Mark Twain's Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn: The NewSouth Edition

In a radical departure from standard editions, Twain's most famous novels are published here as the continuous narrative that the author originally envisioned. More controversial will be the decision by the editor, noted Mark Twain scholar Alan Gribben, to eliminate the pejorative racial labels that Twain employed in his effort to write realistically about social attitudes of the 1840s.

Gribben points out that dozens of other editions currently make available the inflammatory words, but their presence has gradually diminished the potential audience for two of Twain's masterpieces. "Both novels can be enjoyed deeply and authentically without those continual encounters with the hundreds of now-indefensible racial slurs," Gribben explains.

“"Gribben artfully draws more attention to the word . . . as a topic for class discussions or as a 'teachable moment' than it would be otherwise. When Gribben confronts the three most common critical objections to Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, scholars will want to take note. The response to Gribben's edition in the mass media has run the gamut from frowns of disapproval to hysterical personal attacks. Almost all of these reactions preceded the actual publication of the book, with the result that few of these commentators likely had the opportunity to read Gribben's introduction. It is unfortunate that Gribben's edition has been bashed in the media." --Mark Twain Forum”

Gribben artfully draws more attention to the word ... as a topic for class discussions or as a "teachable moment" than it would be otherwise. When Gribben confronts the three most common critical objections to Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, scholars will want to take note. The response to Gribben's edition in the mass media has run the gamut from frowns of disapproval to hysterical personal attacks. Almost all of these reactions preceded the actual publication of the book, with the result that few of these commentators likely had the opportunity to read Gribben's introduction. It is unfortunate that Gribben's edition has been bashed in the media.

DR. ALAN GRIBBEN co-founded the Mark Twain Circle of America, compiled Mark Twain’s Library: A Reconstruction, and recently co-edited Mark Twain on the Move: A Travel Reader. Gribben has written numerous essays about Mark Twain’s life and image. He teaches on the English faculty of Auburn University at Montgomery and edits the Mark Twain Journal.

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