Mark Twain News

Whatever happened to Tom & Huck? In his new novel released this month, "Sawyer and Finn: The War Years," author Richard DeLong Adams offers one possible answer, revisiting two of our the most beloved characters in literature, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, and placing them in Missouri at the dawn of the American Civil War. There, they harmonize with historic characters, including Congressman Frank Blair, the outlaw Jesse James, and Confederate guerilla Wild Bill Anderson, along with those borrowed from Mark Twain's original stories, such as the Widow Douglas, Judge and Becky Thatcher, and Jim, with a few inventions of his own. With this fascinating new story featuring a unique blend of familiar characters, Adams has created a wonderful tour of one of the most tragic episodes in American history. The voices that emerge from this dark storm are potent reminders of who we Americans are, where we come from, and why. With "Sawyer and Finn: The War Years," Adams has created authentically American voices on both sides of our most terrible conflict and has traced to their sources the most intractable of U.S. paradoxes, including the Westward Expansion, slavery, miscegenation, agricultural versus urbanized society, North versus South, and commercial against patriotic interests. Perhaps the most remarkable achievement of the book is a voice at once contemporary and authentic to the Missouri of the 1860s. The ever-changing aspects of America's turn from rural to urban, from slavery to freedom resonate today. We see in Adams's Huck and Tom not only Twain's America, but our own, and the thunderous collisions of the ongoing ominous tragedy we still can feel today. In an interview, Adams discussed the allure and challenges of imagining Tom and Huck approximately 15 years older, at the beginning of the Civil War. 'If you're a writer, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are in, a sense, sacred texts," Adams said. "I could feel a little bit of awe and fear in dealing with them, but I didn't feel inhibited by what I was doing. I felt that Mark Twain was leading me onespecially after I ran across his quote saying it would be interesting to take these characters and visit them again when they're grown up. I felt like that was Mark Twain welcoming me to do my best.' This exceptional novel will delight readers and recall why we're proud-however silently, however provisionally-to be Americans. About The Author Richard DeLong Adams was born in Columbia, Missouri, in 1933. He graduated from Cornell University in 1953 and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army's 505th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, from 1954 to 1957. In 1958 he moved to Hollywood, where he entered the film industry. He worked on numerous film and television projects, both as an original writer and as a behind-the-scenes script doctor. His teleplay Honor Thy Mother was nominated for an 'Edgar' Award in 1993. Richard's extensive travels have taken him to Russia, Central and South America and Asia. He lived in Rome for five years, and spent several years in Mexico. "Sawyer and Finn" is his first novel. Sawyer and Finn: The War Years A novel by Richard DeLong Adams Publication: October 8, 2013 232 pages Paperback original 978-1-935212-46-1: $16.95 Ebook 978-1-935212-45-4: $9.99 Published by Prospecta PressDistributed by Perseus Distribution

THE WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY has announced Philip W. Hall's LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI, A Musical Play, musical direction and orchestrations by Fran Minarik and directed by SusannA Frazer. LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI will play a limited engagement at The WorkShop Theater Main Stage (312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor). Performances begin tonight, November 1 and continue through Saturday, November 23.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham present a special event, Val Kilmer starring in CITIZEN TWAIN, for a five-show limited engagement. Val Kilmer, famous for his portrayals of iconic characters such as Jim Morrison (The Doors), Doc Holliday (Tombstone) and Batman (Batman Forever), inhabits the spirit of yet another legendary figure: Mark Twain. "We are thrilled to bring this extraordinary production to our audiences in Laguna Beach," offers Wood. Wareham adds, "Val Kilmer brings to remarkable life one of the greatest legends of all time and we are honored to have him here." CITIZEN TWAIN will perform five performances only beginning on Thursday, November 21 and run through Sunday, November 24, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Sergei Prokofiev composed Peter and the Wolf in the space of a few days in 1936, largely to explain symphonic instruments to a Moscow children's theater audience. On Nov. 17, 2013, at Jorgensen, the classic favorite will be told through puppets, courtesy of the unique UConn Puppet Arts Program and designer Mark Gale, guest narrator and WNPR talk show host Colin McEnroe, and instrumentalists under the direction of UConn alumnus Ehren Brown. The matinee will start at 2 p.m.

