Writing and Publishing
‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court’ is a novel by Mark Twain and is considered a foundational work in the time travel genre.
William Den Howells, critic and writer, named it as Twain‘s best work and also ‘an object lesson in democracy’
Mark Twain was an American humorist and a writer who found his inspiration from other writers such as Charles Heber and his novel, ‘The Fortunate Island‘(1882) and HG Wells’s ‘The Chronic Argonauts’ (1888).
This story by Mark Twain was first published in England by Chatto &Windus under the title ‘A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur’ in 1889.
STORYLINE
The actual story of an American engineer, Hank Morgan from Connecticut living in the 19 century.
After a strong hit to his head by a crowbar, Hank wakes up in the early medieval England in the 16th century.
He wakes up underneath an oak tree and is soon captured by a knight, Sir Kay. He meets King Arthur and he is ridiculed for his appearance and his clothes. He is sent to burn at the stake on the 21st June. This date coincides with a solar eclipse which happened in the year 528.
Years before Hank had previously read about this eclipse. Taking advantage of his knowledge, Hank sends a boy to tell the King that if he is not set free he will blow the sun. Finally, the King set him free frightened from the eclipse and Hank becomes the principal minister of the King.
With his knowledge from 1300 years in the future, he wants to help the people, to industrialize and develop the civilization.
Later on
He makes himself an enemy of the great sorcerer Merlin and they have some conflicts. Of course, Hank fools the people very easily with his advanced knowledge and he becomes the second most powerful man in the kingdom.
Opening secret schools – he wants to share all his knowledge. He also secretly constructs fabrics for the people and chooses the most promising student employment.
Hank later teaches everything to a boy, Clearance who later becomes his assistant.
Later Hank gets married to Sandy and they have a baby. The assistant boy then becomes ill and Hank has to leave the country.
Running away from an army of thirty thousand soldiers that the Catholic Church sends to kill him, Hank finds himself trapped in a cave with his men.
However, his men start to get ill, and many of them die.
One night Clearance sees Merlin whispering a spell upon Hank to make him sleep for 1300 years.
The story ends with Hank, now in the nineteenth century, in his last moments of life and dreaming about Sandy before he passes on.
WHY READ IT?
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s court’ is actually a very funny story, written with the unique sense of humor of Mark Twain, and it is maybe the first book on time travel.
His ability to make you step into the character’s shoes like in his all adventure books (Huckleberry Finn for example) 
gives you the sensation you are the one who is living the story.
Mark Twain’s, books are read by all age groups, and he can make us feel like little children chasing our dreams.
It was the last book of Mark Twain and we can see a more mature edge to his writing. He showed the dark sides of society while touching some cynical themes.
For example
As the character grows in power, he changes, he becomes more violent and loses control, and the only way finally is a war. He underlines this with the destructive progress of humanity.
But aside from all his other books ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court’ is remembered for its fantasy and for the imagination and the adventure that can take you away from reality.
Thank you for reading and I am sure you will enjoy the book. If you need any information, just leave me a comment or a message below. Alternatively, you can contact me here!If you are interested in the book click the image below.
Have you read the book? If so what did you think of the story? I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
Thank you
Cristina
If you prefer to watch the movie I assure you you will love it.
Click Below For Further Reading and Viewing
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- Time Travel Novels
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- More Books And Stories
I would love to hear from all of you who are also interested in this subject. Movies? Science? Book? Literature?
Whatever your interest is, I would love to meet you.
Yes I have Cristina … This is one eternal classic alright,
Apeng
Dis you like the book? You have read it as a child?
Hi Cristina,
I haven’t read the book yet and didn’t realize that Mark Twain had written about time travel. Would you categorize it as historical sci-fi? :)I’m always looking for a good new read and am delighted at the prospect of reading something fun like this from one of our nation’s most celebrated authors.
Alyssa
you will really enjoy it 🙂 is adventure, historical ,sci-fi, comedy categorized:))
Hi there! This book – A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court review looks interesting. Is it real story? But anyway book looks interesting to read like the fact at that time people didn’t now what is eclipse! Probably Hank had fun running from thirty thousand soldiers.
