{"product_id":"9781411431997","title":"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (Barnes \u0026 Noble Classics Series)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court\u003c\/i\u003e, by \u003cb\u003eMark Twain\u003c\/b\u003e, is part of the \u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble Classics\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of \u003ci\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble Classics\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBiographies of the authors \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFootnotes and endnotes \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSelective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComments by other famous authors \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudy questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBibliographies for further reading \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIndices \u0026amp; Glossaries, when appropriate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003eAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. \u003ci\u003eBarnes \u0026amp; Noble Classics \u003c\/i\u003epulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOne of the greatest satires in American literature, \u003cb\u003eMark Twain\u003c\/b\u003e’s \u003ci\u003eA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court\u003c\/i\u003e begins when Hank Morgan, a skilled mechanic in a nineteenth-century New England arms factory, is struck on the head during a quarrel and awakens to find himself among the knights and magicians of King Arthur’s Camelot.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat follows is a culture clash of the first magnitude, as practical-minded Hank, disgusted with the ignorance and superstition of the people, decides to enlighten them with education and technology. Through a series of wonderfully imaginative adventures, Twain celebrates American homespun ingenuity and democracy as compared to the backward ineptitude of a chivalric monarchy. At the same time, however, Twain raises the question of whether material progress necessarily creates a better society. As Hank becomes more powerful and self-righteous, he also becomes more ruthless, more autocratic, and less able to control events, until the only way out is a massively destructive war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile the dark pessimism that would fully blossom in Twain’s later works can be discerned in \u003ci\u003eA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court\u003c\/i\u003e, the novel will nevertheless be remembered primarily for its wild leaps of imagination, brilliant wit, and entertaining storytelling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWith over 200 of the original illustrations by Dan Beard.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eStephen Railton\u003c\/b\u003e teaches American literature at the University of Virginia. His most recent book is \u003ci\u003eMark Twain: A Short Introduction\u003c\/i\u003e.","brand":"Barnes \u0026 Noble","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47138297348336,"sku":"9781411431997","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781411431997_p0.jpg?v=1763725315","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781411431997","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}