Twain’s Other Steamboat Adventure

It was always nuts for Tom Sawyer—a mystery was. If you'd lay out a mystery and a pie before me and him, you wouldn't have to say take your choice; it was a thing that would regulate itself. Because in my nature I have always run to pie, whilst in his nature he has always run to mystery. People are made different. And it is the best way. —Huckleberry Finn

I'm at Criminal Element with Tom Sawyer, Detective: Twain’s Other Steamboat Adventure. Speaking of Twain, he had so many quotable quotes, right? Here's one of my favorites: "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." Or this one: "But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?"

Zackel: Mark Twain, the N Word and Compassion

I’m halfway through ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN and so far I can say Frederick Zackel nailed all the controversy this week regarding a novel that Lionel Trilling said, was "America's most eloquent argument against racism.."

Read Mr. Zackel's piece here. Your continuing (and perhaps differing) comments on this discussion are welcomed.

More on Huck Finn

Michiko Kakutani has a good piece in The New York Times appropriately titled Light Out, Huck, They Still Want to Sivilize You.