In 1867, Mark Twain set out from New York City for Europe and the Holy Land on the paddle-steamer Quaker City. The result of that trip was The Innocents Abroad, a travel book unlike any that had gone before it. Irreverent and irrepressible, Twain pokes fun at officious tour guides and offensive tourists alike. The book offers a glimpse of a major writer when he was young and just beginning to flex his muscles, and also serves as an enduring no-nonsense guide for the first-time traveler to Europe and the Holy Land. The trip stimulates Twain to meditate on how the "new world" is different from the "old" and engenders reflections on what a society must be like to be thought of as genuinely "civilized." The Innocents Abroad is alternately profound and profoundly entertaining. Twain may find himself exasperated or exhausted--but the story he tells is never dull. It is no wonder that the book was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By K. Belson
Format:Hardcover
Easily the greatest travel book ever written. The language is so easy to read concidering that its over 100 years old. Every page contains one or more gems of humour. I just could not stop laughing all the way through. Ive read it twice now and Im sure to read it again and again. Fabulous
By Dave_42
Format:Hardcover
"The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress" is Twain's second book, though he undoubtedly would have preferred it be his first book, given his destruction of the plates for "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other Sketches". Nevertheless, this is an early work, and yet it already shows Twain's skill as a writer, and his development into one of the greatest writers of all time.
The Oxford Mark Twain series is a wonderful collection. Each book is a facsimile of the first editions of his works (with a few noted exceptions), and the works are supplemented with a "Foreword" by the editor of the series (Note the Foreword appears to be the same for each book in the series), an "Introduction" from a writer for whom the work had particular impact, and an "Afterword" from a scholar who examines the work in the context of the time and place in which it was written. The editor of the series is Shelley Fisher Fishkin, a professor of American Studies and English and an author of multiple books on Mark Twain. The "Introduction" in this volume is by Mordecai Richler, and the "Afterword" by David E. E. Sloane.
In the "Introduction", Mordecai Richler (Canadian author, screenwriter, and essayist) discusses his view of travel, and contrasts that with Twain's wonderful journey to Europe and the Holy Land. He also discusses the impact that Twain had on his life and continues to compare his experiences with Twain's. It is a good introduction, and Richler has some interesting points to make about the role this book had on history, and literature.
The book itself is an incredible work. At around 650 pages, Twain delivers a very humorous book, pieces of which could fall into areas of history, travelogue, sociology, or even religion. Overall though, this is yet another splendid example of Twain's ability to tell stories. There are a couple of parts early on in the book where the humor feels a bit forced, but those sections are few, and once you get past the first third of the book they are gone from his writing. Twain takes aim at everything in the course of this book, from his fellow passengers and crew of the ship, to the tour guides, the endless supply of religious artifacts and questionable claims, to the cultures of the areas that he visits. Nothing seems to escape his keen wit, and the reader benefits from this as much today as they did in 1869 when the book was first published.
David E. E. Sloane has written an outstanding "Afterword" for this volume. In which he discusses all the work that Twain put into turning his columns into the book. Twain cleaned up the language, and really sharpened his focus, which undoubtedly is why this was one of his bestselling books while he was alive, and continues to be one of his most read works. Mr. Sloane also discusses the history of the times surrounding this book, and in particular influences such as Artemus Ward and P. T. Barnum, as well as other works from the time. He also provides a section for further reading, which gives those who are interested some valuable resources to find out more about Twain and the writing of "The Innocents Abroad".
The Oxford Mark Twain series is a wonderful collection. Each book is a facsimile of the first editions of his works (with a few noted exceptions), and the works are supplemented with a "Foreword" by the editor of the series (Note the Foreword appears to be the same for each book in the series), an "Introduction" from a writer for whom the work had particular impact, and an "Afterword" from a scholar who examines the work in the context of the time and place in which it was written. The editor of the series is Shelley Fisher Fishkin, a professor of American Studies and English and an author of multiple books on Mark Twain. The "Introduction" in this volume is by Mordecai Richler, and the "Afterword" by David E. E. Sloane.
In the "Introduction", Mordecai Richler (Canadian author, screenwriter, and essayist) discusses his view of travel, and contrasts that with Twain's wonderful journey to Europe and the Holy Land. He also discusses the impact that Twain had on his life and continues to compare his experiences with Twain's. It is a good introduction, and Richler has some interesting points to make about the role this book had on history, and literature.
The book itself is an incredible work. At around 650 pages, Twain delivers a very humorous book, pieces of which could fall into areas of history, travelogue, sociology, or even religion. Overall though, this is yet another splendid example of Twain's ability to tell stories. There are a couple of parts early on in the book where the humor feels a bit forced, but those sections are few, and once you get past the first third of the book they are gone from his writing. Twain takes aim at everything in the course of this book, from his fellow passengers and crew of the ship, to the tour guides, the endless supply of religious artifacts and questionable claims, to the cultures of the areas that he visits. Nothing seems to escape his keen wit, and the reader benefits from this as much today as they did in 1869 when the book was first published.
David E. E. Sloane has written an outstanding "Afterword" for this volume. In which he discusses all the work that Twain put into turning his columns into the book. Twain cleaned up the language, and really sharpened his focus, which undoubtedly is why this was one of his bestselling books while he was alive, and continues to be one of his most read works. Mr. Sloane also discusses the history of the times surrounding this book, and in particular influences such as Artemus Ward and P. T. Barnum, as well as other works from the time. He also provides a section for further reading, which gives those who are interested some valuable resources to find out more about Twain and the writing of "The Innocents Abroad".
