Pudd'nhead Wilson (eBook)
First published in 1894, 'Pudd’nhead Wilson' is a gripping tale of identity, race, and justice set in a small Missouri town along the Mississippi River. When Roxy, a light-skinned enslaved woman, secretly switches her baby with her master’s white son to save him from a life of bondage, the destinies of both boys are forever altered.
Years later, David "Pudd’nhead" Wilson, a misunderstood lawyer and amateur scientist ridiculed for his odd interests—especially in fingerprinting—becomes entangled in a complex murder case. As the mystery unfolds, Wilson’s unique methods lead to a stunning courtroom revelation that exposes the truth about the boys’ swapped identities and challenges the town’s deeply rooted racial and social prejudices.
With sharp wit and biting satire, Mark Twain critiques the absurdity of racial distinctions and the injustices of slavery and societal labels. 'Pudd’nhead Wilson' combines elements of mystery, drama, and social commentary, offering a powerful exploration of how identity can be shaped—and shattered—by the forces of culture and circumstance.
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About the Author
Mark Twain is the pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835 - 1910). He was born and brought up in the American state of Missouri and, because of his father's death, he left school to earn his living when he was only twelve. He was a great adventurer and travelled round America as a printer; prospected for gold and set off for South America to earn his fortune. He returned to become a steam-boat pilot on the Mississippi River, close to where he had grown up. The Civil War put an end to steam-boating and Clemens briefly joined the Confederate army - although the rest of his family were Unionists! He had already tried his hand at newspaper reporting and now became a successful journalist. He started to use the alias Mark Twain during the Civil War and it was under this pen name that he became a famous travel writer. He took the name from his steam-boat days - it was the river pilots' cry to let their men know that the water was two fathoms deep.
Mark Twain was always nostalgic about his childhood and in 1876 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was published, based on his own experiences. The book was soon recognised as a work of genius and eight years later the sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was published. The great writer Ernest Hemingway claimed that 'All modern literature stems from this one book.'
Mark Twain was soon famous all over the world. He made a fortune from writing and lost it on a typesetter he invented. He then made another fortune and lost it on a bad investment. He was an impulsive, hot-tempered man but was also quite sentimental and superstitious. He was born when Halley's Comet was passing the Earth and always believed he would die when it returned - this is exactly what happened.