A saga of African-American life, based on Alex Haley's family history. Kunta Kinte is abducted from his African village, sold into slavery, and taken to America. He makes several escape attempts until he is finally caught and maimed. He marries Bell, his plantation's cook, and they have a daughter, Kizzy, who is eventually sold away from them. Kizzy has a son by her new master, and the boy grows up to become Chicken George, a legendary cock fighter who leads his family into freedom. Throughout the series, the family observes notable events in U.S. history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings, and emancipation.

Summary written by Eric Sorensen {Eric_Sorensen@fc.mcps.k12.md.us}

1967 film

由马克吐温的作品改编的电影有七百多部，仅哈克芬就有五六个版本。这个1960年上映的版本来看。跟《汤姆索亚历险记》比起来，哈克芬明显背景浓厚的多。汤姆顶多需要对付一下唠叨的波利姨妈，翘课逃学离家出走追女孩，一个典型的叛逆期小孩；
而哈克则要受父亲打骂，带着一个逃跑的黑人奴隶跟几乎所有遇到的大人们斗智斗勇，要不是有点儿小聪明，早就小命呜呼了。那个时期美国奴隶解放运动的社会背景像是一块巨大的乌云随时笼罩着哈克的历险。
哈克在顺利帮助吉姆到达了已经废除奴隶制的州之后，又沿着密西西比河顺流而下了，去他的梦想之地，新奥尔良。也许，他会成为一个很出色的船长。