Author Adam Nelson will launch his debut novel, Huckleberry Jim, at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 5 p.m. The event takes place 150 years after the publication of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
The publication date of October 6, 2026, coincides with Banned Books Week, the United States Semiquincentennial, and Columbus Day weekend. The historic venue at 120 North Main Street preserves the childhood home of Samuel Clemens, whose local experiences inspired his classic literary works.
Set in 1991, the novel follows two actors on a school touring production of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn across upstate New York and Appalachia. The narrative explores the dynamics between Axel Emerson, a 22-year-old white actor, and Moses Morton, a 55-year-old Black actor, as they travel during a period shaped by national cultural debates.
Nelson drew directly from his own experience performing in a two-man touring production of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1991. His background spans more than three decades across acting, filmmaking, education, and public relations, including founding the New York agency Workhouse in 1999.
Mark Schneider, development and marketing manager for the museum, noted that the institution is hosting the launch to highlight the enduring relevance of Twain’s work. Nelson selected the location to address the historical context and ongoing discussions surrounding Twain’s literary legacy.
The free public event will feature a reading, a discussion on the real-life 1991 tour that inspired the book, an audience question-and-answer session, and a book signing. Seating is limited and requires reservations.
Huckleberry Jim will be available in hardcover, trade paperback, ebook, and an unabridged audiobook edition narrated by Leon Nixon with an introduction by the author.
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