The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Written by Mark Twain

Narrated by Garrick Hagon

Tom Sawyer is a dare-devil, a schemer, a prankster, a main-chancer. His inventiveness and energy know no bounds; whenever his Aunt Polly thinks he is tucked up in bed, he is most likely creeping out into the night on deeds of daring – ‘not the Model Boy of the village,’ as the author puts it. In creating this humorous and dramatic story of childhood, Mark Twain has given us a vivid picture of life in a small town on the Mississippi in the mid-nineteenth century and created one of the most popular boy heroes in literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Feb 1, 2008
• ISBN: 9789629545758

Mark Twain

Mark Twain, who was born Samuel L. Clemens in Missouri in 1835, wrote some of the most enduring works of literature in the English language, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc was his last completed book—and, by his own estimate, his best. Its acquisition by Harper & Brothers allowed Twain to stave off bankruptcy. He died in 1910. 

Reviews for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

[karen.lea · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The unabridged version, though racist and somewhat ignorant, looses the charm of the characters when edited. This book is an accurate reflection of an awkward time in the youth of our nation, and rather than glossed over, needs to be appreciated as such. We have come a long way!

[rachelle_ockert-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Great Starter

Just getting back to reading in earnest, figured I'd start with some classics. Still twinge at the "n" word, but it's a cultural sign of those times. Imagination and exploration. Kids used to have it. Kids used to could explore.

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was okay. I really found it slow and dragging at times just like Huck Finn. I didn't really like Tom. Huck Finn is a more funny storyteller. I think this is more of a boy's book and also good for the big screen.

[rxr0324 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tom is a boy who is a not rich boy.He look one sight.It's Injun's killing his friend thene.But Injun make it for Muff.Tom look treasure place.I don't know this story.But it is easy to understand.Story is interesting.I guess another last end

[mayana_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tom Sawyer dose not like school and work.But he loves adventures!This book is very exciting.I wanted to adventure too.

[kate_schulte078 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This would be good to use when talking about the mid 1880s and life on the Mississippi. I think students will like this book because of how Tom reacts to situations.

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is perhaps unusual to read this book aimed at boys for the first time at the age of 45, but I really enjoyed it. Tom is an appealingly mischievous boy whose adventures, fears and insecurities are fairly timeless; though written in 1876, the book could be set in the modern era in a small town or rural area with relatively few changes. The other main characters, Aunt Polly, Joe Harper, Becky Thatcher and of course Huck Finn are equally attractively drawn. From the modern perspective the character of Injun Joe is portrayed as a wholly negative and stereotypical "savage", but this is lifted by Tom's compassion towards him at the end. Very enjoyable read for all ages. 5/5

[grazianoronca_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The 100th anniversary of Twain's death is April, 21 2010. Tom Sawyer lives with his Aunt Polly and his half-brother, Sid, in the Mississippi River town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. His best friend (buddy) and companion of adventures Huck Finn helps Tom to invent how to avoid school, and get fun night and day. The main themes are: children looking for trouble, adults as adults always do, and humorism tinged with satire. Sometimes Tom disappears in the Huck's shadow, and sometimes Tom and Huck work together: these passages are most successful with Twain's job. For example:Huck: 'When you going to start the gang and turn robbers?'Tom: 'We'll get the boys together and have the initiation tonight, maybe.'Huck: 'Have the which?'Tom: 'Have the initiation.'Huck: 'What's that?'Tom: ' It's to swear ... etc etc The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a classic book suitable for all ages.

[gatha_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I knew "The adventures of tom sawyer",but i did not read it.I thought the story was that tom travel anywhere with his friendsbefore I read it. however,it was different. The story was not until adventures but also suspences. I was surprised with it afterwhen I read it.Tom was brave child.If i had been tom, I could not have done what tom did.

[brittanybear79 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Tom Sawyer was a little boy who was very mischievous. He went to live with his aunt. He didnt always follow the rules. He was forced to white wash the fence as punishment for some of the bad things he did. He tricked a lot of people into do stuff for him that he didnt want to do. He an Huck Finn went on a lot of adventures. Once Huck fell through the roof of the church and he faked his death. Then Becki found him and she was so mad when she found of that Huck was faking it the whole time. This book is known by a lot of people but most of them dont read it. They just know the main parts. i encourage people to read this. it is a fun read.

[ramzartso-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great adventure...

[carolfoasia_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is on my 100 Great Books List. What a totally delightful book that was an easy read. Once I started, it was impossible for me to stop. Mark Twain is a comedic genius. There is no question in my mind. I finished listening to/reading (did both) it on the plane to Hawaii and laughed out loud several times. I WISH that I had read this before I read Huck Finn for The Well-Educated Mind list. Huck Finn is considered the “classic” of the two, but it is really a sequel to Tom Sawyer. So, it would have made Huck Finn easier to read, IMHO. It was Tom's entrance in The Adventures of Huck Finn that made me want to learn more about him. He was a HOOT in that one! Loved this book in every way, this Blackstone audio version read by Grover Gardner was superb. I have heard this narrator before (Tozer's The Pursuit of God) and love him.

