDonnell, 31. Very Good +.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. No dust jacket as issued. The Adventures of HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain. First Edition, First Printing, First Issue, First State w/13 "first" points. Very Good+ to Near Fine. A Genuine American Treasure. Ernest Hemingway said: All modern literature comes from one book (Huckleberry Finn) by Mark Twain. It s the best book we ve had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing since. Written over an eight-year period, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was blasted by critics from the moment of publication, attacked for its blood-curdling humor, immorality, coarseness and profanity. It nevertheless emerged as one of the defining novels of American literature. Mark Twain is the American Shakespere. All American Literature is measured by, through, and up to Mark Twain. Book is in Very Good+ to Near Fine condition. Professionally rebound (binding feels like new) in original boards and original green cloth. Resewn, with inner paper hinges reinforced, new backing and later endpapers. Only very light wear to extremities with one small chip. Corners bumped. Half-title and verso w/Huck illustration soiled. Small dark spots at upper right on pages 155-159 (see photo #3). Extremely good condition, straight and tight. A very rare and desirable first state copy in the original publisher s cloth binding of this classic of American literature. There is much debate over the first issue points. Some claim 8, 9 or more points. Here I list 13 points. 1) Title page is a cancel (photo 5). 2) Title Page has 1884 Copyright on verso. (photo 6) 3) The Heading for Chapter 6 on the first Contents page reads "decided" (later corrected to "Decides."(photo 7). 4) "Him and another man" listed incorrectly at page 88 (on the Illustrations list on page 13). (photo 8). 5) On page 57, eleven (11) lines from the bottom it reads: "with the was" which was later changed to with the saw. (photo 9). 6) Below the Frontispiece bust of Twain, the Tablecloth is CLEARLY visible underneath. (photo 10). 7) Also below the Frontispiece bust of Twain, the "Heliotype Printing Co." imprint is present. (photo 11). 8) Signature mark "11" is missing on page 161. (photo 12). 9) Page 283 has the famous "curved fly" (very rare) on Silas Phelps. (photo 4). 10) Final leaf is a blank. (no photo) 11) On page 143 the "l" (L) is missing in "Col" that is part of the Illustration at the top line of text. (photo 2). 12) Also on page 143, line 7 with a Broken "b." (photo 2). 13) On page 155, the second "5" is in a different font and in an off balance position. (photo 3). This is the 2nd state per BAL but not definitive. And an extra point concerning point #9. The designer (unknown) of the original plate for page 283 drew a penis on the elderly gentleman in the sketch. This was caught and revised before publication into the "curved fly" which was later changed to a "cancel" page, however, if you own a true first edition of this great classic take a magnifying glass and look at the boy (Tom Sawyer) in the sketch. He has a penis showing! It appears they missed this one! ! If you have any other info on this please let me know. COPIES WITH THE "CURVED FLY" ARE VERY RARE. All reasonable offers will be considered. This book will surely increase in value over time. They aren't making any more of them. MORE: As a bonus I will include a 16 volune "Works of Mark Twain", Greystone Definitive Edition set bound in beautiful red leatherette. Unread in as-new condition. A small portrait of the author on front cover with gilted writing on cover and spine. Illustrated endpapers and all faux-signed by Mr. Twain and Albert Bigelow Paine on front fly-leaf "in 1906 in anticipation of the present definitive edition of his works."
