Description
Book SynopsisThe raft that carries Huck and Jim down the Mississippi River is often seen as a symbol of adventure and freedom, but the physical specifics of the raft itself are rarely considered. Peter Beidler shows that understanding the material world of
Huckleberry Finn, its limitations and possibilities, is vital to truly understanding Mark Twain's novel.
Trade ReviewDr. Beidler’s critiques of inaccurate literary analyses and book illustrations will be of real value to historians and archaeologists with an interest in the navigation and trade on the western rivers, as well as to professionals in the field of American literature, and especially to all readers who want to know about the river world of Huck Finn."" - Kevin Crisman, author of
The Eagle: An American Brig on Lake Champlain during the War of 1812Table of Contents
- Rafts and Other Rivercraft
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction “On such a craft as that”: Some Basic Questions
- 1. “A little section of a lumber raft”: A Rise, a Raft, a Crib
- 2. “Right in the middle of the wigwam”: Shelter, Oars, Smallpox
- 3. “Riding high like a duck”: Canoes, Boats, Ferries
- 4. “In amongst some bundles of shingles”: A Baby, a Barrel, a Home
- 5. “Generally known as a ‘sucker’”: A Boy, a Raft, a River
- Works Consulted
- Index
