Summary
The Innocents Abroad (1869) is Mark Twain’s lively travelogue based on his journey through Europe and the Holy Land as part of the first organized tourist excursion by steamship.
With sharp wit and keen observation, Twain recounts the experiences of American travelers encountering foreign cultures, art, history, and customs—often contrasting Old World traditions with New World attitudes.
Instead of offering a romanticized view of travel, Twain delivers a humorous and often satirical perspective, poking fun at tourist expectations, cultural misunderstandings, and the absurdities of both European grandeur and American provincialism.
The book became one of his most popular works during his lifetime and remains a classic of travel literature.