Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain’s timeless masterpiece, remains freshly celebrated, condemned and misunderstood 140 years after its publication. Forever-young Huck still resonates as a vivid and indelible personality, even in the minds of many who have never read the novel. The familiar “Tom Sawyer” will always suggest a clever rascal. The slave Jim’s portrayal endures as stubbornly inscrutable. And the unpredictable river that propels them retains its starring role.

Ernest Hemingway proclaimed that “all modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called ‘Huckleberry Finn.’” H.L. Mencken first discovered “Huck Finn” at age 9, reread it annually for 40 years, and frequently cited it as the greatest of all American novels — one in which the expression of freedom romps across every page. This same novel has been damned and banned through the years as racist, simplistic, stereotypical and a mere children’s tale. Such an enduring and controversial work of art deserves closer inspection.

Our collaborative course explores Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in depth, considers Samuel Clemens as a writer and quintessentially American character Mark Twain, and uses the novel as a reference point to examine more broadly our role as critical readers of any work of fiction. A recent reading of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the course’s only practical prerequisite. We also reflect on Percival Everett's award-winning James and its modern reframing of Huck and Jim’s journey down the Mississippi River. You are encouraged to read James, if you have time. “Tom Sawyer,” a certain “Celebrated Jumping Frog,” and other Twain writings may join our conversations for context, but they need not be read.

Our discussion-based course will meet for five weeks.

Required text:

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain

ISBN-13: 978-0143107323

 
Recommended text:

James

Percival Everett

ISBN-13: 978-0385550369