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    The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
    The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
    The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
    Ebook361 pages5 hours

    The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

    By Mark Twain

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    About this ebook

    Enriched Classics offer readers accessible editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and commentary. Each book includes educational tools alongside the text, enabling students and readers alike to gain a deeper and more developed understanding of the writer and their work.

    Originally published in 1876, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is the classic tale of a carefree and courageous boy’s coming-of-age in a rural Mississippi River town. Tom and his best friend, Huckleberry Finn, are two of literature’s most enduring and treasured creations.

    Enriched Classics enhance your engagement by introducing and explaining the historical and cultural significance of the work, the author’s personal history, and what impact this book had on subsequent scholarship. Each book includes discussion questions that help clarify and reinforce major themes and reading recommendations for further research.

    Read with confidence.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster
    Release dateAug 1, 2013
    ISBN9781451685350
    Author

    Mark Twain

    Mark Twain, who was born Samuel L. Clemens in Missouri in 1835, wrote some of the most enduring works of literature in the English language, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc was his last completed book—and, by his own estimate, his best. Its acquisition by Harper & Brothers allowed Twain to stave off bankruptcy. He died in 1910. 

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    Reviews for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

    4/5

    126 ratings138 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This tells the story of a boy, Tom Sawyer, and his best friend, Huck Finn, and some of the adventures they get into. Some of those adventures include ghosts, haunted houses and treasure. I listened to an audio version of this one, narrated by William Dufris. The narrator was very good with amazing expressions, but my mind wandered, anyway. The one mostly couldn't hold my interest. Because of that, I missed a lot, so initially, it almost felt like these were short stories, rather than a novel. A lot of the same characters did return later, and I think storylines were picked up again later, but it was hard to connect everything because I just hadn't focused enough. However, the parts of the book that I did catch, I thought were cute. And, I have to give bonus points for the narrator, so an “o.k.” 3 stars it is.
    • 4/5
      A young criminal mastermind-in-training gets into mischief with his disreputable neighborhood friends.
    • 3/5
      I read this book in my 6th grade. The story was gripping but not my favorite.
    • 4/5
      I'd forgotten what a little trouble maker Tom was. It was a nice enjoyable read.
    • 2/5
      Cruciaal is de ontmoeting met Huckleberry Finn. Vinnige dialogen; Mooie impressie van jongensachtige gevoelens en leefwereld, genre Witte van Zichem (Claes is duidelijk maar een doordrukje van Twain). Toch maar matig boek.
    • 3/5
      I think Mark Twain is overrated.
    • 4/5
      One point less for mocking Christianity
    • 3/5
      I've returned to the river.A year ago I spent a weekend on the Missouri River attending a Writers Workshop. In typical Chris Blocker fashion, I thought it prudent to read something riverish. I selected Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi. Thus a new association was born and once I decided I was returning to the river, one of my first considerations was what Mark Twain book I'd read this year.I was hesitant to get into the Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn story-arc. I had a feeling I'd be underwhelmed or offended. I was leaning toward a different selection, but at the last minute, I decided to go with a classic. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer wasn't that bad—not as bad as I imagined it could be—but it certainly didn't impress me too much. Part of the issue is that Tom Sawyer feels slightly underdeveloped—ideas are used seemingly haphazardly and are recycled throughout the story. And part of the issue is that some of the novels better moments have become cliché. I recognize that Twain was likely the originator of some of these ideas—at least he was probably the prominent figure who introduced them into the American narrative. But I've seen enough Our Gang to know that children who play pirates will find treasure, children who fake death will convince everyone, and that little boys will always win a kiss from the girl of their dreams. It's not Twain's fault that his story has been resurrected repeatedly, but the familiarity minimized any sense of wonder and adventure I might have had had I come across this book 130 years ago.In a different time, this book may have had a much different impact on me. This is a strong story of adventure from a unique child-like perspective. Those who enjoy a little swashbuckling or hijinx will likely eat this story up like blackberry pie. (Why blackberry pie? I don't know. It just feels like something I'd expect from these characters.) With a different person, there would've been different results: I'm not one for adventure; I was never a child. It's a good, simple story, very much plot-driven, but I didn't see much else to it.Sadly, this book didn't hold to the river like I thought it would. There are a few mentions, a few explorations, but I have the notion that Huckleberry Finn is the more river-centric of the two. Will I explore the river someday with Huck? I don't know. I probably should, but I have the same hesitance I did with Tom Sawyer. Maybe I'll leave it up to the river. If it's able to pull me back another time, I'll consider it.
    • 5/5
      It had been some time since I'd read this, and I'm fixing to read a new novel about Huck Finn's Pap, so I thought it best to repair to the source material first. Being the mother of a boy has certainly changed my reaction to this particular book. What struck me as hilarious fiction once now rings true and is not so mirth-inducing. The nature of the boy as boy seems unchanged though lo, these many years have passed. Twain's not dated in the least, and is still one of the funniest writers ever.
    • 2/5
      Allow me to preface this review by informing my reader that I do not much care for southern accents. I do not find them appealing. I say this as a southern girl (with no accent...I'm Atlanta born and raised). This audiobook definitely plays up the southern-ness of the story. The narrator pulls out the accent, which, perfectly fitting to the story though it may be, annoys me greatly.

