The Arabic Adventures of Mark Twain

Abstract

This thesis addresses a significant gap in Mark Twain scholarship by examining Arabic translations of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Innocents Abroad. While Twain’s works have been widely studied in English and in other languages, Arabic translations have received minimal scholarly attention despite their cultural and historical importance. This study investigates how Arab translators have engaged with Twain’s distinctive language, humour, and culturally specific references, producing interpretations that both reflect and reshape his works for Arabic-speaking audiences. The study adopts an interdisciplinary methodology combining close comparative textual analysis with a contextual exploration of the sociopolitical and cultural settings in which the translations were produced. Drawing on insights from translation studies, literary criticism, and cultural history, the thesis examines translators as cultural mediators who negotiate Twain’s representations of race, morality, and the Arab world itself. Particular attention is paid to translational strategies such as omission, adaptation, and retranslation, situating these within their historical and ideological contexts. The thesis is organised into three main chapters, each devoted to one of Twain’s works. Each chapter provides a chronological overview of the Arabic translations, followed by a thematic analysis addressing key concerns such as cultural adaptation, representation of marginalised groups, and the ethics of translation. The study concludes that Arabic translations of Twain’s works constitute creative interventions rather than simple reproductions. They reimagine Twain’s texts in ways that engage with local cultural sensibilities, educational agendas, and political climates. In doing so, this thesis contributes to Twain scholarship by expanding its scope beyond the Anglo-American context and highlighting the global circulation and reinterpretation of Twain’s literary legacy.