Mark Twain: Banned, Challenged, and Censored

by Michelle M. Houle

Overview

Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel L. Clemens, is considered to be one of the greatest American writers, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is thought by many to be the most important American novel. However, the language and attitudes in Twain's books make many people uncomfortable, since they reflect a more racist time in our country's history. As a result, there is a great deal of controversy over whether his books should be taught in school. Author Michelle M. Houle discusses Twain's life and times and analyzes two of his best known books. She also explores the history of book censorship, outlining why it occurs and possible ways to address it. She helps readers make up their own minds about whether the books should be banned.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780766026896
Publisher:	Enslow Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	01/16/2008
Series:	Authors of Banned Books
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.52(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Concord, Massachusetts, 1885, vs. Enid, Oklahoma, 2000     7
Why Ban Books?     15
Sam Clemens and Mark Twain: One Man, Two Identities     40
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer     62
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn     78
The War Against Twain     99
Defending Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn     113
Closing Arguments     124
Discussion Questions     134
Timeline     135
Chapter Notes     139
Selected Works of Mark Twain     154
Glossary     155
Further Reading and Internet Addresses     157
Index     158

Editorial Reviews

This book combines biography, criticism, and an exploration of the role of censorship in literature and education. Readers may be familiar with the challenges against The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for its racist language and demeaning portrayal of the runaway slave Jim, but they may be surprised to learn that Huckleberry Finn, along with its predecessor, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, was originally challenged during Twain's lifetime by those who were concerned that children would want to emulate the improper behavior of the main characters. Houle offers a brief history of censorship in literature in order to place Twain's case in context, and a history of the challenges and defenses of the author's work from his contemporaries and modern critics. Illustrations include color photographs of related modern scenes (such as one that shows book burning), reproductions of artwork from early editions of Twain's works, and period cartoons and photographs. A list of discussion questions is appended. More appropriate for literary criticism collections than for use as strict biography, this work will be useful for students looking to include more secondary source material in their critical essays., School Library Journal September 2008

From the Publisher