      In middle school, I had to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which seemed to me at the time to be essentially a form of torture exacted by my teacher. I can say, gratefully, that this one was not so bad, although whether that is the audio format or the different, shorter book, it's hard to say.

      The story did not hugely impress me, although it was interesting to learn the details of a book about which my only knowledge was drawn from Wishbone. True fact. As I was listening, I kept trying to remember what I knew about it and I just now realized that all I know is thanks to a spunky Jack Russell terrier. Man, I miss that show.

      Anyway, the book was not too bad. Except for the blatant racism. The discussions of black people and of Injun Joe were certainly what would be expected of a man of Twain's time, but definitely are completely awful. Also, there was one scene in which Tom was talking about being a pirate in which he describes how pirates or robbers get ladies; his description is essentially of Stockholm Syndrome. Terrifying!!!

      Lynch did, accent issues put aside, a really good job with the book. His voices were really unique, almost always allowing me to know who was speaking, even if I missed the part that said who was talking. Aunt Polly's voice definitely grated, even beyond the accent, but I thought his Tom definitely conveyed the excitement of a young, incorrigible boy.

      The production of the audiobook seems to have been done pretty well. I liked the music, which had a sort of slouch-y, casual southern feel to it that fit perfectly. What was odd, though, was that the music seemed to occur at completely random intervals.
    • 3/5
      I really doubted this book would be a thriller, or energetic to read. This book makes you want to fall asleep while reading it. I am so sorry, but this book had so many POV'S I could not keep up. MY REVIEW; This book was a serious letdown. I thought there would be more action because it tells about a boys and his friends life in this story. NO ACTION. I liked some parts like when they were trying to find treasure and couldn't find it for like 3 chapters! No. Terrible absolutely did not like the writing. There was also different related stories to read while you finish Tom Sawyer but I decided NOT to read it.
    • 4/5
      I had never read the Adventures of Tom Sawyer except in a childhood version in Golden Books or something like that. I skipped right over to read Huck Finn. While this is definitely a children's book in many ways, Twain writes in such a way that adults still enjoy Tom and his picaresque adventures, both as nostalgia for our own childhoods and because the adult voice of Twain cannot help inserting his snide commentaries on humanity.
    • 5/5
      One of the books that I thought I had read but hadn't. It rushes along, adventure after adventure, capturing what it is is to be a child growing up.
    • 5/5
      It is perhaps unusual to read this book aimed at boys for the first time at the age of 45, but I really enjoyed it. Tom is an appealingly mischievous boy whose adventures, fears and insecurities are fairly timeless; though written in 1876, the book could be set in the modern era in a small town or rural area with relatively few changes. The other main characters, Aunt Polly, Joe Harper, Becky Thatcher and of course Huck Finn are equally attractively drawn. From the modern perspective the character of Injun Joe is portrayed as a wholly negative and stereotypical "savage", but this is lifted by Tom's compassion towards him at the end. Very enjoyable read for all ages. 5/5
    • 4/5
      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer gets better each time I read it, because as I get older (and as I've read more of his writings) I get more of Twain's sly, irreverent humor. The fourth chapter, for example, which finds Tom showing off in Sunday school, is hysterically funny.But besides that, Mark Twain really captures the spirit of childhood in this book. And on top of that, Tom Sawyer is a great adventure story. In some ways it isn't really a "Great novel" with a capital G, and it's not one of my all-time personal favorites, but it is a darn Good one.
    • 5/5
      Having only read Huck Finn previously, I was very glad to get the background story of these two interesting characters. Tom is every bit as bright as Huck always makes him out to be, and Huck is just as sympathetic as I remember him. This is a great story that really draws the reader in to the lives of the St. Petersburg children. The humorous parts are very funny, the tense parts very tense, and the end ultimately satisfying. Despite the many character flaws of Tom it is impossible not to love him and root for him throughout the whole story. I especially enjoyed the dialog between the children. Their wholehearted superstitions and the ways that they play together really paint a vibrant and believable image. Overall I was more impressed with the writing and the story itself than I expected to be. This is an American classic for a reason, and certainly well worth the read.
