When Mark Twain published A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court in 1889, he was already a widely popular author and humorist. With this novel, the tone of Twain's work seems to shift to his later period of harshly satirical and pessimistic writing. Rest assured, I think this novel is still hilarious, but there is underlying feeling of biting social satire mixed with madcap hijinks and merry mirth.
When mechanic Hank Morgan is knocked cold during a quarrel, he awakens in the land of Camelot surrounded by medieval peasants and King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. When Hank introduces technology from the late nineteenth century to his current medieval world, it temporarily dazzles the residents, but ultimately leads to chaos, social upheaval and the death of King Arthur.
This fine novel is a great place to start if you want to read Twain at his witty, sarcastic best. After reading this story, check out one of the two great adaptations that were filmed!
The first version stars famed comedian Will Rogers from 1931 and another musical version starring crooner Bing Crosby from 1949.
Submitted by Dan@Central