Books with title A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 1: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

When Connecticut mechanic and foreman Hank Morgan is knocked unconscious, he wakes not to the familiar scenes of nineteenth-century America but to the bewildering sights and sounds of sixth-century Camelot. Although confused at first and quickly imprisoned, he soon realises that his knowledge of the future can transform his fate. Correctly predicting a solar eclipse from inside his prison cell, Morgan terrifies the people of England into releasing him and swiftly establishes himself as the most powerful magician in the land, stronger than Merlin and greatly admired by Arthur himself. But the Connecticut Yankee wishes for more than simply a place at the Round Table. Soon, he begins a far greater struggle: to bring American democratic ideals to Old England. Complex and fascinating, A Connecticut Yankee is a darkly comic consideration of the nature of human nature and society.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtA short introduction gives the reader important background information, A chronology of the author's life and work A timeline of special factors, the historical context the book provides an overview of important themes and plot points, to guide the interpretation of the reader, critical analysis, Mark Twain

ANNOTATED:* Contains literary critiques, detailed biographies, and detailed historical contextDESCRIPTION:One of Mark Twain's most popular works, this Special Critical Edition of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Cambridge World Classics) is the only volume which contains the complete unabridged novel along with two bonus critical and biographical essays which examine, in depth, Mark Twain's life and literary legacy. EXCERPT:"I find I can't go on; but come with me, I've got it all written out, and you can read it if you like."In his chamber, he said: "First, I kept a journal; then by and by, after years, I took the journal and turned it into a book. How long ago that was!"He handed me his manuscript, and pointed out the place where I should begin:"Begin here—I've already told you what goes before." He was steeped in drowsiness by this time. As I went out at his door I heard him murmur sleepily: "Give you good den, fair sir."I sat down by my fire and examined my treasure. The first part of it—the great bulk of it—was parchment, and yellow with age. I scanned a leaf particularly and saw that it was a palimpsest. Under the old dim writing of the Yankee historian appeared traces of a penmanship which was older and dimmer still—Latin words and sentences: fragments from old monkish legends, evidently. I turned to the place indicated by my stranger and began to read"SPECIAL KINDLE ENABLED FEATURES:This edition contains special Kindle enabled features, including interactive table of contents, text-to-speech capabilities which enable audiobook features, as well as words that can be looked up on the Kindle supplied built in dictionary.The volume also employs PerfectLink (TM) technology which allows Amazon Kindle readers to enjoy not only a fully interactive table of contents, but also the ability to click through to every single individual chapter in the novel.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is an novel by American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The novel explains the tale of Hank Morgan who after a blow to the head, awakens to find himself inexplicably transported back to the time of the legendary King Arthur. Hank is ridiculed at King Arthur's court for his strange appearance and dress and is sentenced by King Arthur's court (particularly the magician Merlin) to burn at the stake on 22 June. The date of the burning coincides with a historical solar eclipse in the year 528, of which Hank had learned in his earlier life. While in prison he informs the King that he will blot out the sun if he is executed. While the book pokes fun at contemporary society, the main thrust is a satire of romanticized ideas of chivalry, and of the idealization of the Middle Ages common in the novels of Sir Walter Scott. Twain had a particular dislike for Scott, blaming his kind of romanticism of battle for the southern states deciding to fight the American Civil War.

First published in 1889, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” was inspired by a dream in which the author, Mark Twain, imagined himself as knight in the time of chivalry. The book relates the tale of Hank Morgan, an engineer from 19th century Hartford Connecticut, who is inexplicably transported to the early medieval England of King Arthur. While there he uses his knowledge of modern technology to appear as though he is a magician. Despite his best intentions, Hank’s attempts to modernize the past bring about a tragic end. A bittersweet depiction of the Arthurian legend through the eyes of a 19th century American, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” satirizes the romanticized notions of chivalry and the idealization of the middle ages, in a delightful and enchanting way, exemplifying Mark Twain at his satirical best. This edition includes an introduction by E. Hudson Long.

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" is Mark Twain's classic tale of Hank Morgan, a resident of 19th century Hartford Connecticut who is inexplicably transported to the early medieval England of King Arthur. A classic satire, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" pokes fun at the romanticized notions of chivalry and the idealization of the middle ages. A delightful and enchanting tale, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" shows Twain at his satirical best.