The Innocents Abroad: Or, The New Pilgrim’s Progress

If you've not read Innocents Abroad, this is a great way to experience it. Many don't read this and it is one of Twain's hidden gems. It is Twain at his best, "Is he dead?" The first time I read it, it made me laugh out loud in public places. If you have travelled at all you will enjoy it. If you travelled to these places you'll get an extra bang out of it. Human nature is timeless and there is no better proof of it than the observations of a master. He gives the straight dope on traveling in Holy Land.

For a long time the only version of "Innocents Abroad," was narrated by Flo Gipson. The first time I heard it, I thought it was horrible. But I've listened to it more than once, it makes great bed-time listening. I downloaded this version because it was narrated by a man, but I have to say, I think Flo Gipson captured Twain's irreverent tone better than Grover Gardner. Grover Gardner has a more pleasing sounding voice than Flo, though. So it's a toss-up.

Twain is one of my favourite fiction writers. All his talents are also there in full strength in this non-fiction work.

Telling the story of a journey through the Mediteranean and the "Holy" land by a group of Americans it is laced with all the humour, irreverance and intelligence that I love in his work. As a travel book it gives just enough flavour of the countries and places it visits to be relevant and contains some interesting historic details that were the currency of the day. I came away with a clearer picture of the reach of the Turkish (Ottoman?) empire than I had before and a better notion of some of the scale of the geography.

But you're not going to enjoy this for geography or history. You're going to enjoy it if you're interested in people and intelligent and witty comment on their behaviour. That is what Twain did best and this is one of his best.

Grover Gardner does an excellent job of the narration. Just the right level of old man growl to fit the words perfectly.

All the terrific anecdotes about how the Americans interact with the Europeans. And the hilarious problems with language and guides.

How they would rename all their guides to "Fergusen"

Hadn't heard him before but he was wonderful.

Not really.

For anyone who thinks Mark Twain is just Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn, they should listen to this book. It is just wonderful. And tells you a lot about life in the 19th Century.

This book is a wonderful historical trip to Europe and the Middle East. The best of any travel Log I have read

Mark Twain, as it is written in the first person.

The Reader makes it alive, as if you are right there

Many moments were laughable as well he has very interesting comments about the times

no

I would recommend this book to someone who wanted to read Twain specifically or to someone about to travel to Europe and the Middle East.

It did drag on or ramble at times, but that's Twain.

He didn't really try to differentiate the characters because it was written in first person. I do wish he had taken bigger pauses between subject changes though. Twain can make some big topic jumps but there was no breath between so more than a few times when I was doing something else I had to rewind to catch the transition.

No.

From a modern perspective, Mark Twain's cultural attitudes are dated. In fact, to me he comes off as a but of an arrogant a**hole, but one who could write amusingly and engagingly about his travels.

I have loved other things written by Train, but it seems like his personality shone through this work, and it is a personality I didn't much care for.

That said, It is a fascinating look at 19th century travel in Europe, the Holy Land, and the Black Sea area (Where he has lunch with the czar!)

Worth a listen, but be prepared for a bit of 19th century racism and a myopic perspective.

This is a journal of his trip in 1867 to France, Italy, and the Holy land, missing a few due to plague and quarantine. Twain is sometimes surprisingly biased and it's often not clever or funny. He is unfailingly credulous about Christianity, albeit critical of Roman Catholicism, and dismissive of all Arabs, most Italians, and many other foreigners. His cleverness surfaces describing himself and fellow travelers, but too rarely. Overlong.

It is sadly the same old story--the people selling the book give it far better reviews than those who bought it. Every narrator tries to sound like the writer would sound and speak like the writer too. They seldom succeed. Mr. Twain goes on the dream trip and spends most of the time complaining. Poorly narrated. Twain exhibits his genious for story telling. What is missing is a story teller.