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)

If only Twain had a better editor...

I found it fascinating to hear the details about Twain's grand Mediterranean cruise that was months long and involved numerous overland adventures. I especially enjoyed hearing about places I had been and comparing my experience with his. Twain's witticism comes through, but in the end, I just wish he'd stop talking. He was soooooo wordy. And then the end of the book came and, oddly enough, he just stopped talking. They spent seven days in Spain doing an overland adventure and all we got out of it was two sentences saying that went there and went to several places, but he didn't have time to write about it. That made me giggle after wishing most of the way through the book that he would be more succinct. That was a bit much.

Timeless laughs

Loved this book. Laugh out loud funny! And lots of insights--the world has changed, and not! Twain's eye is sharp.

This is my favorite book

I have listened to this book multiple time and love it. The humor is spot on and the reader is very easy to listen to.

Sam Clements at his sardonic best

Mark Twain can only be truely be appreciated by reading this book. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court hints at his sense of humor but leaves one wondering in confusion. This book shows Twain's full, unadulterated humor regarding the daily experiences of life. A truely timeless story.

A great story by great author

...And a narrator who makes us believe we are listening to MT himself. Great story- great author.

Exceptional!

so it took several months for me to get through this book it was pure delight. I highly recommend to any literary person.

Dry humor

This is classic Mark Twain humor and it takes me back into an era before sound bites and 30 second ads. The drowsy way the plot unfolds can be daunting, but then Twain lands a punch and you just have to laugh out loud.

One of the must read books of all time.

The reason is simple enough. It records one of the earliest purpose-planned group tours in all human history. Twains group left the States on the sidewheeler steam ship Quaker City in 1867 and logged about 20,O00 miles to the Eastern mediteranean and back. The ship was built at the beginning of the civil war and had one of the most active service lives of any naval blockaded ship of the era before it was sold off. Cruise speedx12 knots.

This was in the tradition of The Grand Tour but with mature people and far more extesive itinerary. And often a seriously difficult one as well. More then one 13 hour horse ride in hot deserts. I was impressed. All this took place at the very beginning of what I would call the modern era of telegraph and railroad infastructure and about ten years before Custers Last Stand.

I especially enjoyed the pyramid tours because my experience with the locals in 1983 was depressingly familiar. However, Twains description of the climb to The Kings Chamber left me confusd. He descrbed it as a narrow dark passage way! The grand gallery is one of the most dumbfoundingly jaw drpping sights on the planet! Twain complains of the inferior tallow candles used both at the hotel and the during the assent so he his group must have been very poorly lit.

Delightful

Have read this book as a kid & remember enjoying it & promising herself to visit Ephesus on account of Twain’s description & did see it few yeas ago. This audiobook I found as funny & interesting as when I read it as a child.
Narration as excellent.

A marathon

But worth it.

Recommended , Twains style , wit and humour make this a satisfying journey into 19th century tourism and travel