Mark Twain

"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." So begins, in characteristic fashion, one of the greatest American novels. Narrated by a poor, illiterate white boy living in America's deep South before the Civil War, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the story of Hucks escape from his brutal father and the relationship that grows between him and Jim, the slave who is fleeing from an even more brutal oppression. As they journey down the Mississippi their adventures address some of the most profound human conudrums: the prejudices of class, age, and colour are pitted against the qualities of hope, courage, and moral character.

Two boys exchange their clothes and their lives in the classic satiric comedy of mistaken identity

They are the same age. They look alike. In fact, there is but one difference between them: Tom Canty is a child of the London slums; Edward Tudor is heir to the throne of England. Just how insubstantial this difference really is becomes clear when a chance encounter leads to an exchange of roles…with the pauper caught up in the pomp and folly of the royal court, and the prince wandering, horror-stricken, through the lower depths of sixteenth-century English society.

Out of the theme of switched identities, Mark Twain has fashioned both a scathing attack upon social hypocrisy and injustice and an irresistible comedy imbued with the sense of high-spirited play that belongs to his most creative period.

With an Afterword by Everett Emerson

One of Mark Twain's best-loved novels, this comedic satire follows a ninteenth-century American who is transported back to sixth century England. From meeting groups of Pilgrims to competing with the best 'magicians' in the land, Twains' tale of colliding eras is darkly comic trip through a collision of eras. Explore this story even further with the Enriched Classics detailed explanatory notes, overview of key themes, glossary, critical analysis, discussion questions and more. 454 pages, softcover.

Life on the Mississippi is no ordinary guided tour, for every page is expressive of the structure, style, and high humor that is the very essence of Twain the writer. Spiced with Twain's pungent observations and commentaries on the culture and society of the great river valley, the book is a wonderful collection of lively anecdotes, tall tales, and character sketches; historical facts and information; and reminescences of the author's boyhod and experiences as a steamboat pilot.