Desigur, aici traditia era inteleasca in sens feudal. Da' sa lasam asta, ca la urma urmei am facut o prezentare a intrigii, in loc sa punctez scurt si la obiect aspectul pe care l-am amintit. Asadar, condamnat la spanzuratoare fiind, bagat la zdup si fara speranta de scapare, eroului nostru ii incolteste, pe baza superstitiilor de secol VI, o idee strasnica! Desigur, aceasta idee a fost strans legata de cunoasterea marturiilor istorice, in sensul in care americanul nostru stia ca la 21 iulie s-a produs o eclipsa de soare.
Si, vezi doamne, trimite cuvant regelui Arthur ca, daca nu va fi crutat de la spanzuratoare, va stinge becu', folosindu-se de ale sale puteri vrajitoresti nestiute de nimeni. Astia tin sfat -"Bai! Eroul nostru isi ridica palmele cand primele semne ale eclipsei se intrezareau, iar multimea aia de oameni incepu sa boceasca amarnic, regele facand concesia de a ceda jumatate de regat in schmbul redobandirii luminii soarelui. Protagonistul refuza insa cuviincios si cere, in schimb, functia de prim-ministru pe care o si primeste fara sovairea regelui.
Si sa tot vezi trasnai, ca telefonul, telegraful, dinamita, curentul electric sau trenul in secolul VI. Aspectele astea sunt mai mult pentru a decolora epoca in ceea ce priveste criteriul arhitectonic si pentru a evidentia adevaratele neregului, cele de ordin moral, adica: Stilul colocvial al naratorului, cand tensionat, cand ironic "Nu vezi ca ne-ar lua mai putin timp sa le ducem pe fiecare acasa decat iti ia tie sa-mi explici ca nu se poate? Un alt aspect asupra caruia Twain a insistat a fost limbajul epocii adica un limbaj gen Ion Neculce sau Grigore Ureche , care face ca unele replici ale personajelor sa fie mai greu de inteles, dar care, totodata, te catapulteaza in vremea respectiva.
Nu stiu pentru cei ce-au citit-o deja ce a reprezentat cartea, insa pentru mine a fost o adevarata declaratie de razboi impotriva formelor de suprimare din toate timpurile. Eu am viziunile mele socialiste si cu atat mai flamand am devorat-o, insa nu numai pentru mine biserica daca nu are ghiarele taiate , Habsburgii, Bourbonii sau Hohenzollerni deopotriva au reprezentat, in echipa, cea mai criminala clica din istorie. Si nu, nu ma refer la varsarea propriu-zisa de sange, ca pe aia am putea s-o trecem cu vederea, ci, din ratiuni de filosofie istorica, au ucis acel atat de falnic avant uman care-si avea samburele in Roma.
Aici se vede mana infioratoarei puteri care este biserica romano-catolica. Asa, la iuteala, in doua-trei secole, prefacuse o natiune de oameni intr-o adunatura de viermi. Inainte de suprematia bisericii in lume, oamenii fusesera oameni intregi si isi tinusera capul sus; avusesera mandrie, judecata si independenta, iar rangul si insemnatatea se dobandeau mai cu seama prin fapte, si nu datoria nasterii.
Apoi a rasarit biserica, urmarind un manunchi de interese egoiste si ea s-a aratat iscusita si agera, cunoscand multe chipuri de a scoate sapte piei de pe un om sau de pe un popor. Ea a nascocit monarhia de drept divin, intarind-o si proptind-o de jur imprejur cu ierarhia fericirilor hazardite celor alesi, smulgand virtutile de la locul lor si facandu-le sa slujeasca un scop nevrednic. Ea a predicat -dar mereu numai oamenilor de rand- umilinta, supunerea fata de mai marii lor, frumusetea jertfei; ea a predicat oamenilor de rand sa inghita cu blandete insultele; si tot lor, numai lor, rabdarea si saracia duhului si neimpotrivirea in fata impilarii; si tot biserica a introdus rangurile ereditare si aristocratiile si a invatat toate popoarele de pe fata pamantului sa se plece in fata lor si sa le venereze.
