There is a child hidden inside each one of us.
And sometimes we get to let this child out to play.
Reading this book is one such experience.
The book started off as a sequel to the “Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” A picaresque novel, which portrayed the adventures of a young boy.
This novel takes two ‘not so minor’ characters from this book, namely Huck and Jim and through them leads us through an exploration of America. A discovery of its people, its life.
And mind you, this book also explores various problems that United States was facing at that time. Namely religious and racial bigotry and severe class distinctions.
But when we see America through Mark Twain’s eyes we also see the vigour, the energy and the indomitable spirit of its people.
True not everything is perfect. But there is also an abundance of human sympathy and love for the fellow man. And of course, a unique predisposition to fair play.
But please don’t ever think that this book is a philosophical treatise on society.
If you had to describe it in one word, it is FUNNY!
In fact, it is one of the funniest books I have come across.
The Plot
The story is that of a search for freedom of two individuals. Huck, the reluctantly-reformed urchin and Jim the slave.
We accompany them through various adventures across the country. At one moment, we are in the midst of a family feud with bullets flying everywhere. While at the next moment, we are part of a traveling group of charlatan players.
In fact there are twists and turns enough in every page to keep us at the edge of our seats.
Going into any more detail here would be quite useless, because no review can ever do justice to the plot. You will have to read it for yourself.
So my advice is. Go and buy, borrow, steal… whatever. But READ the book.