Tom Sawyer, detective

Por Mark Twain

Prólogo y traducción de Rodolfo Martínez.

Aunque menos conocida que su hermana mayor Las aventuras de Tom Sawyer, esta novela corta es una muestra perfecta del relampagueante talento narrativo de Mark Twain. De ritmo vivaz, peripecia fácil, personajes rápidamemente delineados y trama adornada por el habitual humor socarrón de Twain, Tom Sawyer, detective es un policiaco clásico de factura impecable. Influida sin duda por la obra de Conan Doyle, en ella Tom se muestra como un detective deductivo de primer orden, acompañado de su fiel Huk Finn, que ejercerá con entusiasmo el papel de doctor Watson, narrando la historia y asistiendo asombrado, como corresponde, a las portentosas capacidades deductivas de su amigo.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Sportula
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 2 may 2014
• ISBN: 9788415988458

Mark Twain

Frederick Anderson, Lin Salamo, and Bernard L. Stein are members of the Mark Twain Project of The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley.

Vista previa del libro

PRÓLOGO

Es el cine, y no la literatura, el responsable de mi primer encuentro con Tom Sawyer; sospecho que gracias a la versión de 1938 dirigida por Norman Taurog (y George Cukor de tapadillo, dicen) y que debía de ser la que pasaban por la tele cuando yo era crío, allá por los años setenta. Es cierto que hay una versión de 1973, más cercana por tanto al momento en que la vi, pero a tenor de las imágenes que hay en mi memoria, diría que no, que se trata de la otra. En cualquier caso, como digo, fue el cine (tamizado por la televisión) quien me dio a conocer el universo en el que Mark Twain recreó el escenario de su infancia y rindió culto a la nostalgia.

Creo que no tardé mucho en acercarme al original literario y, si la memoria no me juega una mala pasada, debió ser a través de una de esas versiones de clásicos resumidos para niños. Durante mi infancia (que transcurrió alegre y desenfadada por los últimos días del Pleistoceno, millón de años arriba, o abajo) era algo que estaba a la orden del día y que se hacía, sospecho, con total desparpajo y sin cortarse un pelo por ello. Ni lo sabía entonces ni me importó; armado con mis recuerdos de la película, me sumergí en el texto casi sin darme cuenta y no tardé en quedar atrapado y fascinado por la historia.

Algunos años después, aunque no muchos, cayó en mis manos una nueva historia de Tom Sawyer. La publicaba Bruguera, el todopoderoso gigante editorial de entonces, y la característica que la diferenciaba de otras «ediciones resumen» era que cada cuatro páginas, más o menos, se intercalaba una de cómic en la que se iba contando la misma historia. De este modo, uno podía elegir entre leer solo el texto, o solo el cómic, o ambos.

Así fue como me acerqué a Tom Sawyer, detective. Lo que yo ignoraba entonces, y descubrí en la edad adulta, es que no se trataba de una versión abreviada. El texto de Twain estaba íntegro entre las tapas del libro porque el original era lo bastante breve para no necesitar resumirlo.

Como digo, eso lo descubrí cuando, siendo adulto, me hice con un tomo en el que se incluía, por así decir, el «Tom Sawyer completo»; o lo que es lo mismo: Las aventuras de Tom Sawyer, Tom Sawyer, detective y Tom Sawyer en el extranjero. La primera es una novela completa con todas las de la ley, mientras que las otras dos son sendas novelas cortas. Sí, ya lo sé, Tom Sawyer aparece también en la que se califica generalmente como obra maestra de Twain, Las aventuras de Huckleberry Finn, pero ahí su presencia no pasa de secundaria y, de hecho, está ausente casi toda la novela, más allá de una fugaz aparición al principio y otra igualmente breve, pero determinante, hacia el final.

En todo caso, podríamos decir que esta novelita corta fue mi primer encuentro real con la prosa de Twain y su humor socarrón, su fascinante retrato de la infancia y su nostalgia por un Mississippi que supo evocar como nadie. No fue un mal encuentro, creo yo.

Tom Sawyer fue uno de los iconos de mi niñez, junto con Guillermo Brown, Harbert Pencroft, Jim Hawkins o Peter Parker. Lo era, principalmente, por la novela que lo lanzó a la fama, aunque se hubiera tratado de un contacto de segunda mano: primero a través del cine y luego con aquel resumen para niños.

No es para menos, porque la historia tenía todo lo que un niño imaginativo podía desear: aventuras, misterio, peligros, fantasmas (o no), cementerios en medio de la noche, un asesinato, muertes fingidas, valor y amistad, lealtad, un malvado mestizo indio, una inmensa cueva llena de belleza y peligro, un tesoro oculto y, finalmente, la posibilidad de mostrarse como un héroe a los ojos del objeto de nuestros afectos; y no una, sino al menos dos veces. La primera, cuando Tom acepta el castigo en la escuela por lo que Becky ha hecho; y la segunda, por supuesto, cuando consigue salir de la cueva pese a que todo está en contra suya.