Adevarul e ca natiunea, in intregul ei, se afla pe lume cu un singur scop: Si pentru toate astea nu primeau alte multumiri decat lovituri si dispret, si erau atat de saraci cu duhul incat si aceasta atentie o luau drept cinste". Regele si yankeul dorind sa cunoasca viata poporului: Hai, arata-mi cu o sa i te adresezi capului familiei! Fara voie, regele isi indrepta si intepenii umerii, ca o statuie, si zise cu o glariala asprime: Mai mult decat atat, ce-am fi putut cere? Finalul, pe care eu il numesc patetic, in sens peiorativ, nu a facut altceva decat sa accentueze ideile pe care opera le-a expus.
De aceea, "taierea" cercului care ar fi trebuit sa formeze opera incipit-final , isi pierde conturul inainte ca rolul compasului sa se fi incheiat, ceea ce denota ca esuarea protagonisului de a instaura republica nu are nicio relevanta: Scopul autorului a fost mai degraba acela de a atrage atentia in mod critic asupra situatiei politice din secolul XIX, cand, exceptand Statele Unite, niciunde nu se putea vorbi de vreo republica acatarii.
Andrei Tamas, 31 mai I managed to be quite disappointed in this book. Yes, some parts are clever and funny, especially near the beginning; but by midway the joke had gone stale, and by the end I was elated to be done with it. Twain rips apart this world readily enough, but I could not see the purpose in his project. Why bother to write a whole book mocking a time that never existed?
I suppose the ans I managed to be quite disappointed in this book. Indeed, it says on Wikipedia that Twain held Scott responsible for the Civil War, since Scott filled up the heads of southerners with romance and battles. Twain finds time to criticize the culture, religion, economy, political system, and even the manners of King Arthur's England. Probably I would have found it all a great deal funnier if I had read Scott; as it was, I found it merely tedious, and self-congratulatory on Twain's part.
But I do not see any evidence for this view. Hank is always successful; he pulls off his plots without a hitch; he anticipates every difficulty; he finds his way out of every dilemma. He is moral, too; he works to educate the peasants and to create a democracy. In sum, he is the good guy of the story—intelligent, ethical, and successful. It seemed to me that he is only meant to demonstrate the superiority of nineteenth century culture, not its shortcomings. The pacing was erratic, and the plot episodic. The characterizations were mostly flat and exaggerated.
Thankfully, the end picks up a little, with a battle scene that, as many have noted, is strangely reminiscent of World War I. Other than that, and a few other well-done scenes, I really could not enjoy this book. One of the many good things about lying in order to avoid junior high school is that it allows time to read good books. Having done the old "thermometer to the light bulb" trick, I spent a very productive couple of days home in bed reading, among other things, Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
My parents weren't entirely stupid. My frequent illnesses had to be demonstrated by coughing, dripping, abnormal temperature and the like. Since they were still suspicious, it was a ru One of the many good things about lying in order to avoid junior high school is that it allows time to read good books. Since they were still suspicious, it was a rule that I had to stay in bed when ill.
This meant no television, no telephone, no sunny days in the backyard with the dog. I don't think they intended to promote reading by this stricture, but it certainly worked that way. View all 5 comments. Episodic in nature, delightful in fits and starts but long on text and quite short on character, there's a wonderful book in here if you're a fan of Twain's irreverence and patient enough to wait for it.
The story gets off to a marvelous start with a tourist at Warwick Castle meetin The next stop in my time travel marathon November being Science Fiction Month was A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court , the satire by Mark Twain believed to be the first "time travel" novel ever written. The story gets off to a marvelous start with a tourist at Warwick Castle meeting a man from Hartford, a "Yankee of Yankees" named Hank Morgan. For a Yankee, he seems to know a lot about armor and the old country. Bantering over hot scotch whiskey at their hotel, the Yankee reveals that his employment at an arms factory taught him how to make everything from cannons to engines, until one day, a blow to a head transported him to the 6th century, to the reign of King Arthur.
The Yankee retires for the evening and leaves with his fellow traveler a manuscript which documents his experiences with the Knights of the Round Table. Rousted from his resting place under an oak tree, the Yankee is taken captive by "Sir Kay the Seneschal" and marched to Camelot, which he realizes is not a lunatic asylum but the realm of King Arthur, Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot of the Lake and other big wigs.
