The Innocents Abroad

Or, The New Pilgrim’s Progress

By: Mark Twain

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

In June 1867, Mark Twain set out for Europe and the Holy Land on the paddle steamer Quaker City. His enduring, no-nonsense guide for the first-time traveler also served as an antidote to the insufferably romantic travel books of the period.

“Who could read the programme for the excursion without longing to make one of the party?”

So Mark Twain acclaims his voyage from New York City to Europe and the Holy Land. His adventures produced The Innocents Abroad, a book so funny and provocative it made him an international star for the rest of his life. He was making his first responses to the Old World—to Paris, Milan, Florence, Venice, Pompeii, Constantinople, Sebastopol, Balaklava, Damascus, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem. For the first time he was seeing the great paintings and sculptures of the Old Masters. He responded with wonder and amazement but also with exasperation, irritation, and disbelief. Above all he displayed the great energy of his humor, more explosive for us now than for his beguiled contemporaries.

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A classic work…[that] marks a critical point in the development of our literature.” (Leslie A. Fiedler, literary critic)

Great audio book that you will enjoy

Enjoyed the audio book,
every once in a while, the story did get a little
redundant, but what can you say about articles that were
written ages ago and then published as a book

inspired

starting it again for the fourth time
a real timeless classic
makes me happy

It's good to know tourism hasn't changed

Or at least hasn't gotten any worse in 150 years.

Twain is able to walk the balance between silly jokes of the hardships of the journey, and detailed and heartfelt descriptions of the amazing sights and places he visited on the voyage.

An excellent travelers tale

Mark twain's humor and insight make this a remarkable story from Europe to the holy land. That it was written a hundred and fifty years ago makes it a historical reference.

A good sarcastic romp through Yirrup.

If you can’t stand the language and world view of 1869, leave this one alone. Hasn’t been modified for the smaller screen.

Oh what it can mean to be an American

I was all over the place with this book. It is a semi-factual telling of a journey to the Holy Land in an old, retired Civil War monitor, the former U.S.S. Quaker City. As with all of Twain's writing, there is truth, and then there is Truth, and then there is pure fancy and invention. This book had all of those. I felt I could imagine these long ago travelers despoiling antiquities and being rude, arrogant, and ignorant to the locals. I also got their good intentions and curiosity. Throughout, I could be embarrassed by the ignorant American tourist, or amused by Twain's description, or offended by the souvenir hunting, sometimes those feelings were right on top of one another. I was surprised by the spiritual side of Twain. I thought it an interesting book.

A greatly entertaining and humorous book...

First I read the print version...at least three times over the years...then I found this audiobook, which I have listened to twice.

This is a wildly humorous account of a real voyage Twain took in accompaniment with some travelers on a trip to Europe and the Holy Land in 1870. As with all of Twain's travel literature, the book includes real information, facts, descriptions, about the trip and the travelers, but he also makes fun of himself and his co-travelers....exaggerating at times, but always very humorous.

Interestingly, this was Twain's FIRST book...except for a collection of short stories...and it sold more copies in his life than any other one of his books. It established him as a major writer, and it put many dollars in his pocket.

Fantastic

Although I’ve read Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, I’ve never read The Innocents Abroad. What a delight. It’s a classic

Few can make me laugh like Twain

Observations of places I’ve never seen, make want to visit (or avoid), but observations of places I’ve been brought far too many laugh-out-loud moments. This man was a genius!

WORLD TRAVEL

As mentioned in previous essays, Mark Twain is an acquired taste for some. “… Innocents Abroad” fascinates those who are travelers, either for fun or vocation. It is a joy to hear Twain’s reminiscence of a mid-nineteenth century voyage to Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land. There is added pleasure to a Nevadan because of Twain’s comparisons to Nevada’ open spaces, Lake Tahoe, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

To this listener’s ear, “...Innocents Abroad” is an irreverent primer on travel to foreign countries; not because everything is the same but because some 21st century world travels are similar; and all world travels are given perspective by Twain’s observation.

Grover Gardner's performance makes "The Innocents Abroad" an entertaining experience.