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Book Review: Huck Finn Alvin Shaul ENGL378-6 9/20/04 Huck Who? Chances are if the name �Huck� is mentioned, one single character from throughout time will come to mind: Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain�s (Samuel Clemens) creation in the late nineteenth century of Huck and his adventures has given life to American literature as we know it today. This is not to say that all influence and reputation gained has been positive. On the contrary, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was then and remains today one of the most controversial works ever put to paper. The racial connections that appear are the source of much of this controversy. A summary of its influences can be gained by looking into the past at reviews posted in periodicals at the time of it�s writing and realizing why we feel the way we do about the book today. Life Magazine, in 1885 gave a harsh reaction to the publishing of Twain�s new book: It is a pleasure to note that the Concord Library Committee agree with LIFE's estimate of Mark Twain's "blood-curdling humor," and have banished "Huckleberry Finn" to limbo (Life, 202). This type of reaction constituted much of the negative reaction received for the book. If the vulgarity and �blood-curdling humor� were indeed viewed as just that, then institutions would refuse to carry it or include it in any sort of practice. Today this same line of thought is absorbed by many high school and university instructors. The vernacular �nigger,� because of it racial heresy, has drawn a large portion of instructors to considering the book itself only a complement to racism. Today�s �watchout� against racism is so extreme that when a politician used the word �niggardly� in a speech a few years back, which has no connection to blacks, he was condemned and ultimately forced to resign. Also in regard to the book, the Boston Daily globe said that �members of the Concord public library committee have drawn the line on literature, and pronounced MARK TWAIN'S "Huckleberry Finn" too "coarse" for a place among the classic tomes that educate and edify the people� (BDG, 2). Much of the support of Huck Finn came in regards to the abundance of humor he included in this particular work. In order for these supporters to feel this way, they had to look past the idea that Twain was furthering the slavery movement. The San Francisco Chronicle published this report: �The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" must be pronounced the most amusing book Mark Twain has written for years. It is a more minute and faithful picture of Southwestern manners and customs fifty years ago than was "Life on the Mississippi," while in regard to the dialect it surpasses any of the author's previous stories in the command of the half-dozen species of patois which passed for the English language in old Missouri (SFC, 6). This is an accurate representation of a writer who knew Twain�s true intentions in writing this work had nothing to do with racial criticism. Another remarked, �With how lavish a hand has MARK TWAIN scattered the riches of his humour and his observation and his sympathy over every page. There is enough in it to fit out twenty ordinary books with laughter� (Punch, 4-5). Report after report could be given as to how this book was received, in both supportive and disobliging circles, but the main ideas have been given. People were either turned away by the rashness of it, or embraced the literary style in which it was written as purpose for praise. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will never be accepted by all, but for the time being, it has been accepted by a majority enough to make it one of the top one hundred American novels ever written. I will not condemn it. Will you? Works Cited (MLA Format) 1. Author Unknown. (no title) Boston Daily Globe. March 17, 1885: p. 2. 2. Author Unknown. (no title) Life Magazine. April 9, 1885: p. 202. 3. Author Unknown. �Roundabout Readings. On Nephews--and "Huckleberry Finn." Punch. January 4, 1896: p. 4-5. 4. Author Unknown. (no title) The San Francisco Chronicle. March 15, 1885: p. 6. |