Set to be burned at the stake, the Yankee befriends the squire Amyas le Poulet, who he names "Clarence", a boy whose youthful contempt for authority makes him a faithful sidekick. The Yankee uses his knowledge of astronomy to threaten his captors with doom and right on schedule, a solar eclipse the next day spares his life. This puts the Yankee in contempt of Merlin, "the mighty magician and liar". With the court awaiting another miracle, the Yankee uses Clarence to fill Merlin's tower with blasting powder and divines an explosion which topples the building.
The Yankee earns himself office as King Arthur's prime minister and becomes affectionately known as "The Boss".
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain - Free Ebook.
- Stout Advice: The Secrets to building yourself, people, and teams!;
- Journey of a Lifetime!
- Managing the Millions: Practical Human Resource Management in China!
Like Robinson Crusoe, he begins to remake his environment to one befitting a 19th century gentleman. Over the next four years, he opens a patent office, starts a school system and publishes a newspaper. He builds factories and gathers the brightest young minds in the land to apprentice in new industries. He begins to chip away at the clergy by restricting religious teaching to the churches. The gullibility of people in the 6th century has both its benefits and its liabilities for the Yankee, as well as constant bemusement.
Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some faraway castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant. Many misadventures and misunderstandings ensue. Twain began reading it and jotted the following note in his journal: No pockets in the armor. No way to manage certain requirements of nature. Cold in the head--can't blow--can't get a handkerchief, can't use iron sleeve.
Martin's Game of Thrones has made this milieu as ripe for the razzing as ever. Twain's irreverent tone seems to have inspired Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits or at least proved a case artistic coincidence, with the Robin Hood sequence in that comedy demonstrating the same contempt for medieval legends as Twain does. Bloodshed, not chivalry, is their primary contribution to history. Speaking of violence, this novel is exceedingly so, though not in a graphic way. Twain pinned blame of the Civil War on Sir Walter Scott and Ivanhoe , which he felt installed a bogus sense of rank, caste and entitlement on landholders the antebellum South -- which like Camelot, also practiced slavery -- and rather than use time travel as romantic tourism, Twain uses it to disembowel that system for all its worth.
Much as he would in Huckleberry Finn , Twain jumps all over charlatanism and religious fanaticism as well. Several of the adventures in the last half of the novel get a little long in the tooth and compared to his masterworks, I was disappointed how little room Twain made for other characters here. The Yankee's two friends Clarence and Sandy, and the cast of Camelot, are really only mentioned in passing. What rises to the surface is the protagonist and his colorful ranting.
This edition includes dozens of delightful illustrations by Dan Beard which contribute to the considerable whimsy of the story and break up a lot of the text, which as I mentioned, rambled on a bit too long for my taste. How much you enjoy the novel might come down to how much of Mark Twain's irreverence your metabolism can tolerate and how much story and character you need. For me, it was a very good novel, but not a great one. Jul 18, Sarah rated it really liked it. A book about going to a backwards place, dominated by an ignorant faith and blowing a lot of stuff up in the name of freedom.
If you can be non-cynical enough, you might be able to find sympathy for our American freedom-fighters in Iraq by reading of Hank's well-meaning attempt at a socio-political overhaul. I won't tell you how it ends, but your world won't be too rocked. This book is really amazing to read from our contemporary perspective. Here's a cusp-industrial mind writing on the dark age A book about going to a backwards place, dominated by an ignorant faith and blowing a lot of stuff up in the name of freedom.
Here's a cusp-industrial mind writing on the dark ages. It's sort of like we get to time-travel twice. Somehow though, Twain manages to seem more than ahead of the dark ages, more than ahead of his own time, he seems ahead of our time. His book, as it sees Arthurian England ratchet awkwardly up to the 19th Century brings to light the same issues we are dealing with today. The benefits versus the costs of technology, the tenaciousness of class lines and the ignorance produced by religious faith. It's very much worth the time today to read a great American's thinking on these issues and be reminded that though ideals are necessary for advancement, they must put humanity first or be made monstrous.
Also, look out for some very, very dry humor. I know I didn't pick up all of it, but what I did was a treat. Finally, I recommend getting an edition that includes the original illustrations - they're beautiful and funny. Hank, a Yankee from Early America, has found himself in the sixth century. He's now a pupil of King Arthur, a member for Britain, and he's challenged that time periods most magical and dangerous man--Merlin.