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
15 of 21 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oddly timeless in many ways
11 Dec 1999
By Glenn Fleishman
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Some parts of this book give an incredible insight into the way life was actually lived all western Europe and the middle east in the 1800s. Other parts give testament to Twain's incredibly casual bigotry and racism and intolerance. But in one page he'll note his desire to not appear ignorant in front of a freed slave acting as tour guide in Venice; and then widely compliment the fellow for his intelligence and manner. Twain doesn't smooth the rough edges - he's all rough edges. But so much the better.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Early Signs Of Greatness
7 Feb 2011
By Dave_42
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
"The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress" is Twain's second book, though he undoubtedly would have preferred it be his first book, given his destruction of the plates for "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other Sketches". Nevertheless, this is an early work, and yet it already shows Twain's skill as a writer, and his development into one of the greatest writers of all time.
The Oxford Mark Twain series is a wonderful collection. Each book is a facsimile of the first editions of his works (with a few noted exceptions), and the works are supplemented with a "Foreword" by the editor of the series (Note the Foreword appears to be the same for each book in the series), an "Introduction" from a writer for whom the work had particular impact, and an "Afterword" from a scholar who examines the work in the context of the time and place in which it was written. The editor of the series is Shelley Fisher Fishkin, a professor of American Studies and English and an author of multiple books on Mark Twain. The "Introduction" in this volume is by Mordecai Richler, and the "Afterword" by David E. E. Sloane.
In the "Introduction", Mordecai Richler (Canadian author, screenwriter, and essayist) discusses his view of travel, and contrasts that with Twain's wonderful journey to Europe and the Holy Land. He also discusses the impact that Twain had on his life and continues to compare his experiences with Twain's. It is a good introduction, and Richler has some interesting points to make about the role this book had on history, and literature.
The book itself is an incredible work. At around 650 pages, Twain delivers a very humorous book, pieces of which could fall into areas of history, travelogue, sociology, or even religion. Overall though, this is yet another splendid example of Twain's ability to tell stories. There are a couple of parts early on in the book where the humor feels a bit forced, but those sections are few, and once you get past the first third of the book they are gone from his writing. Twain takes aim at everything in the course of this book, from his fellow passengers and crew of the ship, to the tour guides, the endless supply of religious artifacts and questionable claims, to the cultures of the areas that he visits. Nothing seems to escape his keen wit, and the reader benefits from this as much today as they did in 1869 when the book was first published.
David E. E. Sloane has written an outstanding "Afterword" for this volume. In which he discusses all the work that Twain put into turning his columns into the book. Twain cleaned up the language, and really sharpened his focus, which undoubtedly is why this was one of his bestselling books while he was alive, and continues to be one of his most read works. Mr. Sloane also discusses the history of the times surrounding this book, and in particular influences such as Artemus Ward and P. T. Barnum, as well as other works from the time. He also provides a section for further reading, which gives those who are interested some valuable resources to find out more about Twain and the writing of "The Innocents Abroad".
The Oxford Mark Twain series is a wonderful collection. Each book is a facsimile of the first editions of his works (with a few noted exceptions), and the works are supplemented with a "Foreword" by the editor of the series (Note the Foreword appears to be the same for each book in the series), an "Introduction" from a writer for whom the work had particular impact, and an "Afterword" from a scholar who examines the work in the context of the time and place in which it was written. The editor of the series is Shelley Fisher Fishkin, a professor of American Studies and English and an author of multiple books on Mark Twain. The "Introduction" in this volume is by Mordecai Richler, and the "Afterword" by David E. E. Sloane.
In the "Introduction", Mordecai Richler (Canadian author, screenwriter, and essayist) discusses his view of travel, and contrasts that with Twain's wonderful journey to Europe and the Holy Land. He also discusses the impact that Twain had on his life and continues to compare his experiences with Twain's. It is a good introduction, and Richler has some interesting points to make about the role this book had on history, and literature.
The book itself is an incredible work. At around 650 pages, Twain delivers a very humorous book, pieces of which could fall into areas of history, travelogue, sociology, or even religion. Overall though, this is yet another splendid example of Twain's ability to tell stories. There are a couple of parts early on in the book where the humor feels a bit forced, but those sections are few, and once you get past the first third of the book they are gone from his writing. Twain takes aim at everything in the course of this book, from his fellow passengers and crew of the ship, to the tour guides, the endless supply of religious artifacts and questionable claims, to the cultures of the areas that he visits. Nothing seems to escape his keen wit, and the reader benefits from this as much today as they did in 1869 when the book was first published.
David E. E. Sloane has written an outstanding "Afterword" for this volume. In which he discusses all the work that Twain put into turning his columns into the book. Twain cleaned up the language, and really sharpened his focus, which undoubtedly is why this was one of his bestselling books while he was alive, and continues to be one of his most read works. Mr. Sloane also discusses the history of the times surrounding this book, and in particular influences such as Artemus Ward and P. T. Barnum, as well as other works from the time. He also provides a section for further reading, which gives those who are interested some valuable resources to find out more about Twain and the writing of "The Innocents Abroad".
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