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coniferus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The protagonist is kind of an insufferable opportunist, and I think that’s rather the point. Didn’t make me like him though. The tone was funny, and the writing occasionally clever, but it took me out of it a bit in the assumption that “oh haha, medieval people are all STUPID” — which was a theme throughout. They were as a whole less literate and educated, but I think would have caught on to much more, more quickly than the story tells.
The most interesting part to me was the perspective of reading this 135 years later. It’s fascinating to hear Twain’s witticisms, commentary and cultural references from that different era. He works in a good deal of that, including the hottest technology of the day (telephone, balloon, trains). It’s a sort of time capsule in that regard.
The most interesting part to me was the perspective of reading this 135 years later. It’s fascinating to hear Twain’s witticisms, commentary and cultural references from that different era. He works in a good deal of that, including the hottest technology of the day (telephone, balloon, trains). It’s a sort of time capsule in that regard.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
This is the story of Hank Morgan. He receives a blow to the head and wakes up in Medival England at the time of King Arthur. He is an engineer and his uses that, and all of his knowledge of the upcoming centuries, to convince the people he is a wizard. He uses his powers to modernize those around him - "inventing" things very far ahead of the time. This attracts attention and problems start for Arthur and Hank.
This was an interesting book. A little dry at times, but overall pretty good. I found it entertaining that Merlin is outshined by Hank and his technology (that he passes off as magic) and that Hank becomes Arthur's personal sorcerer. It was an interesting look at what would happen if an engineer improved the lives of people in the 6th century with said technology and how the future would look if that happened.
zurpel's review
4.0
Since my first experience with Mark Twain I always look forward to read another of his books (especially listen to the Librivox narration by John Greenman). I can’t be entirely sure if it is the narrator of the author who makes me chuckle occasionally; I’m convinced it is a combination of the two.
I wasn’t disappointed by “A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”. The book tells the story of an American from Mark Twain’s time who one day woke up in 6th century England, among King Arthur’s knights. He doesn’t believe it at first, but soon has to accept that he is stranded in the far past and has to cope with it. His adventures are simply hilarious. They include a confrontation with the famous Merlin, a stroll through the country with King Arthur (disguised as a peasant) meeting his lowly subjects and taking on an army of several thousand knights with a force of … 45 men. Of course some of his future knowledge helps our hero in his adventures.
This story is not to be taken too seriously. But if you enjoy a chuckle now and then I’d certainly recommend it.
I wasn’t disappointed by “A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”. The book tells the story of an American from Mark Twain’s time who one day woke up in 6th century England, among King Arthur’s knights. He doesn’t believe it at first, but soon has to accept that he is stranded in the far past and has to cope with it. His adventures are simply hilarious. They include a confrontation with the famous Merlin, a stroll through the country with King Arthur (disguised as a peasant) meeting his lowly subjects and taking on an army of several thousand knights with a force of … 45 men. Of course some of his future knowledge helps our hero in his adventures.
This story is not to be taken too seriously. But if you enjoy a chuckle now and then I’d certainly recommend it.
brandifox's review against another edition
Twain is attempting many interesting things, and he often succeeds at humor, but the narrative is often clunky and the protagonist is unlikably arrogant. It is better experienced as an audiobook than a page book, in part because of the dialectic way Twain’s characters speak, and in part because then you can zone out for the needlessly boring didactic rambles.
The kernel of the story is fun as are some of the episodes, but it really needs tighter editing.
The kernel of the story is fun as are some of the episodes, but it really needs tighter editing.
kat1776's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kinklekota's review
3.0
I very much dislike this 'I'm so proud to be American, our country is the best in the world" attitude cliched beyond possibility in Hollywood movies, and was very sorry to see this book adopt the same stance. I am aware that THEN it was justified pride with USA gaining independence etc. but I still find it BOOORING and TEDIOUS. And the first 1/4 of the book is so full of gloryfing America that reading it made me quite sick, especially since that part is quite unTwainy: not hilarious at all and not even interesting. Fortunately, after a hundred pages or so Sandy makes her entrance and Hank's tiresome plans to transform Britain into America are upstaged, thank God. From that moment onward the book is enjoyable, funny, and even gripping. On the whole, worth reading.
thisisstephenbetts's review
4.0
Although a teeny bit of a slog at times, this is a wonderful, excoriating satire — with a more overt & extreme black humor than I have read in Twain before. Anti-slavery, anti-monarchy, anti-church; anti-ignorance, anti-superstition, anti-ludditeism. Pro-democracy, equality, freedom. There are no mistaking Twain's views, and it is mighty refreshing. I treasure Clarence's proposal to replace the monarchy with cats.
beter's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lebelinconnu's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0