The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

by Garrison Keillor (Adapter/Narrator), Mark Twain

First published in 1884, Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a masterpiece of world literature. Narrated by Huck himself in his artless vernacular, it tells of his voyage down the Mississippi with a runaway slave named Jim. As the two journey downstream on a raft, Huck's vivid descriptions capture the sights, smells, sounds, and rhythms of life on the great river. As they encounter traveling actors, con men, lynch mobs, thieves, and Southern gentility, his shrewd comments reveal the dark side of human nature. By the end of the story, Huck has learned about the dignity and worth of human life-and Twain has exposed the moral blindness of the "respectable" slave-holding society in which he lives. Huckleberry Finn was Twain's greatest creation. Garrison Keillor approaches it with the respect and affection it deserves. "This is an abridgement of Mark Twain's book, keeping the parts I loved as a boy-Huck's story, the big river at night, the boasting of the raftsmen, the Duke and the Dauphin, the lynching, the feud-and lopping off the last third of the book, where Tom Sawyer comes in and makes a big production of freeing Jim. I had Huck free him instead. If you enjoy the reading, I am sure Mr. Twain will forgive me." -Garrison Keillor

Genres: Classics, Fiction, School, Young Adult, Audiobook, Academic, Childrens

180 pages, Audiobook

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, singer, humorist, voice actor, and radio personality. He created the Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) show A Prairie Home Companion (called Garrison Keillor's Radio Show in some international syndication), which he hosted from 1974 to 2016. Keillor created the fictional Minnesota town Lake Wobegon, the setting of many of his books, including Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home: A Collection of Lake Wobegon Stories. Other creations include Guy Noir, a detective voiced by Keillor who appeared in A Prairie Home Companion comic skits. Keillor is also the creator of the five-minute daily radio/podcast program The Writer's Almanac, which pairs poems of his choice with a script about important literary, historical, and scientific events that coincided with that date in history.
In November 2017, Minnesota Public Radio cut all business ties with Keillor after an allegation of inappropriate behavior with a freelance writer for A Prairie Home Companion. On April 13, 2018, MPR and Keillor announced a settlement that allows archives of A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer's Almanac to be publicly available again, and soon thereafter, Keillor began publishing new episodes of The Writer's Almanac on his website. He also continues to tour a stage version of A Prairie Home Companion, although these shows are not broadcast by MPR or American Public Media.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Garrison Keillor's narration, so I was delighted to pick up his version of this book, as (embarrassingly) I don't think I ever got around to reading it before. If I have, it was probably for some long-ago school assignment, and I'd long-ago forgotten it.

It was only later when I realized that Keillor didn't just narrate this, he re-wrote the ending. (He talked about it in the afterword of the book.)

This amused me more than anything, as I have no particular emotional attachment to the original, and I trust Keillor as a storyteller. This version worked for me.

What's more, as someone who once re-wrote a bunch of Emily Dickinson's poetry.... I really shouldn't throw stones.

[Steven Liu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about someone who is escaping with his friend Jim. In this book, the protagonist Huck Finn is forced to decide between following societal norms and following his will to save Jim. Ultimately, this book is entertaining because of the playful talking between Jim and Huck

[Charlie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

classic

[John Vicalvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because of the adventure and the awesome way that they used the vernacular of the time set in the book.

[hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was terrible. i was forced to read it for junior year english and it was boring and its excessive use of provocative language is unsettling.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

To summarize the book a bit, it was about a 19th-century boy from a Mississippi River town recounting his adventures as he travels down the river with a runaway slave, encounters a family involved in a feud, two scoundrels pretending to be royalty, and Tom. Sawyer's aunt mistakes him for Tom.
The authors said: “Several dialects are used in this book, namely: the black Missouri dialect; the most extreme form of the Southwestern Backwoods dialect; the ordinary dialect of "pike country"; and four modified varieties of the latter. The shadings have not been done randomly, or by guesswork; but thoroughly, and with the reliable guidance and support of personal familiarity with these various forms of expression.
I made this explanation because without it, many readers would assume that all of these characters were trying to speak the same thing and failing."