Pero Tom Sawyer, detective no es menos responsable que su hermana mayor de mi fascinación por Tom. Y lo es por el desparpajo que en ella muestra Tom, por sus deseos de popularidad, por su inteligencia simpática y con un punto de arrogancia, por su curiosidad y por la adoración que despierta en Huck una y otra vez.

Y porque, no lo olvidemos, se trata de una historia policiaca, un relato de misterio. Ver a uno de mis héroes de la infancia (un poco más crecido que la vez anterior que me lo había encontrado, es cierto) metido a detective y, por tanto, adentrándose en uno de mis géneros favoritos, no era moco de pavo.

Tom ejerce el papel de investigador del crimen y Huck, además de ser narrador, oficia de fiel ayudante, admirado por la inteligencia de su compañero. Tom Sawyer, detective se publicó en 1896 y para entonces la figura de Sherlock Holmes ya era ampliamente conocida en todo el mundo anglosajón, y no cabe duda de que Twain está aquí realizando su particular homenaje a la creación de Conan Doyle.

De hecho, el mismo Tom lo llega a decir de un modo casi explícito cuando, hacia el final de la historia, le preguntan cómo lo ha desentrañado todo y afirma: «Me he limitado a observar los hechos y las pruebas, y a disponerlos de forma que encajasen, señoría. Una labor detectivesca sin importancia. Cualquier otro podría haberla hecho.»

Es algo que el propio Sherlock Holmes podría haber dicho (con su característico tono socarrón y un brillo pícaro en la mirada) ante el desconcierto de la policía oficial o de su buen amigo y biógrafo el doctor Watson. De hecho, en alguna ocasión afirma algo parecido cuando reconoce haber resuelto el misterio mediante unas «Deducciones totalmente elementales» que cualquiera podría haber realizado.

La resolución del caso que Tom y Huck investigan se adapta, además, a la máxima holmesiana de que «Cuando se ha eliminado lo imposible, lo que queda, por increíble que resulte, debe ser la verdad», pues lo que hace Tom a lo largo de la historia es, precisamente, ir eliminando un imposible tras otro hasta que solo quedan los hechos desnudos y llega, con el encaje de estos, a la resolución del misterio.

La trama, por otro lado, sigue a la perfección los cánones del relato policiaco: se plantea el caso, tiene lugar el crimen (que el detective nunca presencia), se señala a un culpable, el detective fracasa una y otra vez en sus pesquisas y, finalmente, da con el detalle que hace que todo cuadre y ofrece las explicaciones pertinentes mientras desenmascara al verdadero culpable. Una estructura que ha sido usada una y otra vez, no solo en historias explícitamente policiacas, sino en otras que no

Comentarios para Tom Sawyer, detective

[tsisler_2 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

I would have liked to rate this book a 2.75. I listened to the audio version of this book, edited by Shannon Chappele and read by Bruce Johnson. The recording felt like a low-budget production. Johnson's voice didn't fit the adolescent voice of Finn who narrates the story. The voices of the other characters were also performed inconsistently. I found some elements of the robbery and murder enticing, but overall the recording was unenjoyable. I may have rated this book higher had I actually read it instead of listened to it.

[robert.zimmermann · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I didn't care for this book as much as I did for the other Tom Sawyer books. I just don't think the story was necessary in the chronicles of Tom and Huck's life in the sense that it wasn't much of an adventure as the rest, it was just a crime story. It was good though, just didn't match up to the enjoyment given by the previous two stories.

[capiam1234 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Not as bad as Tom Sawyer Abroad, but no where near as great as the 1st two. It felt rushed and not thought out well. I did enjoy Tom's discovery of the murderers at the end though.

[sirfurboy · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This is a short book. Like Tom Sawyer Abroad, I felt it messed a little with the established canon of the Adventures of Toim Sawyer and Huck Finn. It was clearly a case of Mark Twain poking fun at a genre of detective story using his favourite characters.This story was not as unbelievable as Tom Sawyer abroad, but still not a book I would read again and again like I did with Huckleberry Finn.

[bookomaniac-1 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Cruciaal is de ontmoeting met Huckleberry Finn. Vinnige dialogen; Mooie impressie van jongensachtige gevoelens en leefwereld, genre Witte van Zichem (Claes is duidelijk maar een doordrukje van Twain). Toch maar matig boek.

[dougcornelius_1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I think I was supposed to read this in college. But never did. There were more important things to do like... (never mind).It was time to make up for the mistakes of my youth and take in a classic. That the audiobook was narrated by Nick Offerman was a bonus that moved Tom Sawyer to the top of my to-read list.

