A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
by Mark Twain
There are so many reasons why A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is one of my favorite books of all time. The illustrations alone are reason enough to keep reading it year after year; Daniel Carter Beard's lively sketches paint vivid pictures in readers' minds as they travel back in time with the protagonist to King Arthur's era. These are not Renaissance paintings, nor are they modern cartoons. Beard's illustrations include the perfect combination of melodrama, sarcasm, and poignancy to reflect the tone of the corresponding words.
If you read this book in school--I first read and wrote a book report on the classic in eighth grade--go back and read it again. I promise, no matter if you liked or loathed it, you'll get more out of it as the years pass. To me, a good plot makes an interesting story. Realistic characters make a good story. And depth that can be discovered after the second, third, or tenth read makes a classic. There are few books that seem to mature alongside you, and this is one of them. As a youth, you'll get caught up in the wonder of the plot, asking yourself, "What would I do if I could go back in time?" In time, you'll discover the beauty in the simple love story, buried beneath the fantasy during your first read. Next, you'll understand the sarcasm, irony, and political satire that is sadly still relevant today, two hundred years after Mark Twain originally wrote it. Finally, you'll return to the book as an old friend, asking the pages, "What do you have for me this time?" Sadness, despair, and tragedy. Let us not forget the disadvantages of living in the Middle Ages, however glorious a trip back in time might sound.
My copy is worn and loved, and I look forward to future lessons as I continue to revisit the story. A Connecticut Yankee is a classic and a must-read. You will laugh, cry, smile, smirk, frown, and wonder in amazement how an author 228 years ago wrote of a world 14 centuries ago, and his words are still relevant and touching today.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1949 film adaptation here!
If you read this book in school--I first read and wrote a book report on the classic in eighth grade--go back and read it again. I promise, no matter if you liked or loathed it, you'll get more out of it as the years pass. To me, a good plot makes an interesting story. Realistic characters make a good story. And depth that can be discovered after the second, third, or tenth read makes a classic. There are few books that seem to mature alongside you, and this is one of them. As a youth, you'll get caught up in the wonder of the plot, asking yourself, "What would I do if I could go back in time?" In time, you'll discover the beauty in the simple love story, buried beneath the fantasy during your first read. Next, you'll understand the sarcasm, irony, and political satire that is sadly still relevant today, two hundred years after Mark Twain originally wrote it. Finally, you'll return to the book as an old friend, asking the pages, "What do you have for me this time?" Sadness, despair, and tragedy. Let us not forget the disadvantages of living in the Middle Ages, however glorious a trip back in time might sound.
My copy is worn and loved, and I look forward to future lessons as I continue to revisit the story. A Connecticut Yankee is a classic and a must-read. You will laugh, cry, smile, smirk, frown, and wonder in amazement how an author 228 years ago wrote of a world 14 centuries ago, and his words are still relevant and touching today.
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the 1949 film adaptation here!