About the Book
This is Mark Twain's first novel about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, and it has become one of the world's best-loved books. It is a fond reminiscence of life in Hannibal, Missouri, an evocation of Mark Twain's own boyhood along the banks of the Mississippi during the 1840s. "Most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred," he tells us. The Mark Twain Library edition contains the only text since the first edition (1876) to be based directly on the author's manuscript and to include all of the "200 rattling pictures' Mark Twain commissioned from one of his favorite illustrators, True W. Williams. This landmark anniversary edition contains a selection of original documents by Mark Twain, including several letters in his inimitable voice about writing Tom Sawyer and about its original publication.
Table of Contents
ILLUSTRATIONS
FOREWORD
THE WRITING OF TOM SAWYER
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
Preface
1. Y -o-u-u Tom-Aunt Polly Decides Upon her Duty-
Tom Practices Music-The Challenge-A Private
Entrance
2. Strong Temptations-Strategic Movements-The
Innocents Beguiled
3. Tom as a General-Triumph and Reward-Dismal
Felicity-Commission and Omission
4. Mental Acrobatics-Attending Sunday-School-The
Superintendent-"Showing off"-Tom Lionized
5. A Useful Minister-In Church-The Climax
6. Self-Examination-Dentistry-The Midnight Charm-
Witches and Devils-Cautious Approaches-Happy
Hours
7. A Treaty Entered Into-Early Lessons-A Mistake Made
8. Tom Decides on his Course-Old Scenes Re-enacted
9. A Solemn Situation-Grave Subjects Introduced-
Injun Joe Explains
10. The Solemn Oath-Terror Brings Repentance-
Mental Punishment
11. Muff Potter Comes Himself-Tom's Conscience
at Work
12. Tom Shows his Generosity-Aunt Polly Weakens
13. The Young Pirates-Going to the Rendezvous-The
Camp-Fire Talk
14. Camp-Life-A Sensation-Tom Steals Away from
Camp
15. Tom Reconnoiters-Learns the Situation-Reports at
Camp
16. A Day's Amusements-Tom Reveals a Secret-The
Pirates take a Lesson-A Night Surprise-An Indian
War
17. Memories of the Lost Heroes-The Point in Tom's
Secret
18. Tom's Feelings Investigated-Wonderful Dream-
Becky Thatcher Overshadowed-Tom Becomes
Jealous-Black Revenge
19. Tom Tells the Truth
20. Becky in a Dilemma-Tom's Nobility Asserts Itself
21. Youthful Eloquence- Compositions by the Young
Ladies-A Lengthy Vision- The Boys' Vengeance
Satisfied
22. Tom's Confidence Betrayed-Expects Signal
Punishment
23. Old Muff's Friends- Muff Potter in Court-Muff
Potter Saved
24. Tom as the Village Hero- Days of Splendor and
Nights of Horror-Pursuit of Injun Joe
25. About Kings and Diamonds-Search for the Treasure
-Dead People and Ghosts
26. The Haunted House-Sleepy Ghosts-A Box of Gold
-Bitter Luck
27. Doubts to be Settled-The Young Detectives
28. An Attempt at No. Two- Huck Mounts Guard
29. The Pic-nic-Huck on Injun Joe's Track-The
"Revenge" Job-Aid for the Widow
30. The Welchman Reports- Huck Under Fire- The
Story Circulated- A New Sensation- Hope Giving
Way to Despair
31. An Exploring Expedition- Trouble Commences- Lost
in the Cave-Total Darkness-Found but not Saved
32. Tom tells the Story of their Escape-Tom's Enemy in
Safe Quarters
33 . The Fate of Injun Joe-Huck and Tom Compare
Notes-An Expedition to the Cave-Protection
Against Ghosts-"An Awful Snug Place"-A Reception
at the Widow Douglas's
34. Springing a Secret-Mr. Jones' Surprise a Failure
35. A New Order of Things-Poor Huck-New Adventures
Planned
Conclusion
EXPLANATORY NOTES
SOURCES FOR CHARACTERS
NOTE ON THE TEXT
