Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: an Authoritative Text, Contexts and Sources, Criticism

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"Contexts and Sources" offers a comprehensive collection of documents that illuminate the historical background, language, composition, sale, reception, and newly uncovered first half of the manuscript of Mark Twain's most significant work. Readers will find letters discussing the novel's writing, excerpts from Twain's autobiography, and samples of poor poetry that inspired his satire, including one by a young Sam Clemens. The book addresses the censorship of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in schools and libraries over the past century. Commentary by David Carkeet explores the book's dialects, while Earl F. Briden critiques its "racist" illustrations. This section also includes full texts of "Sociable Jimmy," which supports the theory that Huck speaks in a "black voice," and "A True Story, Repeated Word for Word As I Heard It," Twain's first significant attempt to capture African American speech in print. The "Criticism" section is divided into "Early Responses," featuring the first negative review, and "Modern Views" from notable critics like Victor A. Doyno, T. S. Eliot, Jane Smiley, and others. Toni Morrison contributes a poignant personal "Introduction" reflecting on the complexities of reading Twain's work. Additionally, a "Chronology and Selected Bibliography" are provided.