A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

Description

While Mark Twain is known for his more popular children’s books, such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn, his burlesque A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court has gained much praise among critics and audience as well. Published in 1889, the novel deals with a Yankee engineer who accidentally finds himself transported back in time in King Arthur’s court.

Hank Morgan is a 19th century engineer who lives in Hartford, Connecticut. After suffering a blow to the head, he awakens and realizes he has traveled back in time. He finds himself in Medieval England, when King Arthur and his knights ruled. He meets the King himself and he becomes one of the most popular citizens of the Kingdom.

Hank Morgan also uses his engineering skills and knowledge to create things which seem magical to locals. He creates fireworks, demolitions and establishes himself as a powerful magician. However, he is not just trying to impress the locals, but he is also attempting to modernize and Americanize medieval England and improve the lives of its citizens. He ultimately fails to prevent King Arthur from dying and he the Catholic Church of that time soon interdicts him.

It is said that Mark Twain was inspired to write this novel after having a dream in which he was a knight in full armor. He found the armor inconvenient and cumbersome and this led him to write a novel which satirizes romantic myths about chivalry and the medieval times.

While the engineer, Hank Morgan, ultimately fails to modernize England, Mark Twain succeeds in bringing a smile on the face of his readers through funny events such as a knight charging a man dressed in strange clothing and others. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is a must read to anyone who is not a fan of mainstream myths and extreme romanticizing.
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