Bedtime reading

When I was about 8 or 9, I was given a copy of this book. I kept trying to read it, but it wasn't until I was about 11 that I actually was able to.

Recently, someone mentioned that it was about race and prejudice amongst other things. I did not believe they were talking about the same book!

To my 11 year old mind, I just thought it was about one boy's adventure near the Mississippi. Having just recently finished reading Tom Sawyer, I realise that I would have ignored the word 'Negro' and similar, not knowing what they mean. I would have interpreted 'slave' as 'servant'. I had absolutely no understanding of race and prejudice.

I hope that I enjoy this book as an adult as much as I did as a child. And perhaps I will interpret some further meaning this time ...