The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Whitewashing a fence has never looked like so much fun. Published in 1876, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is Mark Twain's sunny, mischievous celebration of boyhood along the Mississippi River, and one of the most beloved American novels ever written.

Tom lives with his Aunt Polly, his half-brother Sid, and his cousin Mary in the sleepy river town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. He is clever, restless, and allergic to school, church, and chores. When Aunt Polly sentences him to whitewash the fence on a Saturday, Tom tricks the other boys into paying him for the privilege of doing the work. It is just the beginning of his schemes.

Tom falls head over heels for Becky Thatcher, the new girl in town. He runs off with his friends Huck Finn and Joe Harper to play pirates on an island in the river, and the three return in time to attend their own funeral. But the fun turns serious one night when Tom and Huck sneak into the graveyard at midnight and witness a murder. The real killer, the sinister Injun Joe, lets an innocent man take the blame, and Tom must decide whether to risk his own safety to tell the truth. Soon there is buried treasure, a haunted house, and a terrifying ordeal in a cave.

Twain drew on his own childhood in Hannibal, Missouri, and many of the characters were inspired by people he knew. He wrote the book, he said, mainly for children, but hoped adults would enjoy it as a way of remembering what they once were. His humor is warm and sly, poking fun at the grown-up world while capturing the freedom and imagination of being young. Readers should know the novel reflects attitudes of its time, including its portrayal of Injun Joe, which offers room for thoughtful discussion.

Why read it?

• The spirit of childhood. It captures summer, mischief, friendship, and adventure as few books ever have.
• Twain at his funniest. The fence, the funeral, and the schoolroom scenes are comic classics.
• Real suspense. A graveyard murder, a courtroom, and a cave make it a genuine page-turner.
• Lessons in courage and honesty. Tom learns that doing the right thing can take real bravery.
• A perfect family read-aloud. It delights young listeners and charms the grown-ups reading to them.

Why the Comfortable Classics edition?

Comfortable Classics was created to help families build a library worth keeping. Each book in the series shares the same handsome design, a black cover with warm wood-grain bands and a parchment panel. Only the title lettering changes, chosen to suit each book's spirit. Together they make a matching collection that looks beautiful on a shelf and invites you to take the next one down.

Classics meant to be kept, studied, and handed down.