Edition:
1st edition; first printing with the following points: p
Publisher:
Charles L. Webster and Company
Published:
1885
Alibris ID:
10252935914
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Seller's Description:
Foxing to fore-edge and preliminaries; some moderate use to cloth at the top and bottom of the spine; a very good copy with the gold decoration in attractive condition. 366 pp. 8vo, BAL 3415. Laid in is a 12mo leaf, signed "Truly Yours / Mark Twain [paraph]"
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Seller's Description:
Near Fine with No dust jacket as issued. A professionally restored and rebound First American Edition from the very limited sheep skin covered first print run. This copy, meticulously rebound in a copy of the original boards (also included as verification of the book's original state), with finish matching the original and with red and black morocco spinal labels. Water stain to the lower inside corner along bottom edge, of the first 75 pages, about 3 inches by 1 inch at front, diminishing as pages advance. tanned page edges, no chips and not brittle. All points as for a true first edition first printing: Title-page bound in; page 57 "was for saw"; Illustration Index "him and another man" listed on page 88; page 155 lacked the final 5 of the page number which was corrected and restruck with an elevated and larger type set "5"; page 283 is bound-in, in the first state with Silas Phelps's trousers showing a definite curve; Frontis is state 2 with the imprint of Heliotype Printing, table cloth and table not visible and the artist's name on the edge of the bust; copyright page dated 1884; page 143 with “l” missing from “Col. ” at top of illustration and with broken “b” in “body” on line seven. This is the very rare first state of Huck Finn that is seen only in a few of the leather bound copies of the book (of which this is one) that were issued before the "pornographic" illustration on p. 283 was discovered. These leather-bounds, needless to say, are now prized collector's items"[Freedman, The First Edition of Huckleberry Finn: An Overview in Proteus, Fall, 1984]. Copies of Huckleberry Finn in the original publisher's leather bindings are quite rare. “The relative rarity of the cloth and leather bindings is clear. Speculatively, shortly before publication, Webster announced that he was binding 20, 000 copies in cloth, another 2, 500 in sheep, and 500 copies in three-quarter leather. Copies bound in leather dried out, cracked apart, this copy being one, where the spine broke off leaving only the boards attached (again, these are included). Details and photos available upon request for serious inquiries.
I give classic books to my kids as gifts. This was perfect. Age. quality. it was everything I hoped to gift for my families future generations to read and enjoy. Even made a box cover for the book. Can't hide the past from ignorance.
FanOfTimeLifeBooks
Aug 21, 2013
A Sophisticated Sequel to Tom Sawyer
Published in the United States in 1885, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn portrays the continuing story of one of the main characters first introduced in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Wanting to escape his abusive father, Huck runs away. Huck is joined with Jim, a runaway slave who fears being sold. Huck and Jim encounter all sorts of adventures and unique people on their way down the Mississippi River. The book also serves as a commentary on slavery and race relations in the nineteenth century. Thus, there is much more to this book than a boy simply narrating his adventures as he runs away with an escaped slave. True, the book uses words which would be considered offensive by present standards; moreover, some would say that this is a racist book. However, the book must be interpreted and analyzed in the time in which it was written. With this book, Mark Twain capably presents a social issue from the perspective of a boy seeking a better situation. I found Huck Finn more enjoyable as I read it right after I finished Tom Sawyer; while one does not have to read Tom Sawyer to understand Huck Finn, one will get a lot more out this book if the prequel is read first.
LorieC49
Mar 3, 2011
Huck Finn
Book in very good shape. Was sent out and arrived in great shape and promptly. Would recommend to anyone
Maggie1
Dec 29, 2009
read it for a reason
I call this an onion (or parfait!) book, best understood by recognizing its layers. While many people "enjoy" Huck when they are children, it's best read by adults or teens with their eyes and ears open. Twain gives us harsh criticism of all American society, disguised as an adventure. The only decent human being in the book is Jim, and that was Twain's point. Twain wrote in reaction to how he saw people treating each other, but he knew no one would read it if it began "You all need to be nicer!" At every turn we get a semi-humorous event with a terribly dark underbelly. If you don't pay attention, you'll miss the very serious nature of this novel.
dekesolomon
Sep 27, 2009
Huck & Jim's Serendipitous Salvation
Of all the endings possible for 'Huckleberry Finn,' only one would have made any sense. My own, uneducated guess is that Mark Twain didn't want (or didn't have the courage) to go that way, so he tacked on a resolution clapped together from maudlin slop and preposterous coincidence. When I put my mean eye on 'Huck Finn,' I can literally see where the fix was thrown in. It couldn't be clearer had the author drawn a line across the bottom of chapter 31.
Thus what might have been one of the world's great tragedies became what is yet one of the world's great pieces of kiddie lit. The world declares it so and so it will remain, which is some consolation because the book remains a tragedy of a sort.
The world needs kiddie lit, whether adults enjoy it or not. That's why 'Huckleberry Finn' will outlast ten thousand writers like me. It will survive all attempts to pry it out of its place in the canon and future generations will have to suffer that awful resolution just as I did. Most people don't notice anything wrong with it, anyway.
The upshot is that 'Huck Finn' is immortal: it is a thing like warfare or venereal disease. And if (unlike most Americans) you've read all of Mark Twain, you know the old geezer would have chortled at and cherished that thought.
When I was a lad of nine years, I'd have rated "Huckleberry Finn" at six stars, my logic then being that five were not enough. Today, 61 years old, getting on toward the end of a hard life, I give it three stars for the three fourths of the book that are truly superb. The rest of it is goo.