A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court has long been considered one of Mark Twain's most complex works. Bringing to his writing his love of English history, Twain takes a uniquely American look at the feudal world of King Arthur. The novel explores the effects of technology on a culture that may or may not be ready for it, particularly how humans deal with rapid change. Connecticut Yankee is the quintessential novel of the American Industrial Age: though its immediate subject matter is ancient Britain, its themes were widely relevant to its turn-of-the-century American readers.
To explore the culture of the times in American of the Industrial Age, use the background links below. Each page examines a different aspect of late-nineteenth-century America: technology, social class, advertising, and contemporary writers' evaluations of those aspects of life. When you visit a page, you will see links to primary sources, including newspaper articles from the New York Times and contemporary periodicals. Images throughout the website are include original illustrations from Connecticut Yankee and historical photographs.
For more information on Mark Twain's life and short biographies of the author, see the Related Links page.
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