The sun shines on Tom Sawyer. The idealized childhood of this fictional hero, based on Mark Twain's own early life along the banks of the Mississippi, is filled with robust good humor and high-spirited adventures. Yet there is also an in-depth experience of the central South of the 1840s--its dialects, superstitions, and social values. While romping through fun-filled fantasy, Tom Sawyer shows how morally complicated real life can be. This reading of Tom Sawyer is especially notable for the virtuoso performance of actor Patrick Fraley. Crafting thirty-six authentic "voices" to represent the wide range of Twain's delightful characters, Fraley proves his storytelling mastery. Hear why this is one of the world's best-known and best-loved books, appealing to all ages. "Fraley has many virtues: a gift for voices and dialect, incredible energy, an obvious and infectious delight in his material." -- AudioFile Magazine April/May 2002 "His clear, distinct, resolute voice is filled with a liveliness... in a reading to be enjoyed by all ages." -- VOYA, February 2004 "Show me a finer recording, and I reckon I ll eat it, by Jimminy!" -- KLIATT, May 1996 "The humor and high-spirited adventure of Mark Twain s classic are here in full in this exuberant performance." -- Billboard, 12/01/95 "This is that rare audiobook that can truly be enjoyed by all ages." -- Billboard, 12/01/95 Mark Twain (1835-1910) was born Samuel L. Clemens in the town of Florida, Missouri. He is one of the most popular and influential authors our nation has ever produced, and his keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. He has been called not only the greatest humorist of his age but also the father of American literature. Patrick Fraley has created voices for over four thousand characters, placing him among the top ten performers of all time to be cast in animated programs. He holds an MFA in acting from Cornell University and is the author of the only character-voice curriculum ever to be accredited at the university level. Used Book in Good Condition