[abergsman-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Borderline 3.5 stars, but not quite. Mainly because I didn't begin to truly enjoy the story until 2/3 of the way through.

This is the first time I have ever read Mark Twain, and wanted to read this as a precursor to Huck Finn. I respect Mark Twain and his influence on many popular authors. For me, this particular novel does not hold water against some of the other American greats (Steinbeck, Edgar Allen Poe, Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, etc).

A lot can be said in regards to the portrayals of African-Americans and Native Americans in the book (particularly the character "Injun Joe"), and Tom Sawyer is often censored or banned due to the language. Without a doubt, parts of the novel were certainly uncomfortable to this modern reader. I actually appreciated this, as it gives a glimpse of what life was like--from the perspective of Mississippi River dwelling, Southern, white children--in the pre-Civil War South. Racism and all. I enjoyed the satirical approach and exaggeration to some of the customs and superstitions of that community during that time period.

Having said that, I concurrently read some of Twain's (Sam Clemens') other writings on American Indians, and it is atrocious. Product of the times or not, it left a bitter aftertaste while reading Sawyer. Hence the 3 stars.

I do feel any use of this text in school should include a discussion on racism, fear, discrimination, freedom, etc.

[kaitanya64 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I am adding this book as one of our family read-alouds. While often read by high school students as "classic" literature, this book proved a hit with my family audience, ages 8, 14,17 and middle aged.
It is funny and suspenseful and the characters are vivid, all requirements for making it on our read aloud picks.

[dasam-5 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I had never read the Adventures of Tom Sawyer except in a childhood version in Golden Books or something like that. I skipped right over to read Huck Finn. While this is definitely a children's book in many ways, Twain writes in such a way that adults still enjoy Tom and his picaresque adventures, both as nostalgia for our own childhoods and because the adult voice of Twain cannot help inserting his snide commentaries on humanity.

[jon1lambert · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

One of the books that I thought I had read but hadn't. It rushes along, adventure after adventure, capturing what it is is to be a child growing up.

[nx74defiant · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

I'd forgotten what a little trouble maker Tom was. It was a nice enjoyable read.

[kimmyd76 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Why had I never read this classic before?... who knows! But i'm glad I have now read it and will move right into listening to the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

[unclebob53703 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Always preferred this to Huckleberry Finn--which puts me on the wrong side of just about everybody else's opinion. If the ending in the caves doesn't get your pulse racing, you probably don't have one. Found a beautiful like-new copy of the Heritage Edition, with color plates and numerous illustrations by Norman Rockwell.

[lukerik-1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

My advice would be to drop whatever you're reading and read this now, before you're thirty-eight and can appreciate it but never love it.

[leandrod-2 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

One point less for mocking Christianity

[maxernst11 · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

Cruciaal is de ontmoeting met Huckleberry Finn. Vinnige dialogen; Mooie impressie van jongensachtige gevoelens en leefwereld, genre Witte van Zichem (Claes is duidelijk maar een doordrukje van Twain). Toch maar matig boek.

[anagarika · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I think Mark Twain is overrated.

[penguinasana · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

My dad read this book to me as a kid and I loved it. I had the best time re-reading it as an adult - remembering parts of the dialogue I knew by heart and enjoying the social satire bits that don't always register when you're a kid. A classic!

[christopher.kyle1706 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I really doubted this book would be a thriller, or energetic to read. This book makes you want to fall asleep while reading it. I am so sorry, but this book had so many POV'S I could not keep up. MY REVIEW; This book was a serious letdown. I thought there would be more action because it tells about a boys and his friends life in this story. NO ACTION. I liked some parts like when they were trying to find treasure and couldn't find it for like 3 chapters! No. Terrible absolutely did not like the writing. There was also different related stories to read while you finish Tom Sawyer but I decided NOT to read it.

[foof2you · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Never read this during all my school years so I thought I had to give it a shot. I was surprised. I found the book to be rather enjoyable and unlike many other "classics" that fail to live up to the hype. A great story and definitely a classic.

[danielstj · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

This was the end of the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn series. I felt that it was lessened in effect- although the stakes were still high, and that the story was decent but not in tone to the other novels in the series. Nevertheless, it was interesting reading.3 stars.

