<P> The story begins in fictional St. Petersburg , Missouri ( based on the actual town of Hannibal , Missouri ) , on the shore of the Mississippi River `` forty to fifty years ago '' ( the novel having been published in 1884 ) . Huckleberry `` Huck '' Finn ( the protagonist and first - person narrator ) and his friend , Thomas `` Tom '' Sawyer , have each come into a considerable sum of money as a result of their earlier adventures ( detailed in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ) . Huck explains how he is placed under the guardianship of the Widow Douglas , who , together with her stringent sister , Miss Watson , are attempting to `` sivilize '' him and teach him religion . Finding civilized life confining , his spirits are raised somewhat when Tom Sawyer helps him to escape one night past Miss Watson 's slave Jim , to meet up with Tom 's gang of self - proclaimed `` robbers . '' Just as the gang 's activities begin to bore Huck , he is suddenly interrupted by the reappearance of his shiftless father , `` Pap '' , an abusive alcoholic . Knowing that Pap would only spend the money on alcohol , Huck is successful in preventing Pap from acquiring his fortune ; however , Pap kidnaps Huck and leaves town with him . </P>
<P> The story begins in fictional St. Petersburg , Missouri ( based on the actual town of Hannibal , Missouri ) , on the shore of the Mississippi River `` forty to fifty years ago '' ( the novel having been published in 1884 ) . Huckleberry `` Huck '' Finn ( the protagonist and first - person narrator ) and his friend , Thomas `` Tom '' Sawyer , have each come into a considerable sum of money as a result of their earlier adventures ( detailed in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ) . Huck explains how he is placed under the guardianship of the Widow Douglas , who , together with her stringent sister , Miss Watson , are attempting to `` sivilize '' him and teach him religion . Finding civilized life confining , his spirits are raised somewhat when Tom Sawyer helps him to escape one night past Miss Watson 's slave Jim , to meet up with Tom 's gang of self - proclaimed `` robbers . '' Just as the gang 's activities begin to bore Huck , he is suddenly interrupted by the reappearance of his shiftless father , `` Pap '' , an abusive alcoholic . Knowing that Pap would only spend the money on alcohol , Huck is successful in preventing Pap from acquiring his fortune ; however , Pap kidnaps Huck and leaves town with him . </P>
where does the adventures of huckleberry finn start
where does the adventures of huckleberry finn start
St. Petersburg , Missouri
St. Petersburg , Missouri