    • 5/5
      I plan to make a practice this year of re-reading books, not just books I enjoyed in my childhood and adolescent, but books from my own library that I keep because" I might want to read them 'someday'". I read Tom Sawyer more than once, more than twice, I don't actually remember how many times. At some point I began to understand that much of what Twain writes from Tom's point of view was ironic and therefore funny. I finally got the joke. This time I appreciated Twain's craftsmanship with plot, as well as character. Obviously, this book is a classic. I will probably read it again some year.
    • 1/5
      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was required reading in high school, and I absolutely hated it. Although, I have enjoyed other works by Mark Twain I found this incredibly hard to read. I think part of the problem is me being able to follow the southern dialect. It was really hard for me. I really didn't care for the story, and very excited for it to be over with.
    • 4/5
      American classic, all boys and men should read often
    • 5/5
      The first and only time I previously read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was back in middle-school or late elementary school. Since then I've read a lot of Mark Twain's short stories and a few of his novels. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of my favorite books and I've read it a pile of times but until now I'd never revisited Tom Sawyer.One of the things I love about Twain's writing is just how real and honest everything feels. Very quickly I felt myself pulled into the world of St. Peterburg. I absolutely love the flow and tone of the language. It's just so fluid and friendly. I love Twain's narrative style as he makes commentary on situations or behaviors. I can almost hear his snarky voice as he satirizes the sanctimonious behavior of some of the adults as set against the devil-may-care (yet very superstitious) attitudes of the children.I vaguely remembered bits of the larger plot of the story but as I was reading I was struck by how much this book is a compilation of shorter stories instead of one single big plot piece. Admittedly there is the overall thread of Tom and Huck and their adventures with Injun Joe, but that particular story thread often goes many chapters completely forgotten, much in the way a child will forget some of their worries and cares as soon as the next big adventure comes along.This book is definitely lighter in tone than Huckleberry Finn. It's not addressing heavy topics like slavery. But it still has plenty of weighty segments alongside the frivolous fun. There are plenty of subtle morality lessons as well as very dramatic scenes. I really enjoyed the tension as Tom and Becky sat in the dark cave watching their candle go out or the suspense as Tom and Huck sat upstairs in the haunted house waiting for Injun Joe to come up the stairs and find them hiding there. These segments were a fun balance to the light hearted adventures of boys playing pirates or whitewashing the fence.While not as outrageous as Huckleberry Finn, there are segments in this book that may be potentially offensive or off-putting to some readers. The boys do observe a grizzly murder, though it isn't described in ghastly turns. There is also a lot of talk about superstition and witchcraft and sneaking out in the middle of the night for special ceremonies for luck or play. Beyond these elements (which are quaintly fun and characteristic of the world at that time and place), the boys also run away from home and spend days cussing and smoking and when they do return home they only get mild chastisement. Tom comments how he's going to impress the other boys by pulling out his pipe and smoking around them. While the behavior doesn't get much more applause than this (and it actually makes him very sick the first time he smokes), it doesn't get particularly villainized either, which could certainly be a cause for shock in some readers. I think as long as the reader understands the context, it shouldn't be a problem. And if a parent or educator is giving this book to a young child to read, it could be a good teaching point.Being a fan of Mark Twain, I certainly have some bias, but I can wholeheartedly recommend this book. I plan on pushing it on my unsuspecting children and hope they enjoy it as much as I do. It's a true pleasure to go romping around with Tom Sawyer and his friends as they get up to adventures and into and out of trouble. If you've read it before, pick it up again and find old friends. And if you've never read it, you should definitely give it a read. It's tons of fun and definitely stands up to the test of time. As a note, there are a lot of Abridged versions out there (presumably to remove some of the potentially offensive segments). Do yourself a favor and read the unabridged version. You don't want to miss any of the fun.*****5 out of 5 stars
