Based on a series of letters Mark Twain wrote from Europe to newspapers in San Francisco and New York as a roving correspondent, The Innocents Abroad (1869) is a burlesque of the sentimental travel books popular in the mid-nineteenth century. Twain's fresh and humorous perspective on hallowed European landmarks lacked reverence for the past-the ancient statues of saints on the Cathedral of Notre Dame are "battered and broken-nosed old fellows" and tour guides "interrupt every dream, every pleasant train of thought, with their tiresome cackling." Equally irreverent about American manners (including his own) as he is about European attitudes, Twain ultimately concludes that, for better or worse, "human nature is very much the same all over the world." For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Mark Twain
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens in 1835, was an American writer and humorist known for his sharp wit and satire. He is best known for his novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," which are considered classics of American literature. Twain's writing style is characterized by his use of vernacular language and his keen observations of human nature. He is credited with helping to shape the American literary tradition and is often referred to as the "father of American literature." Twain's works continue to be studied and celebrated for their humor, social commentary, and enduring relevance.