A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Rating:
Summary: Attack on Industrialists
Review: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is not really a book about the middle ages. Twain uses the setting of the middle ages to really deliver a scathing attack upon the landed gentry, or in Twain's day the newly rich industrialists of the Gilded Age. In a Connecticut Yankee it is not the old-money royalty that oppose the intended improvements to the lives of the peasants but the new-money nobles that wish to keep the poor in destitution.

Twain is really making a statement about the working conditions of the northern factory workers. It is no coincidence that Twain chose a northern boy as the protagonist of this work when all of Twain's previous novels involved southern folk. He was trying to draw attention to the plight of the northern working class and their poor working conditions at the hands of the new landed gentry: the industrialists.

Hank Morgan embodies what Twain felt the industrialists should be like. Hank was generous and progressive in his views towards the masses and society. Twain felt the industrialists should be using their new found wealth to the betterment of society in general and the poor in particular.

The satirical commentary that Twain is noted for is not as subtle in this work. It seems slightly more vitriolic in its nature than his tongue in cheek nature. This may be due to the pure disdain that Twain held for the targets of his pen in this novel.

A Connecticut Yankee is not his best work but coming from a master writer such as Twain leaves a lot of room to work with.

Rating:
Summary: twain at his best
Review: this is my favorite twain work, and really quite underrated as far as the twain canon is concerned, i think. it is here, in my opinion, that twain's satire is at its sharpest and most original.

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Summary: Entertaining satire of technology
Review: I liked this story because of its discussion of technological development.

Twain compacts the technological advancements of several centuries by sending the "Boss" back to Arthurian times and allows him to run amok with his technological know-how.

The 19th century's emergance of a technocracy (industrial leaders becoming a sort of aristocracy) is shown in the person of the "Boss", who becomes an esteemed knight and supplants Merlin (who represents the mystical superstitions of the locals).

Supposedly, when Twain starting writing the book, he was a major backer of a new invention (I can't remember what) that he hoped would create large profits. By the time the book was done, his venture was a financial failure. This mirrors the tone of the book, as the Boss's story goes from light and entertaining to dark (but still entertaining).

For all of the advances the Boss brings to England, the failings of people still dictate the course of events. In the end, the Boss's creations find their most effective manifestation in warfare, which has traditionally been the primary application of any new science. Unfortunately, the Boss's last achievement results in the death of most of the nobles in England.

This novel is a great critical analysis of technology. While the promise new ideas bring can be quite beneficial, the inability of a society to properly deal with such ideas can prove very destructive.

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Summary: This is my Bible.
Review: A very amusing, political satire. Many interesting points were brought up and even when Twain addressed serious issues of class and self and society, his humor shined thru. It is nineteenth century technological reliances meeting sixth century codes of chivalry. Of course it is all very anachronistic, but instead of hurting the work it helps Twain prove his points. I don't agree with those who consider it chaotic, although I do see that some may find it so since Twain attempts so much. He tries to tell an interseting tale, question society and mankind, and be humorous all at once which IS difficult, if not impossible.

Rating:
Summary: very cynical book
Review: A very cynical and satirical look at life in the middle ages. It starts out rather cheerful and relaxed but it turns mean spirited towards the end. I didn't like the way the tone changed. Interesting but not as good as Twain's other well known works. Still it is worthwhile reading for any Twain fan.

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Summary: Great Book!! (In a historical context)
Review: I thought that the book, if taken at face value, was just another so-so medieval tale. I may have thought that Twain was simply trying to relate the way people were in medieval times to the typical 19th "centurian." However, I realize that Twain must have been well studied in Medieval philosphy and life. He illustrates it in a rather humorous yet still educational way and quite frankly...I loved it.

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Summary: Mark Twain blends humor, suspense, and history in this book.
Review: In this wonderful book, Mark Twain blends humor and suspense wonderfully. The main character, Hank Morgan, is knocked over the head with a crowbar and is somehow transported back to the sixth century during King Arthur's reign. Taking advantage of the superstitiousness of the people, he saves himself from death at the stake by predicting an eclipse. He earns a position secondary to the king and displays nineteenth century technology to the inhabitants. During his stay in Camelot, Hank learns that monarchy, the Established Church, and knight errantry must come to an end. To help create this wonderful work of literature, Twain gives the characters a definite personality to help describe them. The suspense certainly adds to the reader's interest. This is a book that I highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: BORING????
Review: I hear the word boring used quite often these days. We have more and more things to entertain us, yet feel more bored than ever. As I looked over some of the reviews of the classic books including this one, I noticed how often the word boring was used when describing a book. I guess in today's fast paced world if a book doesn't come with large speakers, a big screen and a joy stick it is boring. We aren't sheep, and are entilted to our own opinion, but when I hear the word boring being used to describe anything, it intrigues me and makes me want to see who used it.

