Classic
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
by Mark Twain
Summary
Hartford factory superintendent Hank Morgan takes a blow to the head and wakes in sixth century England, where he uses an eclipse, gunpowder, and Yankee know how to outshine Merlin and set himself up as the kingdom's power behind the throne. Twain plays the collision of industrial America and feudal legend for comedy, then lets the satire darken as Hank's modern weapons produce a horrifying final battle. The novel invented the time travel comedy while delivering one of Twain's fiercest attacks on aristocracy and superstition.
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Historical Context & Significance
Twain published the novel in 1889, aiming its satire at both romanticized chivalry and the injustices of his own Gilded Age. Its premise has been borrowed by countless later time travel stories.