Thanks for sharing this one!
thank you for reading:)) i hope you like the book :))
you have so many facts and info! everything is very well organized and easy to get too.I love how you Incorporated imagery.i also like how physics plays a big roll in this niche and you gave examples of the great minds who were “ahead of their time” like telsa leading to later experiments . pretty cool!
thank you 🙂 I try my best 🙂 to bring as many information I can:)))
Hi Cristina. Yes, I have read the book, and I enjoyed it. I am sure you are aware it has been released as a movie several times and also served as the basis for many other time travel stories about marooned time travelers stuck in the past. I believe the first movie to use this work was a Bing Crosby movie back in 1949,
yes I know and was an amazing movie :)) I am glad that you enjoyed it :))Thanks for reading and soon I will bring more films:))
Hello 🙂 Mark Twain has always been one of my favorite authors. I am glad I came accross your post as it has reminded me to pull this book off my shelf and give it another read.
I totally agree that in this his last book there is a darker tone. It is a great read! I hope many people check it out after seeing your review.
I love your site. Time travel is definitely one of the most insteresting and thought provoking topics ever.
thanks for reading:)) I will bring more information soon and I am glad that you enjoyed it 🙂 hope to take to you soon:)
I had no idea that Mark Twain wrote a book about time travel! This sounds like a very interesting read, I will definitely be looking into reading it now thank you for this post! 🙂
Rachel
welcome Rachel:)) I hope you will enjoy it . I will bring more information and more books for you to read:)))Cristina
Finally I can start travelling myself.
I have been living with the parents for 18 years and then another 4 years at University, my time has come to start travelling Europe baby!!
Time-travel however, interesting!
I liked this overview of Hank Morgan from Connecticut living in the 19 century, great read!
Also liked the pictures, good going, you will do excellent I am sure!
Mark
thanks a lot 🙂 I am glad that you enjoyed it :))
I have never read this book, I read huckleberry finn in grade school, needless to say I didn’t really get into it. I was born in the 90 so the literature things with the hidden messages were always hard for me to get into. I haven’t read anything by Mark Twain since grade school about 6th grade maybe! I will see if I could find this book somewhere and give it a read and see what I think about it.
give it a try 🙂 you will enjoy it :))when you finish, just tell me your opinion:))
Being not to far from Hannibal, Mo. where Mr. Twain grew up, and a fan of Huck Finn, this book sounds like something I would like to read. Not only does it combine the ever famous King Arthur and his knights, but also the fact that this could be the first time-travel story just blew my mind. Thanks for a great review!
You are welcome:) Thanks for reading and I am sure you will enjoy the book . Mark twain is a classic:)
The way the combine the history with the present world is amazing. He show the differences from both societies,the differences of the way of living and thinking in such a wonderful story…I liked the way the show that sometimes the development of the humanity is not doing only good,has some unpleasant sides
.Read the book and tell me your opinion:)
Cristina
I remember reading The Adventures of Hucleberry Finn in High School and loving it. I promised myself I would read his other books but never got around to it. You may have sparked a dormant desire to read all his books. Thanks for your Blog. There are so many books of his that I haven’t heard of including A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s court’
Mark Twain is a great writer and you should surely read this one.If you like adventures and also time travel, is a very sweet story. I am sure at any age is not too late to read it . Is not necessarily a children’s book. To be honest I think as an adult you can understand better the writer’s messages. As I wrote in the post. behind the nice time travel story are deeper messages so I am sure you will find it very interesting.
Have a nice read and when you finish, tell me your opinion:)
Cristina
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court is a true broadcast of Mark Twain’s imagination. The only novel I have read so far by him is Huckleberry Fin and I was amazed by the way he writes and tells his story. Time traveling is a concept I like reading about, so I may pick up this novel.
Hello John,
This is an amazing novel and actually a classic. You should read it. Mark Twain is a wonderful writer and his work will last for ever. As you said Huckleberry Fin ..every child know his adventures…
Thanks for visiting my site and i am glad that you decided to read the novel:)tell me your opinion when you finish.
Have a good day.
Cristina