Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (version 2)


Read by Mark F. Smith

(4.8 stars; 2027 reviews)

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain creates an entertaining adventure of Middle America in the 1800's - afloat on a raft on the Mississippi River. Huck escapes his civilized life when he arranges his own "murder" and turns back into the backwoods, downriver yokel he started as, and in the process springing a slave, Jim, from bondage.

Huck and Jim experience life as a series of tableaux as the river sweeps them through small towns on their way South. At each stop, Huck engages his talent for mixing fact with bald-faced lies to endlessly get himself out of situations... and of course, putting him into others!

Much has been written about the statement Twain is making about slavery in this book, but it's really secondary to the story. The facts of how black people were treated in this period give Huck and Jim their license for life on the run. Modern listeners will be intrigued by the unencumbered life of the pair; they make do with coffee, fish from the river, and little else (but of course, when they do need something extra, they don't mind helping themselves to it without recourse to money!)

Huck and Jim have run-ins with desperadoes and family feuds and even manage to get run down by a steamboat. The adventures ratchet up when they are joined on the raft by a self-proclaimed "duke" and a "king" - shysters both, who spend their time in figuring how to fleece the public in the little river towns. And when Jim is captured and threatened with being sent back into slavery, Huck enlists his old buddy Tom Sawyer in a frenzied, desperate, and terribly funny rescue.

I had to clip a lot of laughing from this recording at Twain's sly, catch-'em-when-they're-not-looking humor, but you can feel free to enjoy some good belly laughs at this crew of lovable rapscallions! (Summary by Mark) (11 hr 33 min)

Chapters

Chapter 01 10:54 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 02 15:21 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 03 10:55 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 04 9:01 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 05 10:39 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 06 17:55 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 07 15:36 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 08 27:20 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 09 9:33 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 10 8:39 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 11 17:37 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 12 17:55 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 13 12:35 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 14 10:33 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 15 14:48 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 16 20:35 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 17 20:40 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 18 28:56 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 19 21:43 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 20 22:03 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 21 22:38 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 22 13:31 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 23 15:22 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 24 15:05 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 25 17:59 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 26 17:48 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 27 16:34 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 28 22:39 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 29 22:34 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 30 7:52 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 31 22:47 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 32 15:00 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 33 16:39 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 34 13:43 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 35 17:21 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 36 13:16 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 37 16:12 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 38 16:25 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 39 13:14 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 40 13:57 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 41 16:21 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 42 18:33 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 43 4:31 Read by Mark F. Smith

Reviews

That was the most awesome reading


(5 stars)

That was the most awesome reading that I have ever had the chance to enjoy. Thank you so much for taking the time and so much effort, much more than Tom and Huck could ever have wished for.


(5 stars)

What an outstanding reading. Mark S and Mark T had me laughing out loud at times, and, as someone else said, he has taken the time to master the dialect and emphasis so that it is much easier to understand this audio than to read it. The power of Twain’s social criticism and irony and Huck’s innocence and Jim’s guidance and instruction come through beautifully, as a result. I was looking to see if there was some way to get in touch with Mark Smith to thank him for this and saw the reviews and realized that this was a good way to do it, so thank you, Mark. I would love to learn your technique, because you clearly have prepared to read so well and naturally. A gift to us all. I have read the book numerous times, but never enjoyed it so much.

Excellent Book


(5 stars)

This one was a real treat, especially read by Mark Smith. what a fantastic reader, he was even in charactor reading the libivox disclaimer by the end. The story is an excellent adventure, however, it does centre around a topic that could be a little triggering for some. It talks about the racial divide between whites and blacks from the point of view of a white person, at a time when slavery was considered normal and acceptable. Some of the points of view, even from the main charactor could be hard to listen to. This is just a warning, the book is brilliant, and a representation of the era it was written round. Think of it now as a historical piece, and an education on what we once were, as a society, not what we are now. Highly recommend.

We know the story, meet the reader!


(5 stars)

This is the best reading of this fantastic story. He does a wonderful job of articulating the many dialects the the author emphasis throughout the story. I was pleased that it is the original story and unabridged. Yes some of the language may be offensive, whether poor white or slave, which is why the many voices Twain incorporates makes this a masterpiece. I fell in love with this story as a child but had a hard time reading the dialects. this audio really puts the story in the setting. I felt as though I was there. just wonderful.

Great, two Marks we're at it!


(5 stars)

Mark Twain and Mark Smith take you on a river ride through the Southern states back in time. The great story and perfect reading just pull you along, thanks for letting me enjoy this! I would like to emphasize what a great job Mark Smith did in giving each character a distinct feel by voicing it in a different tone and dialect. While the book was written in a time slavery was a common and accepted practice, the book introduces some questions and the main character Huck Finn clearly struggles with the morals of slavery and racism.


(5 stars)

I enjoyed the interpretation very much indeed! Mr. Smith actually manages to convey the spirit and reality of those days. He achieves this by spectacularly using the southern dialect in most beautiful way which provides every single figure with its own special character.

LOVED THE READING!


(5 stars)

This book is read in the style it was written, which is hard to do with today's appropriate language. Yes, the language can be offensive, but this is a classical story that all needs to be read and cherished.


(3 stars)

A bit slow and drawn out… don’t care that it’s a classic-now I know why I had trouble reading it in the seventh grade. The reader was fine, but the story dragged on and on. Thanks just the same.