Many say Tom Sawyer Adventures is better, but Huck Finn is better. He's smarter, he's funnier, and Huck's adventures stay with you much longer than Tom's, because Huck's experiences were richer and more interesting.

After reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I realized that I like to read books related to this plot.
Let's be honest. In the most socially conscious, there are two stars in this book: (1) the word 'nigger' and (2) the Sherwood Schwartz-Esque ending in which Tom Sawyer reappears and makes even the most casual reader wonder if he isn't he will be retarded.
Huckleberry Finn is actually a pretty smart kid, with horrible parents, a really fat mom, and a dad who sweats tobacco.

[Jasper Ou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since my 7th grade year when I read the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I feel in love with Mark Twain books. I decided to read this one because Tom and Huck were good friends and figured I would have the same reading experience, and I was right as it met all of my expectations. Twain dealt with a lot of characterization of Huck Finn and a theme I was very passionate about which was the idea of Natural Life. As a child and sometimes now I would often go out into the woods and explore, create forts, and was a natural bonding ceremony with my family, especially my brother. I would recommend literally anyone to read this book because it is such a nice escape from the realities of the world, especially with this election just happening. But seriously, anyone who was read Tom Sawyer definitely should read this book because I met my expectations and made me want to read, which is rare because I dont like reading.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe that the Notice provided at the very onset of the book (Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.) pretty much sums of the book.

I did not find a motive, a moral, nor a plot but nevertheless found the book somewhat enjoyable. I kept wanting the book to get where it was going, only to remind myself that it wasn't going anywhere and like a raft on the Mississippi I was just going to have to sit back and enjoy the ride.

I cringed at the racism in the book, but understood that's just the way it was back then and was fascinated by how people could have once (and sadly some still) think the way they did.

Overall the book was just too slow-paced for me, but I found myself several times thinking that I needed (and should have previously) read Tom Sawyer.

[Lindasbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first exposure to The adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I'll have to admit I was quite taken aback by the brashness. I'm actually surprised the book is not banned. Not that I agree with banning books at all. I actually had to look and see when this was written which kind of gave me a better understanding.
The story was okay. It peaked my interest in the middle with The adventures going down the river. Then it fell flat for me when Tom Sawyer joined in. It was a little frustrating.
I wanted to listen to this audiobook as a prequel to the high rated novel that is out now called James. It really wasn't my cup of tea this book but I do appreciate the experience of listening to a classic though.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite book. I don't know what it is about Mark Twain's writing, but I feel like my attention was always drifting from this book. It was not particularly complex in terms of vocabulary, but I still felt like my eyes were tempted to skim over every page.
The book brings up interesting questions, especially considering the way things 'return to normal' at the end of the novel, but I'm not sure I would ever want to teach this book. It felt lackluster and reading was a little like pulling teeth. Maybe I'm just not at a stage where I can appreciate this book - I'll have to return to it at a later date.
For now, moving on to 'House of Leaves.'

[Elisa Ikhbeis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very confusing at first because of how he made it seem like they didnt no how to speak english that well and some of the words I didnt know what it was originally supposed to say but after I got used to it and all the different characters. I started to like the book a bit more it was not my favorite book ever but it also wasnt bad. The book ended up being humorous and adventuress overall this book was a 3/10 for me

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this audiobook for my MT class. I certainly have a deeper understanding and general knowledge of the book and MT due to both. Satisfying

Actually the audio was by Elija Wood but Goodreads didn’t offer up that version. Wood was pretty good

Got a bit tired of all the “says I” and “by and byes “. But a lot of human nature surely does not change

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows the two young friends, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer on an adventure with Jim, a slave. Jim is "free" as his owner died and she freed him in her will, however the adventure takes them into the deep south where slavery is still a way of life and where his family are enslaved.
It is an interesting read but also disturbing thinking of a time where slavery was normal.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was the best book we have read this year. Although it had some strange and difficult dialect, it had an interesting plot. Unlike most of the books we have read, this one was action packed and full of adventure. Overall, this was a decent book to read.

