The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain is one of the truly classic American novels, loved by children, adults and critics alike. The book tells the story of “Huck” Finn, his friend Jim, and their journey down the Mississippi River on a raft. Both are on the run, Huck from his drunk and abusive father, and Jim as a runaway slave.
As Huck and Jim drift down the river, they meet many interesting characters and have a great many adventures. The essence of the story, however, is the friendship between the two protagonists. A recurring theme throughout the story is Huck’s internal conflict between what he has been taught, that helping a runaway slave is a sin, and what he truly believes, that Jim is a good man and it would be abhorrent not to help the poor guy.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was unique at the time of its publication in 1884 because it is narrative style (first person) and is written in the numerous dialects common to the area in the time in which the book was set. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was originally intended as a sequel to the kid’s book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Twain’s views on slavery and other social issues of the time become clear through the words, thoughts, and actions of Finn.
The book has always been the subject of great controversy, and the opportunity to hear it as a free audiobook shouldn’t be missed. Enjoy!