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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
It was funny and okayish at times, but it didn't grip me at all, it didn't really read smoothly to me and it felt as a chore to read for university, a long short story, rather than a proper novel.
A biting satire on slaveryand a commentary on identity and its social versus biological origins.
This is a quick, but uncomfortable read. A book that deals so much with slavery and race shouldn't be comfortable. At the core of the book are two ideas that of nature vs nurture and what makes a person black. In the novel (and in history) you're black if you gave even a drop of black blood. Roxy's son is 1/32 black and is born a slave. The thing is he doesn't look black; he's blonde and blue-eyed and looks white. He's the same age as her master's son and when her position is threatened (a house slave being sold down the river), she switches the babies. He grows up as Tom and is one of the most miserable, nasty pieces of work you can imagine. He fits right in with the white society of Dawson's Landing, Missouri. The books also has mystery, murder, and forensics. And irony. Oh, the irony. I read this to fulfill my 2016 Reading Challenge "read a book 100 years older than you" (Pop Sugar) - well, it's from 1893 which is 123 years ago, so not quite 100 years older, just 65. So it's now in the category "read a book you can finish in a day" (Pop Sugar).
This is an excellent novel. Reading it with my seniors has been a blast this year. I'm sad my time with this book is over.
While not my first Twain read, definitely one of the more interesting ones. David "Pudd'nhead" Wilson is an almost well known person about town. More for an unfortunate remark than for what he went there for, to be a small-town lawyer. It took him nearly twenty years to even become a lawyer of any respect. He spent those twenty years collecting the fingerprints of the residents of Dawson's Landing. This proves important later. We then meet Roxana. A slave woman who could nearly pass for white if it weren't for a few select features. Now she works for a landed gentleman by the name of Percy Driscoll (I thought of fruit right away) looking after his young son. Roxy allows Pudd'nhead to take the prints of the boys in good fun, not realizing the consequences it will have later. In a fright she flips the babies for the protection of her son. A move any mother would make. Some twenty years go by and now a set of twins comes in and ruins everything for one boy and sets an unprecedented gain for another. I gave this book 4/5 stars. It reminded very much of The Prince and the Pauper, only in this case the two are entirely unconscious of the change. The way their lives differed because of the perceived stations was incredible. Proving nurture over nature in this case. I enjoyed their tale, but wished we saw more of Pudd'nhead as that is the title, so one would expect it to also be the main subject or character. To fit the tale we got, "Roxana" or "Tom Driscoll" would have been better suited. I was pleasantly surprised by the Carpello twins of Italy. They jump started the story when my interest was beginning to fade. Mark Twain knew what he was doing there. I was very intrigued by the short at the end as well of them as a set of conjoined twins. I do wonder what happened to Angelo after Luigi died? Did he die too, or did they separate the brothers so Angelo could move on with his life? It was an amazingly written book, with diverse characters. I'm glad I read it.
My absolute favorite part of this book was the note from the author at the end explaining how he wrote this novel and how very different it came out from his original intention. Of course, since it's Mark Twain and he's not exactly known for his forthrightness, that whole bit could be completely fiction.
Nobody quite combines comedy and tragedy like Mark Twain. His ability to mock the most unfortunate of situations makes even the most scathing of social commentaries enjoyable reading. Puddn'head Wilson is a perfect example of this with its discussion of race and privilege in the South.
Twain accomplishes two goals with this particular work. When discussing the reversed identities, he hits right at the heart of racial prejudice. Tom’s treatment of Chambers, and eventually his mother, is absolutely appalling, especially as the reader understands the true situation. His sense of entitlement because he is “white” is as disgusting to modern readers as it is telling of the difference in mindset between the 1850s and today.
What is fascinating is Twain’s use of the beginnings of forensic evidence in murder trials. The polite interest that turns into overt mocking that then switches to apt fascination is spot on in society’s acceptance of any new scientific methodology. While presenting this new, objective methodology, Twain also continues his biting commentary on the subjectivity of a jury that is hampered by close-mindedness and social stigmas. The crowd’s reaction when they understand that a “white” man of privilege could commit such a horrible crime is humorous in true Twain fashion while simultaneously horrifying at their ignorance.
Puddn'head Wilson is a fascinating look at a society long past. In fact, modern readers can appreciate Twain’s message more than his contemporaries could because we have the benefit of hundreds of years of ingrained social messaging about the equality of races. It begs the question of what Twain’s contemporaries thought about this social commentary. Would they have appreciated what Twain was mocking? No matter what era in which this novel is being read, Puddn'head Wilson provides plenty of fodder for discussion and contemplation, as befits a true classic.
Twain accomplishes two goals with this particular work. When discussing the reversed identities, he hits right at the heart of racial prejudice. Tom’s treatment of Chambers, and eventually his mother, is absolutely appalling, especially as the reader understands the true situation. His sense of entitlement because he is “white” is as disgusting to modern readers as it is telling of the difference in mindset between the 1850s and today.
What is fascinating is Twain’s use of the beginnings of forensic evidence in murder trials. The polite interest that turns into overt mocking that then switches to apt fascination is spot on in society’s acceptance of any new scientific methodology. While presenting this new, objective methodology, Twain also continues his biting commentary on the subjectivity of a jury that is hampered by close-mindedness and social stigmas. The crowd’s reaction when they understand that a “white” man of privilege could commit such a horrible crime is humorous in true Twain fashion while simultaneously horrifying at their ignorance.
Puddn'head Wilson is a fascinating look at a society long past. In fact, modern readers can appreciate Twain’s message more than his contemporaries could because we have the benefit of hundreds of years of ingrained social messaging about the equality of races. It begs the question of what Twain’s contemporaries thought about this social commentary. Would they have appreciated what Twain was mocking? No matter what era in which this novel is being read, Puddn'head Wilson provides plenty of fodder for discussion and contemplation, as befits a true classic.
I loved this just for the quotes at the start of each chapter. Look, I'm a Mark Twain fan. This is typical of his work. Social commentary, great stuff written more than 100 years ago.
I really enjoyed this. For the first time I had a "main" character that I was hoping would be punished. It's a refreshing change.