My husband and I have long enjoyed the travel writing of authors like Bill Bryson (A Walk in the Woods, Notes From A Small Island, etc.), and we were recently surprised to learn that more than 100 years before Bryson wrote, the famous Mark Twain wrote humorous travel books of his own.
My husband and I visited Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri about a week ago. In preparation, we began listening to an audiobook we had not even heard of before: The Innocents Abroad. Most of us are familiar with Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a satirical exposé of slavery, which is widely considered one of the great American novels (although often banned since its publication in 1884). But did you know that in his day, Twain was better known for the travel books he wrote? The Innocents Abroad became the bestselling of Twain’s works during his lifetime, as well as one of the bestselling travel books of all time. Published in 1869, it humorously chronicles Twain’s five-month voyage by chartered steamship through Europe and the Middle East with a group of Americans, including many side trips by land.
My husband and I have listened to most of the audiobook now and enjoyed many laugh-out-loud moments. You have to listen carefully to catch all of Twain’s dry, acerbic wit and satire. If you like humorous travel books, you might enjoy this one as well. Be forewarned, however, that it is not at all politically correct. Mark Twain’s language and his endowing of entire ethnic groups with certain negative traits is often cringe-worthy to modern ears. But like many comedians, he lampoons pretty much everyone (including himself and his fellow pilgrims), so I think he can be forgiven.
Twain went on to write six travel books—5 published during his lifetime: The Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, Life on the Mississippi, A Tramp Abroad, and Following the Equator, while his Letters from Hawaii (a collection of 25 letters he wrote while a special correspondent for the Sacramento Union newspaper), were not published in book form until 1947.
Here are just a few quotes:
We wish to learn all the curious, outlandish ways of all the different countries, so that we can “show off” and astonish people when we get home. We wish to excite the envy of our untraveled friends with our strange foreign fashions which we can’t shake off.”
—Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad
We do not get ice-cream everywhere, and so, when we do, we are apt to dissipate to excess. We never cared anything about ice-cream at home, but we look upon it with a sort of idolatry now that it is so scarce in these red-hot climates of the East.”
—Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad
Did you know Mark Twain was a travel writer? Have you read any of his travel books?
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Loved this post, Julie! Ken and I got to tour Hannibal this past April and we found it delightful! I loved the quotes in the Mark Twain museum and gained a whole new respect for the man and his writing. Our oldest son read Twain’s biography of Joan of Arc years ago and was so surprised by how diverse his writings were. I’ve read that he considered Maid of Heaven to be his best work.
Interesting! You’re right; diverse indeed.
I knew about, but have not read The Innocents Abroad – however, did not know it was considered a travel book. Also surprised about the other books, especially Letters from Hawaii. Thanks for sharing this interesting information.
It’s interesting to visit author’s homes. I enjoyed the tour through the boyhood home of Thomas Wolfe in Asheville, N.C., after which I read Look Homeward, Angel.
Thanks, Betty. Asheville is beautiful, I recall, but not familiar with Thomas Wolfe’s books. Will look him up.
I haven’t read Innocents Abroad, but I read Roughing It six years ago and gave it 5 stars. Loved it.
That’s good to know, Robin. We’ll add that one to our list!
I love Twain! He was so pithy! I’ve visited Hannibal, MO and found the Twain sites charming. I’d love to see his house in Connecticut someday.
One of my favorite quotes: “Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.”
― Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi
Great quote, Erica!
Mark Twain lived for a short time here in DC, working as a newspaper correspondent. It was an influential period of his life. Twain came back to DC for a visit years later, by then a best selling author. I read and recommend the book “Mark Twain in Washington, DC” by John Muller. It was published in 2013 by History Press.
I’ve been past Twain’s home, now a museum, in Hartford, CT. Check ahead for operating hours before you visit!
Love this post! I have not read any of Mark Twain’s travel books, but now I need to!