The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
First edition (UK)Also called
Huckleberry Finn
First publication
1884, United Kingdom
Literature form
Novel
Genres
Literary, adventure, children's
Writing language
English
Author's country
United States
Length
Approx. 110,000 words
Notable lines
You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly.
— First lines
Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.
— "Notice"
Jim said bees wouldn't sting idiots; but I didn't believe that, because I had tried them lots of times myself, and they wouldn't sting me.
It's lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened. Jim he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to make so many. Jim said the moon could a laid them; well, that looked kind of reasonable, so I didn't say nothing against it, because I've seen a frog lay most as many, so of course it could be done.
"Hain't we got all the fools in town on our side? And ain't that a big enough majority in any town?"
"To be, or not to be; that is the bare bodkin."
I was a-trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself, "All right, then, I'll go to hell."
...and so there ain't nothing more to write about, and I am rotten glad of it, because if I'd a knowed what a trouble it was to make a book I wouldn't a tackled it, and ain't a-going to no more. But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before.
THE END. YOURS TRULY, HUCK FINN.
— Last lines
See also:
Buy the book:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (boxed set)
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