[Gurjeet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. Amazing adventure. Although meeting Sawyer was very bollywood movie kind of situation, the book is lovable.
Wish there was no N word in it....

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in class and it was a cool book about a kid sacrificing his safety and his school for more freedom.

[Lillian Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read freshman year of IB English.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic -- remembrance of my youth

[Jarrod Reiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word classic. I really wanted to live the floating life Huck lived without all the drama the followed. There are some sensitive topics in this books that need to be looked out for.

[Denise burger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did this for my sons by audio off of #nook ..something for them to get into like I did when I was young ..just like the movie

[lola grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

cute story, ending was crap. wish there was a little bit more of a structured plot line. ridiculous that jim’s ending was glazed over

[Reader]

Y'all know damn well the Character's name ain't Jim

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insanity. So so much to unpack

[Lizzy14j · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gratuitous racial epithets, but if you can get past that it's just fishin and falutin on the rivah in a thick southern accent

[Dawn Kearns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story but not the one i recall as a child. Much darker. Keilor does a great job.

[Greta Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audio by Elijah Wood actually. By the end, he was a proper American speaker!

[Luke McGraw · Rating 5 out of 5]

By writing the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain searches to provide his audience with an entertaining story about his time period. By making up fictional characters that were similar to real people he knew, the author was able to create a story that would capture the attention of his readers. While I was reading this book, I always wanted to read ahead to see what would happen. That is precisely what Mark Twain wanted. Although this story is fictional, it is also a piece of history, because it provides a realistic description of what life was like living on the Mississippi River. Huck Finn contains many stories of adventure and audacity. Readers are kept on the edge of their seat throughout the book, and by doing this Mark Twain creates an enriching and entertaining novel.

In writing the Adventures of Huck Finn, Mark Twain tells his readers that they should live life to the fullest, and that you should never give up on the friends that are closest to you. Frightened by his father’s behavior, Huckleberry Finn fakes his death and escapes from his father’s log cabin. After doing this, Huck does not go into hiding, but decides to travel down the Mississippi in search for adventure. Along the way, he stumbles upon a runaway African-American slave that was owned in Hannibal. From that point on, they always look out for each other. A bond grows between these unlikely people, and it grows stronger with each new experience. Mark Twain tells us that all of our friendships should be as stalwart as these and we should never abandon our closest companions. Many times the duo comes across an obstacle that they must overcome together. Instead of trying to find the easy way out, Huck and Jim go the way their hearts travel, and that is the message Mark Twain hopes to convey to the world.

Mark Twain wrote this adventurous tale as a combination of both a description and a narration. He uses a set of fictional characters to explain how life was back in 1885. These characters have many adventures together, and these adventures are narrated in chronological order. Using this unique style, Mark Twain effectively provides an enriching story about life on the Mississippi. This mix of a description and narration style gives the reader the complete experience of the Adventures of Huck Finn. In writing the novel this way, Mark Twain completely illustrates the theme of his story, and no details are excluded. Many times, I could close my eyes and envision the scene perfectly from details given in the story. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is narrated from a first-person view, and by doing this, the characters are thoroughly developed and the reader understands their personalities.

Reading the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I was continuously entertained by the characters’ wit and sense of adventure. Huck and I are around the same age, and because of this I could relate to him very easily. I enjoyed the vast array of journeys that were traveled by Huckleberry and his fellowship. In my opinion, Tom Sawyer’s character should’ve been included more. He adds a lot to Huck’s personality, and the story amuses more whenever Tom hangs around. If Tom was to travel on the raft with Huck and Jim more, the story would be infinitely better. I would recommend this story to anyone in 6th grade or older, as it is an entertaining read for all. Anyone can connect with the characters, and this makes the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a very enjoyable read for all.

[Anya Shroff · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Huckleberry Finn Review

A young boy’s story through a time of prejudice.

