h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Mark Twain's "the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is sometimes cited as the closest thing to "The Great American Epic". I've read that it shows the cultural differences between America and Europe. In particular, Huck's idea to "light out for the territories" (to escape his aunt's "sivilising") is said to be a very American trait.

"We Americans are a society of people who light out for the territory when problems come along. It stands to reason. After all, we are a nation of people who fled here from famines and pogroms and poverty and persecution. Of course we believe life will be better somewhere else.

And it is wonderfully liberating to light out. If you're born into a small, closed society, where everybody knows you and your family, and nobody ever forgets or forgives your faults or sins, lighting out for a place where you are unknown is a way to make a fresh and honorable start."

http://www.qconline.com/myword/twain.html

I've read that some Europeans found this aspect of the book very foreign, the implication being that such an "escape" was not as ready an option for them.

I was born in Oklahoma, which was still Indian Territory at the beginning of the 20th century. Maybe Huck had that in mind ... but I lit out for Texas, and am still there.

Hi there

I agree with your comments on Huck Finn. I think it's one of the best books ever written in English, actually. The ultimate "Journey Down the River to Find Oneself" book. Much more readable and entertaining than Conrad's Heart of Darkness etc.

Thanks, by the way, to the author, for a good article/piece on the U.S.A.

The Australian author, Peter Carey, who now lives in New York, said that he finds the U.S. to be like not one but about five different countries.

Yes, the US has very distinct regions, although sometimes they are not much aware of each other. There is a great poster based on a cover from New Yorker magazine. By Saul Steinberg, some versions are titled "New York: View of the World". Looking west, NY City takes up about 2/3 the view (from the bottom up). Then a narrow green band with several US icons (Rocky Mountains maybe), with small edges - at the left "Mexico", the right "Canada". Moving higher is "Pacific Ocean", then Japan and China, then sky. A great concept with many imitators.

Here is a small version:

http://www.upenn.edu/ARG/archive/steinberg/SS.cover.gif

As you may know, the entertainment industry is almost exclusively on the west and east coasts (LA/Hollywood and NY). Everybody else is grouped as "flyover people" (in spite of Texas' attempt to be the "Third Coast").

I have enjoyed travelling the US - San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Florida, Chicago, New Orleans, Denver, etc.), but I have to say that in the urban and suburban areas, "rampant generica" is the discouraging trend. You could set me down in most cities and I could not tell which one I was in. The dominant features include McDonalds, Walmart, Best Buy, Starbucks, jammed freeways, boxy skyscrapers, etc. London, England was a much more interesting visit.

It's not written in english IT'S WRITTEN IN AMERICAN, A HIGHLY INFERIOR LANGUAGE

sorry if i offend people but i feel it needs to be said