S I S S † R E • D A E † H E

How mightily, sometimes, we make us comforts of our losses!

“

—	William Shakespeare

Book Review: “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” by Mark Twain

I must admit, when I first started this book, I was not at all impressed. I was bored and confused and not at all pleased with any of it. Indeed, I made up my mind to stop all of three times; but was urged on by the curiosity of discovering what other readers had written in their reviews, for myself.

Once the actual “manuscript” began though, it had me by the throat. I read and read and read at whatever time my busy schedule allowed.

It is certainly a book that tackles some very interesting issues, under the cunning guise of fiction. It tackles slavery- slavery as an institution and not a race-specific injustice- the inefficiency of a monarchy, the surprising way in which love can visit upon a man, and the need for true equality in a nation.

But also, I think a thing which goes overlooked (or I at least have not seen it mentioned thus far in other reviews) is that this books is a tragedy in a Shakespearean sense. The protagonist starts off in triumph and rises to a position of such greatness, only to then be killed by his lowliest rival in the end.

Ironically, however, unlike other tragedies where it is a hubris and ignorance that leads to a hero’s ruin, in this case, it is kindess. He went out to see how his enemies fared and to offer his help, and in doing so, was helped to his death in thanks.

Truly a good book to read. I was cracking up with laughter all through it.
I recommend it to anyone who wishes to read something that has far more than a surface-plot to impart.

~ DEATH