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The Innocents Abroad

Or, The New Pilgrim’s Progress

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The Innocents Abroad

By: Mark Twain
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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About this listen

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. Classics Travel Writing & Commentary Funny Middle Ages Middle East Witty Italy Imperialism

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Critic reviews

“A classic work…[that] marks a critical point in the development of our literature.” (Leslie A. Fiedler, literary critic)
All stars
Most relevant
Thoroughly, outrageously entertaining! Also a valuable insight into a lost era, when foreign lands were strange and exciting.

Brilliant!

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One of the best classic travel books. Shows everything which was great about Mark Twain writing, The style,The wit and the way to see everything in the world through his eyes. A journey around the world which will not be forgotten soon!

Twain at his best!

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A fascinating survey of France, the Mediterranean and Asia Minor in the late 1860s. It's the little snap-shots that provide most pleasure. The pen-portraits of Napoleon III and Tsar Alexander II are worth setting again more standard historical summaries. There are, as might be expected, playful digs at aristocratic pretension and the dirt, laziness and corruption of many ordinary people, but Twain is similarly unforgiven about some of his own countrymen. The Crimean War is referred to on occasion, but it is interesting to note the lack of real reference to the more recent American Civil War in a work that relies on building parallels for readers back in the USA – readers who understood the copious Biblical and classical allusions more than their more counterparts.. There is throughout a balance between naive expectation and ultimate disappointment, which will speak to many a tourist who finds that guidebooks and popular imagery often distort a more prosaic reality. I personally preferred his subsequent "A Tramp Abroad" on Germany and Switzerland, though the range of discussion is broader here. The reading in this version is faultless.

Excellent early-ish stuff

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I really enjoyed this audible book. It was well narrated and the narrator kept up a good pace with a humorous and warm style. The book itself was fantastic and so enlightening. Hearing about travel in the late 1800s and comparing it to the travel and places visited today made the book even more enjoyable. It was well written and I often chuckled at unexpected phrases. Of course, some descriptions of people or places would not be acceptable today but it has to be read in the context of time. I would gladly listen to this again.

So interesting.

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Innocents Abroad to be better than the print version?

I prefer audio to print.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favourite?

The 'character' which was my favourite was Venice.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

There's nothing new under the sun

Any additional comments?

At the end of every Audible title a distant voice states 'Audible hopes you've enjoyed this program'. Well, I sure as shooting enjoyed this one! Grover Gardner the narrator was very good indeed. However I could not help but wonder the following scenario. Samuel Clemens was a Master of the Pause. Robbie Coltrane, a Scots actor, is a Master of the Aside. I did wonder what Robbie Coltrane would have made of Innocents Abroad. Coltrane handles asides beautifully. Nevertheless Grover Gardner hooked and guided and enchanted me.

The mistake surely is the publication date. Some of Twain's observations (written in the mid C19) were fresh and relevant and could have been written down in the second decade of the C21. Others observations perhaps less so. Thank you Audible and thank you Grover Gardner. This is a listen not to be missed.

Shurley some mistake ...

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