作者简介
马克·吐温原名塞谬尔·朗荷思·克列门斯，生于美国密苏里州一个贫穷的拓荒者家庭。幼年在密西西比河边过着无拘无束的生活。13岁时做过印刷所的学徒，此后从事过水手和领港员等多种工作。这些丰富的阅历对他日后的文学创作产生了很大的影响。
他因创作处女作《加利维拉县有名的跳蛙》(1865)而声名鹊起。此后，陆续发表了《汤姆·索亚历险记》(1876)、《密西西比河上的生活》(1883)和《哈克贝恩·费恩历险记》(1885)等作品，成为美国文学的代表性作家。
马克·吐温一改往日承袭欧洲文风的做法，转而描述美国人眼中的一切。他娴熟地运用俚语，自成一派风格，在美国现代文学方面做出了不可磨灭的贡献。
《汤姆·索亚侦探》描绘了马克·吐温童年时代的生活和西部几十年前野趣横生的大自然。小主人公汤姆的勇敢、富有魅力的微笑以及刘于问题的机智处理，使他成为美国人的典型。小说以高超的技巧真实地描绘了小主人公微妙的、天真未凿的心理，幽默诙谐地讲述了汤姆各种令人忍俊不的恶作剧。
五月的，正在兴致勃勃地幻想旅行的汤姆和哈克收到了塞莉姨来信，信上说，塞莉姨妈一家正处于困境之中。为了帮助塞莉姨妈摆脱困境，汤姆和哈克启程前往阿肯色州。接下来，会有什么样的故事发生呢？
目录
Chapter 1 THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER
Chapter 2 TOM'S EARLY LIFE
Chapter 3 TOM'S MEETING WITH THE PRINCE
Chapter 4 THE PRINCE'S TROUBLES BEGIN
Chapter 5 TOM AS A PATRICIAN
Chapter 6 TOM RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS
Chapter 7 TOM'S FIRST ROYAL DINNER
Chapter 8 THE QUESTION OF THE SEAL
Chapter 9 THE RIVER PAGEANT
Chapter 10 THE PRINCE IN THE TOLLS
Chapter 11 AT GUILDHALL
Chapter 12 THE PRINCE AND HIS DELIVERER
Chapter 13 THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PRINCE
Chapter 14 "LE ROI EST MORT—VIVE LE ROI"
Chapter 15 TOM AS KING
Chapter 16 THE STATE DINNER
Chapter 17 FOO-FO0 THE FIRST
Chapter 18 THE PRINCE WITH THE TRAMPS
Chapter 19 THE PRINCE WITH THE PEASANTS
Chapter 20 THE PRINCE AND THE HERMIT
Chapter 21 HENDON TO THE RESCUE
Chapter 22 A VICTIM OF TREACHERY
Chapter 23 THE PRINCE A PRISONER
Chapter 24 THE ESCAPE
Chapter 25 HENDON HALL
Chapter 26 DISOWNED
Chapter 27 IN PRISON
Chapter 28 THE SACRIFICE
Chapter 29 TO LONDON
Chapter 30 TOM'S PROGRESS
Chapter 31 THE RECOGNITION PROCESSION
Chapter 32 CORONATION DAY
Chapter 33 EDWARD AS KING
Conclusion JUSTICE AND RETRIBUTION
摘要
By and by Tom's reading and dreaming about princely life wroughtsuch a strong effect upon him that he began to act the prince, unconsciously.His speech and manners became curiously ceremonious and courtly, tothe vast admiration and amusement of his intimates. But Tom's influenceamong these young people began to grow, now, day by day; and in time hecame to be looked up to, by them, with a sort of wondering awe, as a superiorbeing. He seemed to know so much！ and he could do and say such marvelousthings！ and withal, he was so deep and wise！ Tom's remarks, and Tom'sperformances, Were reported by the boys to their elders; and these, also,presently began to discuss Tom Canty, and to regard him as a most giftedand extraordinary creature. Full-grown people brought their perplexities toTom for solution, and were often astonished at the wit and wisdom of hisdecisions. In fact he was become a hero to all who knew him except hisown family——these, only, saw nothing in him.
Privately, after a while, Tom organized a royal court！ He was theprince; his spe comrades were guards, chamberlains, equerries, lordsand ladies in waiting, and the royal family. Daily the mock prince wasreceived with elaborate ceremonials borrowed by Tom from his romanticreadings; daily the great affairs of the mimic kingdom were discussed inthe royal council, and daily his mimic highness issued decrees to his imagi-nary armies, navies, and vice-royalties.
After which, he would go form in his rags and beg a few farthings, eat hispoor crust, take his customary cuffs and abuse, and then stretch himself uponhis handful of foul straw, and resume his empty grandeurs in his dreams.
And still his desire to look just once upon a real prince, in the flesh,grew upon him, day by day, and week by week, until at last it absorbed allother desires, and became the one passion of his life.
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