07-10-2016, 01:15 PM | #1 |
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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
One of the first edition covers, 1899 This is the MR Literary Club selection for July 2016. Whether you've already read it or would like to, feel free to start or join in the conversation at any time, and guests are always welcome! So, what are your thoughts on it? Links- Goodreads Mobileread Library ePub edition uploaded by Jelby Kindle edition uploaded by Madam Broshkina Amazon Australia Canada India UK US Kobo Audible Australia UK US Last edited by sun surfer; 07-18-2016 at 10:43 AM. |
07-10-2016, 07:29 PM | #2 | |
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I'm about ten chapters in and enjoying it very much. I'm not surprised that I don't remember much from reading the book as a child - I enjoyed the funny moments and comments, but of course I didn't understand the much darker underlying themes.
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Twain's rage at man's inhumanity to man is palpable, and it isn't confined to 6th century Britain. |
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07-10-2016, 09:10 PM | #3 |
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I just got the Mark Twain collection, via MR historical freebie thread. I had read this a long time ago, probably 7th or 8th grade, and don't remember all that much. I read it because I loved stories about King Arthur & Camelot, and I remember it being a time travel story as well. I do remember it being satirical, with Twain's sharp wit. I'll try to find some time to read it again though, It's going to be a busy couple of weeks for me, but I'll check in on this thread from time to time. I'd like to read it again too.
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07-11-2016, 10:37 PM | #4 | |
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I started reading the book over the weekend and am really enjoying it so far. I'm glad that we are finally reading something by Mark Twain especially since I grew up along the Mississippi River. I can remember in elementary school visiting his home in Hannibal, Missouri and also going to the Mark Twain Cave and Meramec Caverns. Tom Sawyer and Jesse James - cool adventures for a kid.
http://www.historyhappenshere.org/node/7442 I've also been to the old mining town of Virginia City which has a museum where Mark Twain wrote for the Territorial Express. I remember thinking how very different Nevada was from Missouri and what it must have been like in his time period in the Old Wild West. Supposedly this is where he decided to use the pen name of Mark Twain. He traveled West because his brother became Secretary of the Nevada Territory. Someday I really want to read Roughing It which covers these Western adventures and his impressions. http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/a...#mktwainmuseum I wasn't aware that Ken Burns did a documentary film on Mark Twain. I found this website for it that has a very unique interactive scrapbook. http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/index.html Quote:
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07-12-2016, 01:31 AM | #5 |
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Thanks so much Bookworm_Girl! I shall have a look at all of these. |
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07-12-2016, 09:06 AM | #6 |
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Thanks for the info & links Bookworm_Girl ! I did watch the PBS documentary by Ken Burns on Mark Twain. I enjoyed it. I'm from Connecticut and have visited Twain's home in Hartford. It's very unusual by traditional New England style homes. You can see it in detail on the documentary by Burns.
I read up to chapter 8, and cracked up when , instead of using a given title, he starts to call himself The Boss ! Lol . So Twain ! |
07-12-2016, 01:05 PM | #7 |
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It is interesting to compare the social ideas in this book to those in Huckleberry Finn. They are very similar. In HD Twain bitterly satirises the irrationality of society and the church. We see the same here.
“It was pitiful for a person born in a wholesome free atmosphere to listen to their humble and hearty outpourings of loyalty toward their king and Church and nobility; as if they had any more occasion to love and honor king and Church and noble than a slave has to love and honor the lash, or a dog has to love and honor the stranger that kicks him! Why, dear me, any kind of royalty, howsoever modified, any kind of aristocracy, howsoever pruned, is rightly an insult;” The primary difference is that Twain's opinions in CYIKAC are often presented in an expository way whereas in HF Twain make use of powerful dramatic irony through the actions and speeches of the characters. |
07-13-2016, 12:57 PM | #8 | |
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07-13-2016, 09:29 PM | #9 | |
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I'm only at chap. 14, but as I've read so far, in CYIKAC, I can't help thinking of Mel Brooks in the movie ( History of the World ? ) or something like that, I'll have to look up the correct name if it's wrong. The satire & humor in this book reminds me of that movie. Lol. Twain also tries to fix the problems he sees, with ingenuity, and not war. Something he lived through during his lifetime with the civil war. I can't help but think that he wanted re write history on some level. Even with only a legend like King Arthur and Camelot. Last edited by Wearever; 07-13-2016 at 09:36 PM. |
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07-13-2016, 09:34 PM | #10 |
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I'll have to look that up the series too ! I was only aware of the Mark Twain one. I love historical documentaries too !
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07-17-2016, 08:58 PM | #11 | |
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So even many centuries later these types of cave\ dungeon prisons were still in use, and of course not just in England. In Twain's own home state as well. Perhaps he visited Old Newgate prison too, it's certainly possible. But it wasn't in use anymore in Twain's time. |
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07-25-2016, 01:19 PM | #12 | |||
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Mark Twain always provides me with an easy read because of long familiarity and affection. I read this last when I was young and thought it was a rousing good story. I enjoyed reading it again, but this time with greater understanding of Twain's story and themes.
The first thing that struck me was how little people have changed in fundamental ways over the centuries. Some sentences struck a chord during our own tumultous political times when facts seem to matter less than 'feelings', and putting on an entertaining show is preferred over boring substance. Quote:
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Hank does a marvelous job of conveying Twain's disdain, even anger, at Sir Walter Scott's glorifying the era of knights errant. Twain believed that the culture of the South embraced the romanticism and chivalry, and that it led to attitudes that contributed to the War Between the States. I'm grateful for the choice of a novel by Mark Twain. In a time when focusing upon reading has been a problem for me, Mark Twain is a sure thing. I loved the familiarity of Twain's cadence, humor, and passion. |
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07-25-2016, 09:07 PM | #13 |
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Great post BelleZora, and how lovely to see you in the Club!
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07-26-2016, 11:11 AM | #14 |
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Thank you, Bookpossum. It's good to participate in the club again.
Bookworm_Girl's mention of Virginia City brought back similar pleasant memories. A few years ago I did a 10k Volkswalk throughout Virginia City which was pretty much the entire town. You can't walk far without stumbling over some sort of memorial to Mark Twain. If you travel throughout the 'gold' country of California and Nevada, you are struck by how much Mark Twain got around and how no one ever forgot it. Last edited by BelleZora; 07-26-2016 at 11:13 AM. |
07-26-2016, 07:45 PM | #15 |
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Thanks for the sharing the photographs BelleZora. Clearly Mark Twain is still much loved and admired, and that is as it should be. He's certainly a great favourite of mine.
I have been slow to finish the book - no fault of Twain's, but lots of other things competing for my time, ranging from visiting family to making marmalade out of the oranges brought by said family! However, I'm back with the book now and should finish it soon. |
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