A star-studded lineup of the nation's top comedic entertainers saluted Carol Burnett at the 16th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, October 20, 2013. The Prize, which is named in honor of one of the world's greatest humorists, will air on PBS stations nationwide tonight, October 30, 2013 (check local listings).

You loved him as the father on TV's "The Wonder Years." Now meet him in a new role: The Godfather.

Novelist Morrow Wilson has spent more than a year doing interviews of all kinds print, Internet and radio. All from the comfort of his own home. 'Gone are the days when a book tour involves travel,' reports the novelist. 'Now you get on the telephone or the Internet.'

Dubbed 'a contemporary Mark Twain' by author Dr. Larry Dossey, award-winning 'transformational humorist' and songwriter Greg Tamblyn brings his irreverent humor and sideways view of life to Norwalk today, October 27th, 1:00 pm at Unity Center, 3 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

The WaterTower Theatre has announced its calendar from December 2013 through February 2014. All performances held at The Addison Theatre Centre unless otherwise noted. Details below!

Unbound Productions Co-Artistic Directors Jonathan Josephson, Paul Millet, and Jeff G. Rack are thrilled to share that the 5th Anniversary Production of the popular horror story adaptation series Wicked Lit at Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California has sold out to the proverbial wall. There are zero tickets still available for the general public for Wicked Lit 2013 which closes on November 2; all remaining seats have been reserved for Members and other donors that support the non-profit theatre company.

Amicus Productions presents this riotous cross-dressing comedy at the Papermill Theatre, at the Todmorden Mills historical site, 67 Pottery Road, running November 14-16, & 21-23 at 8 p.m. and November 17 and 23 at 2p.m. Tickets are $22 regular adults, $20 for seniors and $18 for students. Group rates are available. For tickets or information, call 416-860-6176 or go to www.amicusproductions.ca. All seating is reserved.

Rogue Machine Theatre, winner of L.A. Weekly's Best Theatre of 2012, will be home to two solo shows on select Todays in October and November.

Dubbed 'a contemporary Mark Twain' by author Dr. Larry Dossey, award-winning 'transformational humorist' and songwriter Greg Tamblyn brings his irreverent humor and sideways view of life to Norwalk on Sunday, October 27th, 1:00 pm at Unity Center, 3 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Iconic funny man Bill Cosby, who has been making audiences laugh for decades with his keen insight into everyday existence, brings his signature comedy back to the Treasure Island Theatre November 29 at 8 p.m.

TV Guide reports Carol Burnett was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. It is the country's top humor Honor.

As candy lines store shelves and jack-o'-lanterns make their front porch debut, people of all ages know it's time for a few frights. To help Halloween devotees celebrate, Travelocity's travel experts have identified 13 destinations for a ghastly getaway either at home or abroad.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, October 20, 2013 - Sunday, October 20, 2013.

A star-studded lineup of the nation's top comedic entertainers will salute Carol Burnett at the 16th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor tonight, October 20, 2013. The Prize, which is named in honor of one of the world's greatest humorists, will air on PBS stations nationwide October 30, 2013 (check local listings).

KPFK's Arts in Review (AIR) Repertory Players and Pacific Radio Archives present the broadcast premiere of Che & Allen - the imagined 1965 St. Patrick's Day meeting of Che Guevara and Allen Ginsberg in Limerick Ireland - airing Saturday, October 19 (10-11pm), on KPFK 90.7FM, hosted by producer/editorMark Torres. Conceived and written by playwright/journalist Julio Martinez and directed by Irene Arranga, the production features Marcelo Tubert, Richard Heft and Gigi Perreau.

The Coffey family trades in a close-knit Milwaukee neighborhood for a rural village in central Wisconsin, lured by a new job and promise of a new life. In this new novel, set in 1938, Carl Sr. has accepted a position as school principal and basketball coach in Chester, and 12-year-old Carl Jr. and his younger brother Perkin must find their place in a new town. They soon make new friends and form the Logging Road Gang to right moral wrongs. When the circus comes to town and a girl disappears, the town becomes divided and Carl Jr. must share all he knows.