1601: Conversation as it was by the Social Fireside in the Time of the Tudors

Description

1601: Conversation As It Was by the Social Fireside in the Time of the Tudors is considered to be one of Mark Twain’s lesser known, shorter and more hilarious works, with many first-time readers of the novel expressing their bewilderment that the great writer would have written such a funny and in many ways unconventional book.

Allegedly written during a time of writer’s block after publishing Tom Sawyer, 1601 basically talks about a conversation between Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Beaumont, Ben Johnson and a few other notable celebrities of the time and of times past. The story depicts them standing in a closet together and talking about sex and other unconventional topics that were quite taboo at the time.

Despite the fact that Twain didn’t mean this to be counted among his most famous works, apparently it really took off, becoming extremely popular in record time. During the first years of the 20th century, it was among the most talked about short stories you could have found to read.

Told from the point of view of a servant listening in on the talks, the story is quite hilarious, and Twain’s unmistakable brilliance shines through it in a unique and spontaneous way. While you will likely be able to read it all through a single sitting, you will also find this remarkable little book to be quite memorable.

As the characters take turns recounting their various tales and implementing their remarks, the reader will be pleasantly surprised to see an accurate depiction of their different speech patterns, masterfully and quite authentically reproduced by the author.

Somewhat rightfully named “the most famous piece of American literature pornography” by literary critics, the book is, of course, not actually a work of pornography, but for those who were more conservative in their views during Twain’s time, it might well have been.
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