[cindyavgi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a classic tale about Tom Sawyer and his adventures with his friend Huckleberry Finn. After he dirties his clothes in a fight and is made to whitewash the fence as punishment, he tricks his friends to do it for him. Tom and Huck go to the graveyard at night and witness a murder of Dr. Robinson. Tom, Huck and Joe Harper run away to an island where they have a lot of fun. Tom sneaks back home one night and finds out that the whole town think they're dead. He comes to his funeral and they see him. Tom testifies against Muff Potter and Injun Joe but Injun joe runs away. In the summer Tom and Huck go hunting for buried treasure, Tom becomes an anonymous hero when he gets help for the Widow Douglas. Tom and Becky get lost in a cave and they see Injun Joe but he doesn't see them. When the two find their way our Judge Thatcher has the cave sealed and accidentally traps Injun Joe inside. Tom and Huck find the gold and Tom tricks Huck to go back to the Widow Douglas.

[buecherwurmeline · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We read the book in school in Germany. I learned English with the book. The reading was good. I like the story. But some words are difficult. The school edition has word help that was good for me. I want to read Huckelberry Finn next.

[atreic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mark Twain's prose is lovely, and walks a fine line between describing the rural South in ways which are sentimental or derogatory. But it is at the end of the day a children's book for boys, about Indians and buried treasure and running away and getting lost in caves, which while it is endearing and lovely is not sock-rocking.

[ynaffit27 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was hard to get into at first--the vocabulary and language is tough and gets you off track. However, the story-line is great. I love the newer adaptation of this book with Jonathan Taylor Thomas. The ending in the book is far better though, and of course the book is more detailed and the movie makes more sense in parts. Overall, I think this is a good book for adults and middle or high school students to read because it's about being young and finding yourself as you grow up.

[rwjerome · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having only read Huck Finn previously, I was very glad to get the background story of these two interesting characters. Tom is every bit as bright as Huck always makes him out to be, and Huck is just as sympathetic as I remember him. This is a great story that really draws the reader in to the lives of the St. Petersburg children. The humorous parts are very funny, the tense parts very tense, and the end ultimately satisfying. Despite the many character flaws of Tom it is impossible not to love him and root for him throughout the whole story. I especially enjoyed the dialog between the children. Their wholehearted superstitions and the ways that they play together really paint a vibrant and believable image. Overall I was more impressed with the writing and the story itself than I expected to be. This is an American classic for a reason, and certainly well worth the read.

[unclebob53703 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Always preferred this to Huckleberry Finn--which puts me on the wrong side of just about everybody else's opinion. If the ending in the caves doesn't get your pulse racing, you probably don't have one. Found a beautiful like-new copy of the Heritage Edition, with color plates and numerous illustrations by Norman Rockwell.

[booksfordinner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Miss Hunt's eighth grade English class. Guess what her nickname was?

[bittycornwell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I thought it was a fun read, but enjoyed it more when I was younger. I think Mark Twain has an excellent way of making you sympathize with the characters. I found myself shaking my head at some Tom's antics and laughing at the same time.

[cwflatt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

American classic, all boys and men should read often

[fufuakaspeechless_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very entertaining read. I like it better than Huck Finn, though Huck Finn is really good too. Tricking the kid into painting the fence is such a classic scene,

[yarkan_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this through free downloads on ITunes U on my drives back from the Museum. I'd heard of it before and maybe even saw a cartoon of bits before but I wasn't familiar with the text. Twain's used of the sophisticated narration is in contrast to the wonderful dialogue of the kids. Fascinating and disturbing to hear about how much freedom the kids had back then. It reminded me a little of what my Dad said of his boyhood. It pokes fun at religion and some social habits, though others seem galling to a modern ear.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd forgotten what a little trouble maker Tom was. It was a nice enjoyable read.

[barb_h_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story was cute, but man that kid needed some discipline! It's hard to believe how wild children used to be. But it did make for an entertaining and amusing story.

[unlikelyaristotle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The title is pretty self-explanatory - although I read this book at least 5 years ago, I still remember loving it. The dialogue was slightly difficult for me to get through at the time, but it was everything a book should have: great characters, coherent storyline, and good narrative.

[hredwards · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Of course it's a well deserved classic!!

[saad_ksa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story talk about Tom sawyer likes adventures.He and Joe harperand huskleberry finn have an exciting life.One night in the graveyard he and huck finn see the men.who are they ,and what are they doing in the graveyard,in the middle of the night.Then the boys see that one of the men is lnjun Joe . Tom and huck never forget that night . They are afraid of lnjun Joe,and they are right to be afraid .Because lnjun Joe is very quick with a knife.

[garrison0550 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Come on, who doesn't love old Tom Sawyer?!

[seriousgrace · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Tom Sawyer is a typical Southern boy looking for adventure. I don't think there are many young boys that would skin a cat or fake his own death so that he might attend the funeral, but the mischief of such a boy has always been there...and will always be there, too! Tom lives with his auntie and while he is well loved he is always looking for ways to run away. His sidekick, Huck Finn is eager to join him in adventures "down river." Both are "smarties" as my grandfather would say. Showing off for their peers, and besting the adults -there is never a dull moment in Tom Sawyer's world.