The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Annotated)

by Mark Twain

Overview

Set in the 1840s, the novel follows Tom's escapades and exploits, from convincing his friends to whitewash a fence for him to attending his own funeral after he's thought to be dead. Tom's character is both endearing and mischievous, embodying the essence of boyhood with his boundless curiosity and rebellious nature.

The narrative takes a thrilling turn when Tom, along with his friend Huckleberry Finn, witnesses a murder and becomes entangled in a series of mysterious events. The novel explores themes of friendship, courage, and the moral dilemmas faced by its young protagonist. Twain skillfully weaves humor and satire into the narrative, offering a keen social commentary on the values and norms of society at the time.

One of the novel's central plotlines involves Tom's infatuation with Becky Thatcher, a new girl in town. Twain delicately portrays the innocence and awkwardness of young love, adding a touch of sweetness to the overall adventurous tone.

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is celebrated for its timeless portrayal of childhood, its exploration of moral growth, and its sharp observations on societal expectations. Twain's masterful storytelling and use of colloquial language contribute to the novel's enduring popularity, making it a classic that continues to captivate readers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782487116221
Publisher:	Jason Nollan
Publication date:	11/18/2023
Pages:	212
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, prominently known by his penname Mark Twain, was a famous American author and humorist. His most famous works, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", and its sequel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", the latter being called "The Great American Novel". Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which provided the setting for "Huck Finn" and "Tom Sawyer".
He worked as a typesetter and contributed articles to his brother's newspaper Orion Clemens, prior to which he did apprenticeship with a printer. He later worked as a pilot of a riverboat before he moved west to join Orion in Nevada. He referred humorously to his lack of success at mining, turning to journalism for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. His humorous story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", published in 1865 and based on a story he heard at Angels Hotel in Angels Camp California, where he had spent time as a miner, brought international fame and attention and was even translated to Classic Greek. He was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty. The wit and satire of Twain, both in prose and speech, earned praise from critics and peers.
Twain earned a great deal of money from his writings and lectures, though he lost most of it by investing in ventures, notably the Paige Compositor. The failure of this mechanical typesetter was attributed to its complexity and imprecision. These financial difficulties led him to seek protection from his creditors via bankruptcy and succeeded in overcoming his financial problems with the help of Henry Huttleston Rogers. A gentleman by nature, Twain decided to pay all his pre-bankruptcy creditors in full, though he had no legal responsibility to do so.
Twain was born shortly after the visit of Halley's Comet, and he predicted that he would "go out with it", too. He died the day after the comet returned. He was lauded as "the greatest American humorist of his age", and William Faulkner called Twain "the father of American literature."

Date of Birth:

November 30, 1835

Date of Death:

April 21, 1910

Place of Birth:

Florida, Missouri

Place of Death:

Redding, Connecticut