    • 3/5
      I thought it was a fun read, but enjoyed it more when I was younger. I think Mark Twain has an excellent way of making you sympathize with the characters. I found myself shaking my head at some Tom's antics and laughing at the same time.
    • 3/5
      Must read for all young boys and girls...
    • 5/5
      Seriously a great read! I remember hating this as a kid - being forced to read it - with 25+ years of experiences under my belt since I last picked up this book, it's just an amazing read. As adults, we really just need to say fuck it, let's see what kind of trouble I can get myself into more often ...
    • 5/5
      We read the book in school in Germany. I learned English with the book. The reading was good. I like the story. But some words are difficult. The school edition has word help that was good for me. I want to read Huckelberry Finn next.
    • 4/5
      The story was cute, but man that kid needed some discipline! It's hard to believe how wild children used to be. But it did make for an entertaining and amusing story.
    • 5/5
      I've read this book at least twice, probably more, but it's been a while. Still there are scenes that stick in my mind -- the famous fence whitewashing sequence, the one where Tom and Huck attend their own funeral, and others. Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a deeper book, and probably deserves six stars, I can't downgrade Tom Sawyer because of that. Certainly every American - whether child or adult, Mayflower descendant, American Indian or recent immigrant -- should read both books.
    • 5/5
      Tom represents the perennial, eternal, perfect boyhood - both for an adult remembering childhood, and a child wishing for a perfect life. His story has aged enough, however, that my nine-year-old set it aside halfway through (he particularly didn't like Injun Joe's casual violence in the graveyard.) I picked it up from there, remembering it was read to me when I was about his age. It was like reading for the first time, so foggy was my memory.Books with no plot always make me stumble. There is a sort of a plot around Injun Joe, but it's clearly secondary for all that it's visited and the point of climax is tough to pinpoint. The focus is on Tom's hijinks and seeing what he comes up with next, one thing after another. It's strangely compelling for all the lack of what-happens-next tension, replaced with what'll-he-do-next curiosity. Credit belongs to the fun narrative voice, the creativity of Tom's ideas, and the unexpected results they inevitably lead to for himself and the town.I played special attention to Huckleberry Finn throughout because of this book's sequel, but he remains a fairly thin character outside the limelight. Tom doesn't even automatically pick him first as fellow adventurer, often preferring Joe Harper. I read Huckleberry Finn's story as a child but that's mostly gone from memory too; I should probably do something about that. "Children's books" these may be, but due to their age, Twain's storytelling power and my nostalgia for childhood I feel no shame at diving in.
    • 4/5
      A great adventure...
    • 3/5
      Great Starter

      Just getting back to reading in earnest, figured I'd start with some classics. Still twinge at the "n" word, but it's a cultural sign of those times. Imagination and exploration. Kids used to have it. Kids used to could explore.
    • 2/5
      underwhelmed by this book. not sure why this is so famous and considered a classic.

    Book preview

    The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain

    Preface

    Most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were schoolmates of mine.¹ Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but not from an individual—he is a combination of the characteristics of three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order or architecture.

    The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children and slaves in the West at the period of this story—that is to say, thirty or forty years ago.

    Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in.

    THE AUTHOR

    Hartford, 1876

    CHAPTER I

    Tom Plays, Fights, and Hides

    Tom!

    No answer.

    Tom!

    No answer.

    What’s gone with that boy, I wonder? You, TOM!

    No answer.

    The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the room; then she put them up and looked out under them. She seldom or never looked through them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for style, not service—she could have seen through a pair of stove lids just as well. She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but still loud enough for the furniture to hear:

    Well, I lay if I get hold of you I’ll—

    She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat.

    "I never did see the beat¹ of that

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