Classic
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain
Summary
Mischievous Tom Sawyer schemes his way through boyhood in the Mississippi River town of St. Petersburg, tricking friends into whitewashing a fence, courting Becky Thatcher, and playing pirate on Jackson's Island. The adventure darkens when Tom and Huckleberry Finn witness a graveyard murder and must decide whether to testify against the killer, Injun Joe. Twain's affectionate, satirical picture of small town childhood created two of American literature's most enduring characters.
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Historical Context & Significance
Twain published the novel in 1876, drawing on his own boyhood in Hannibal, Missouri. It became his best selling book during his lifetime and set the stage for Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.