A classic of American realism for its realistic portrayal of boyhood and of the pre-Civil War South, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows a boy escaping an abusive father and a runaway slave, Jim, as they journey down the Mississippi river. This incisive volume looks at race in Mark Twain's classic story, with an eye toward discussing race and racism. Essays discuss the life of the author, the river culture of Twain's time, the language used within the book, and racism in 21st century America. Essays from Toni Morrison, Barack Obama, and Larry Lipman.