Other editions of book A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

The ungentle laws and customs touched upon in this tale arehistorical, and the episodes which are used to illustrate them are alsohistorical. It is not pretended that these laws and customs existed inEngland in the sixth century; no, it is only pretended that inasmuchas they existed in the English and other civilizations of far latertimes, it is safe to consider that it is no libel upon the sixth century tosuppose them to have been in practice in that day also. One is quitejustified in inferring that whatever one of these laws or customs waslacking in that remote time, its place was competently filled by aworse one.The question as to whether there is such a thing as divine right ofkings is not settled in this book. It was found too difficult. That theexecutive head of a nation should be a person of lofty character andextraordinary ability, was manifest and indisputable; that none butthe Deity could select that head unerringly, was also manifest andindisputable; that the Deity ought to make that selection, then, waslikewise manifest and indisputable; consequently, that He does makeit, as claimed, was an unavoidable deduction. I mean, until theauthor of this book encountered the Pompadour, and LadyCastlemaine, and some other executive heads of that kind; thesewere found so difficult to work into the scheme, that it was judgedbetter to take the other tack in this book (which must be issued thisfall), and then go into training and settle the question in anotherbook. It is, of course, a thing which ought to be settled, and I am notgoing to have anything particular to do next winter anyway.MARK TWAIN