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Subject:
From:
Robert Slotta <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 7 Jan 2001 17:49:01 -0500
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Dear Moshe,

I think part of the answer to your questions may be found in an analysis of
Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer Among The Indians, which is THE direct sequel to
Huck Finn.  The University of California's "Huck Finn And Tom Sawyer Among
The Indians and Other Unfinished Stories" (ISBN 0-520-05090-8) would be of
great help, because explanatory notes accompany the text, and other stories
are included.  Twain fully intended on having Huck continue narrating the
sequel to Huck.  The notion that the ending of  Huck Finn was absolute is
incorrect.  Many scholars have placed way too much emphasis on the ending of
Huckleberry Finn by not realizing it was simply Twain's way of leaving the
door open for the sequel.   Indeed, Huck & Tom Among The Indians starts
right where Huck Finn left off: about to "light out for the Territory "  to
go for "howling adventures amongst the Injuns."

Also, it should be noted that time will provide scholars with very
important, previously unavailable information about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer
Among The Indians.  This new information will in turn provide a fresh and
more accurate basis to analyze Mark Twain's usage of Tom & Huck.  One
tid-bit of this new information has already been provided to the academic
community, namely that Mark Twain was going to convert Huckleberry Finn into
a  believer in the Native American religious faith (he would also practice
it).  This is a significant reason why Twain didn't continue writing this
novel because the American government was still busy exterminating the
Native Americans in the 1880's.

Another attempted sequel to Huck, narrated by him, is "Tom Sawyer's
Conspiracy", and it is included in the book by U of C listed above.

Hope this helps.

Twainiacally Yours,
Bob Slotta

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