Rating:
Summary: A drawn out tail of King Arthur
Review: This book A CONNECITICUT YANKEE AT KING ARTHUR'S COURT by Mark Twain is very boaring. It starts out with a fictional character in King Arthur's kingdom. It then creats a labyrinth of problems that the character solves using the technology of his time. It ends triumphantly with Hank (the main character) winning a huge battle for control of England. Although the book had moments where the suspension could be felt by the reader most of the time the descriptions and characters feelings filled the pages with unnecessary narritive. Because of this the racy plot with many intresting characteristics ends up taking a long time and being slowed down by the thoughts of the characters. Although this book is considered a classic its writing could be compared to the writing of Charles Dickens. The plot of the book is well written and thought out but, in an attempt to make the book seem more realistic both authors throw in space-fillers. Also as in GREAT EXPECTATIONS Mark Twain creates a connection between all characters that happens only within a few pages.

Because of all the connections in the book the plot can become hard to follow and in order to fully understand the book it is better to glance over what you have just read. The plot at times is to amazing for any reader to believe, the author gives the main character the ability to make all inventions from his time and, at a glance creat new ones. He makes the character follow a heroes journey of sorts, where he must face entire leigons of soliders but wins by flipping a swich or shooting a gun. In a way, however, it is intresting to see how todays knowledge can be used in the past for conquest and for peace. The story the book gives made me think of what would happen if someone actually did go back in time. Because each new chapter in the book introduces a new character or a new problem it makes the reader carefully follow the plot. This creates the need to read every sentence and that is very demanding on the reader.

I did not enjoy the book. It was too much to read for such a limited plot and the ideas were repititive. Because of all the different aspects of the book it was barely possible to keep on reading it. Overall I would not reccomend this book as a quick or fun read.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing, Accurate, and Insightful
Review: Imagine yourself thrown back fourteen hundred years to the kingdom of the legendary Arthur. Add some technical know-how, a touch of arrogance, and a taste for adventure, and you would be Hank Morgan. The successful head superintendent of an arms factory, Morgan is sent back in time by a nasty knock on the head, and finds himself a prisoner at the court of the once and future king. Through an incredible knowledge of astronomy, and mechanics, and his natural intelligence, he finds his way to the top of the Arthurian power structure, and becomes The Boss. Posing as a powerful magician, he impresses the people and the court with magnificent firework displays, stellar predictions, and other "tricks" that today are taken for granted. As he learns more about the social inequalities in the culture that he has no choice but to live in, he comes to the conclusion that he must free the masses from the oppression of the nobility. Morgan attempts to impose the ideals, governing system, and ways of thinking of the industrialized 19th century onto the primitive 6th century. Secretly, he develops a civilization of his own time inside Arthur's Kingdom, his eventual goal being to destroy every remnant of the old ways, and replace them with the new. Traveling the kingdom, Morgan spreads his influence and his beliefs. He encounters on his adventures both heartbreaking situations of cruelty, and heartwarming scenes of humanity. Throughout the whole kingdom, however, he always sees the need to destroy the feudal system. Twain teaches us something through Morgan's determination, and something else by the calamitous ending of the book. The good: A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur is probably the most accurate of all the king Arthur Legends, as far as describing the daily life, customs, and superstitions of the people of the period. It does not lionize the Knights of the Round Table, but at the same time it does not speak of them as savages, as some accounts do. Similarly, it makes the people out to be decent, simple, and yes, sheep, but not total fools. A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur describes the time impartially, meticulously, and colorfully. There is not the element of glamorization just as there is not the element of degradation. Twain's use of the first-person narration makes the story more realistic; the people who are dying of small pox are horrifyingly well described, and the grandeur with the banners and shining armor at a joust is equally enticing. Most importantly, this book flows well: each event leads to the next, and it all fits together nicely. The twist that Twain puts on the end superbly concludes the story, and it makes you really think. The not-so-good: A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur does move slowly at times. Also, the main character, Hank Morgan, is excessively American. Twain really overuses the baseball metaphors, and Morgan's contempt for all forms of mysticism and non-scientific explanations of things damages the atmosphere of the book. His impatience with the people who do not understand his speech and ideas, and his general attitude of superiority make him slightly less likeable, and more difficult to pay attention to. It is sometimes hard to bear Hank Morgan's thoughtless destruction of 6th century culture, and his obsession with the wonder of technology. The sometimes absurdly long descriptions, vivid pictures of violence, and overall length of this book would make it difficult for people under about twelve or thirteen to enjoy. Mark Twain is sending several messages in writing this book. The first and perhaps most important is that attention should be paid to the way in which a culture develops. Hank ultimately destroys Arthurian England as it was know, because he advances only the parts of the culture that he personally believes to be important. Twain is saying that if we are not involved in our world, everything is out of our control, and we can only hope that the reins fall into the right hands. Morgan's downfall can be attributed to this and to the fact that he disbelieves all other powers besides science, and even more than disbelieves dismisses them. Another main point that this book incorporates is that no one power should be allowed to become too strong. Twain reinforces this point with the examples of the Church and of Hank Morgan. A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur addresses issues that face Mark Twain's time and issues that face ours. It brings many ideas, messages, and themes together into a cohesive body. With Camelot as the backdrop, Morgan's story as the message and Twains engaging style as the messenger, this book is delightful.