In the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, a young boy, Huckleberry Finn, goes through many tests of survival to find freedom. He is an African American boy who has the privilege to know how to read and write, but he must work for a widow to attain this. At this time many people disagree that a person of color or any ethnicity other than Caucasian, should not be allowed to learn. Many African Americans themselves don’t believe that they should be able to either. Finn’s father is disgusted and feels almost threatened by the fact that Finn had the opportunity to learn and the father takes Finn away from the widow. Finn is not unhappy to be away from the widow, but his father keeps him looked up in a cabin, not allowing him to go outside. Finn manages to escape by faking his own death and flees meeting many old and making new friends. He meets one of the widow’s slaves that escaped named Jim, but they are soon separated when their raft breaks into two pieces, Finn stays with a family after that time. Jim manages to find Finn and they continue on their way down the river. On the way they encounter a group of men, obviously con artists, who decide to go with them. Finn and Jim are unable to get rid of the white men, but every city they stop at the cons loot. The cons do their worst robbery, selling Jim to a pair of people as a runaway slave and take all the money. When Finn tries to free Jim, he realizes that Jim’s “owners” are actually Tom Sawyer’s, Finn best friend from home, aunt and uncle. Finn is surprised when Tom’s aunt embraces him and calls him Tom’s name. He soon realizes that Tom’s aunt thinks that he is Tom because Tom is due to arrive soon. Finn meets Tom halfway from his journey and asks him to pretend to be Sid, Tom’s brother. Tom agrees to help Finn free Jim, but because he loves adventure, he hatches a plan that adds many more obstacles than necessary. While the plan was in action, Tom gets shot, and Jim nurses him back to health, giving up his freedom. Jim is put back in chains, but Tom reveals the truth about everything, including that Jim is a freedman because the widow died two months earlier. Tom’s aunt offers Finn a place to live, but he declines seeking more adventure.
In this story, Twain tries to express how African Americans suffer prejudice and cannot deny Caucasians certain things. This though this story is written before the American Civil War, Twain compares it to post reconstruction about how the African Americans are still discriminated against. The way that the point was told was given very subtly. Though this can be a good thing, it took a while to fully understand the content. In the story, Mark Twain also wrote in the way people spoke. When there was a less educated person, the writing would be harder to comprehend and the reader had to read it aloud. For example, on page 19, Jim says, “Yo’ole father doan’ know yit what he a-qwyne to do.” When reading this sentence, the reader had to read it multiple times to understand the content. It was also very interesting to see how their lingo contributed to the story. The way some of the words were formed showed a double meaning that could have only been said that way. This book is very well thought, and would recommended it to someone who has time to fully comprehend and absorb the information.

[Becka Ramaglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a great adventure book. It gave a look into history that I think many feel we should close. Yes the word 'nigga' indicates how black people were enslaved... but this was the way it was a hundred years ago. To not read something because it may be offensive is ridiculous, especially considering the time era.

I particularly liked the varying voices for all the characters and Huck's struggle with what was right at the time (a nigga being property and therefore something that could be punished for helping escape) and with thinking his nigga friend was a good man and that he was evil for trying to help him and going to hell.

While he is an adventurous boy, I felt so bad for him having a really abusive father and I think it's natural for him to want to get away from someone who is making him purple and black! It's very interesting how different it was back then without many people having an education. We take it for granted now and may laugh at their lack of what we think is common knowledge, but that was the way of things than... these people weren't less than us, just thought differently.

I'm glad that I finally got to read this classic... or have Elijah Woods read it to me rather. Which he did an amazing job of!

[Jamsheed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is the most jocular book I have ever read! I really enjoyed reading this novel and although it is meant for children audiences, the controversial issues presented by Twain in Huck moral predicament are still in being debated today. I would recommend this novel to audiences of all age because of the influence it has had on society since its debut in the 1870s. The adventure that Huck and Jim embark on up the Mississippi River is as convoluted as Huck and his growing predicament of freeing Jim or complying with society by returning Jim to his owners. This controversy is hardly a controversy in today's society, where slavery is intolerable and the use of word "nigger" is lamented, but when Twain wrote Huck Finn, the status quo was white superiority and black inferiority. This satirical perspective on societal flaws is what makes "The Adventures of Huck Finn truly the first modern American novel" (Hemingway).