[chrisblocker · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I've returned to the river.A year ago I spent a weekend on the Missouri River attending a Writers Workshop. In typical Chris Blocker fashion, I thought it prudent to read something riverish. I selected Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi. Thus a new association was born and once I decided I was returning to the river, one of my first considerations was what Mark Twain book I'd read this year.I was hesitant to get into the Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn story-arc. I had a feeling I'd be underwhelmed or offended. I was leaning toward a different selection, but at the last minute, I decided to go with a classic. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer wasn't that bad?not as bad as I imagined it could be?but it certainly didn't impress me too much. Part of the issue is that Tom Sawyer feels slightly underdeveloped?ideas are used seemingly haphazardly and are recycled throughout the story. And part of the issue is that some of the novels better moments have become clich?. I recognize that Twain was likely the originator of some of these ideas?at least he was probably the prominent figure who introduced them into the American narrative. But I've seen enough Our Gang to know that children who play pirates will find treasure, children who fake death will convince everyone, and that little boys will always win a kiss from the girl of their dreams. It's not Twain's fault that his story has been resurrected repeatedly, but the familiarity minimized any sense of wonder and adventure I might have had had I come across this book 130 years ago.In a different time, this book may have had a much different impact on me. This is a strong story of adventure from a unique child-like perspective. Those who enjoy a little swashbuckling or hijinx will likely eat this story up like blackberry pie. (Why blackberry pie? I don't know. It just feels like something I'd expect from these characters.) With a different person, there would've been different results: I'm not one for adventure; I was never a child. It's a good, simple story, very much plot-driven, but I didn't see much else to it.Sadly, this book didn't hold to the river like I thought it would. There are a few mentions, a few explorations, but I have the notion that Huckleberry Finn is the more river-centric of the two. Will I explore the river someday with Huck? I don't know. I probably should, but I have the same hesitance I did with Tom Sawyer. Maybe I'll leave it up to the river. If it's able to pull me back another time, I'll consider it.

[santhony_35 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

For Christmas, I ordered an mp3 player (Library of Classics) that was pre-loaded with 100 works of classic literature in an audio format. Each work is in the public domain and is read by amateurs, so the quality of the presentation is hit or miss. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a classic piece of 19th century literature penned by Mark Twain. It recounts several adventures in the life of a young, Missouri boy living in a small town on the Mississippi River. While it is at times amusing, the rural, 19th century slang and extremely superstitious beliefs of many of the characters, explained at length, soon becomes tiresome and annoying. Taken in small doses, the escapades of Sawyer and his compatriot Huck Finn can be tolerable, but combined in book length form, they soon lose their charm.

[sluper1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

From this novel I have learned that one can be the person who opens the door to someone in need in a time of desperation and changes his or her life for best. This message is portrayed by the characters of Will and Mr. Tom because when in need Mr. Tom provided Willie with a home, food, and most importantly of love and care he had never received from his mother. This novel contain historical episodes. For example Zach dies in an air raids. If one was not careful could die at any moment. Also, women were looked down to and were not expected to get a good eduction. This book is consider a classic in the literature. The way the story is written transport the reader to each scene.

[lynleys-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This book would've been given to one of my brothers at some stage and it's ended up in my possession. I'm sure no one ever read it the whole time its faded spine graced the family bookshelves. I think if I'd picked it up as a kid I would've found the dialect a bit difficult. It's only after watching plenty of TV that I have an inkling as to how those boys would've actually spoken. I must've read the first part at some stage, because the scene of Tom swindling the neighbourhood boys into white washing the fence is a resonant one.Anyhow, I'm glad I read the whole thing and can't believe it never got spoilered for me. Next I'll be cracking the spine on Huckleberry Finn.

[karen.lea · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

The unabridged version, though racist and somewhat ignorant, looses the charm of the characters when edited. This book is an accurate reflection of an awkward time in the youth of our nation, and rather than glossed over, needs to be appreciated as such. We have come a long way!

[thornton37814 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Tom Sawyer, orphaned and living with his Aunt Polly, befriends Huck Finn, the son of the town drunk. They, along with some of their friends, share in youthful adventures of a time and place when it was safe to romp around without adult supervision nearby. 19th century Missouri was also a time and place where racism still existed. Some will object to the terminology being used to refer to those of other ethnicities, but it can provide a good springboard for discussion if used with students about why those terms are no longer socially acceptable and about how social norms evolve. The story line with Becky Thatcher is also an interesting one that should generate discussion among readers. This was a re-read for me. It's a classic tale that while dated in some respects will probably continue to be enjoyed for some time to come.

[platicorn · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

i absolutely loved it!

[rosenstern · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Twain's bold themes are wonderfully depicted in this novel where Tom gets into all sorts of mischief. I love Twain's literary style and humor. Worth reading it at least once, if not more.

[noah_schumacher-1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

This classic is a brilliant book. Mark Twain writes at his finest. It took me back to the days of getting into mischief, hastening the growth of silver hairs upon my parent's heads. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a great book for those seeking an escape from an overly serious world with pretentious aspirations to be noticed. Tom Sawyer and his group of ruffians do a great job of reminding the reader that life isn't always about being a "someone"; its about the adventure. I highly recommend the book. Later into the next year... the sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.