However, with his superior knowledge and the sciences from his world he is easily able to out stage and out smart not only Merlin, and all other challengers, but the Kingdom itself. He starts small, wanting to add soap and bathing into the equation for cleaner and more sanitary persons. He Hank, a Yankee from Early America, has found himself in the sixth century. He moves to advancing the sixth century into the power and magic of a Republic, hoping to take the country without blood and making all people free and equal.
Along his adventures he finds how simple minded and superstitious these people are and plays to their weaknesses. If only they would listen to his amazing superiority and high intellect then they could find the joy and peace that he has imagined for them. I found this book a quite difficult read. For someone who loves the King Arthur tales and the medieval time period this read was a horrible twist of the life-style and ways of a people.
It made out Merlin, King Arthur, Lancelot, and all the people involved as mere simpletons that cared not for the world, the going-on's around them and in particular made them appear illogical and self-oppressed. The book was also boring at times, adding to my difficulty in getting through it as I particularly did not like the main character as I found him rude, close-minded, and particularly belittling of others.
- Sketches from a Celestial Sea - One Drop.
- King Pachuco and Princess Mirasol.
- Hand in Hand durch die Liebe (German Edition).
- Navigation menu.
- This Womans War;
- Membrane Contactors: Fundamentals, Applications and Potentialities (Membrane Science and Technology).
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
- Slice!
- Classic Tales of Mystery, Horror and Suspense!
- The Urban Prophet!
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court () - IMDb?
Mark Twain definitely knows how to skew a perspective, a classic story, and get a point across. View all 4 comments. A lateth century American travels back in time to Arthurian England. This, of course, not really Arthurian England, or even medieval England, but a sort of mythical Dark Age with Arthurian elements. Twain had quite a bit to say about the past that his accidental time traveler finds himself in.
Though that relates at least as much, if not more so, to his present day than it did to the Middle Ages. It can be funny, even darkly so, at times. Ok, so Mark Twain. This is the only one I've read, once way back when and just now. So I don't really know much about him or about that Huckleberry boy and the other one, Tom.
I'm likely talking out of my hat when I say, if you liked them you've just got to like this one. Although maybe this is more directly scathing and satirical? Connecticut Yankee is an eviscerating take-down of the entire British social structure, y'know, the one that the U. And most of all, it's an abolitionist tale. Call 'em serfs, call 'em slaves as Twain does , same difference. This is a plea for egalitarianism and humanism. At the same time, "The Boss" - as the prototypical lateth century entrepreneur and manufacturing baron -- is flawed and gently mocked for his belief that capitalism and technology will win the day.
Twain does not give two hoots for historical accuracy here, nor for any of the conventions by which literary time travel is supposed to "work. He then thinks nothing of weaving in references to King Henry VIII and the Tower of London and a bunch of other anachronistic details that defy the historical record and the laws of physics. That is part of the delight of this book - it's a romp. His brush is so broad he takes the piss of everyone and everything on that little island of Britain from about to A. This perhaps goes without saying, because no satire is fully effective without it, but his righteous anger is not just expressed through ridiculousness and absurdity -- there are scenes here that are heartbreaking and tragic, and Twain skilfully reins in his pen to paint these with the pathos albeit romanticized and sentimentalized they require to keep our eyes focused on the fact that there are real people who suffer at the hands of others and institutions who enslave them.
Powerful reading and a bit of a brain-twist, coming right after Wolf Hall , which I'm off to review in just a moment.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ( film) - Wikipedia
Having never read this classic before I expected it to be a little bit more 'kid oriented' than it was. There were many times when my 7 and 9 year-olds struggled to make it through the book. Yankee had so many facets to it that it is hard to pin down. At times it is laugh out loud funny, or highly ironic and other times the humor is quite dark. At still other times it is down right preachy, especially against Medieval Monarchy and the Catholic church.
Several times I had to get out the dictionary myself because I could not explain what the author was saying to my children without it. Kids will surprise you though. My 7 year-old, had about had it with Yankee, and although I wanted to push through the book, I am convinced that reading needs to be something they want to do. So I asked her if she wanted to finish the book, or to move on to our next one. After the young wife of vaudevillian Eddie Foy passes away, he incorporates their seven children into the act and takes it on the road.
After a horse accident, Karen wakes up to find herself in past Britain, close to Camelot, the famous castle of King Arthur. A hapless carnival performer masquerades as the court jester as part of a plot against an evil ruler who has overthrown the rightful king. Calamity Jane is despatched to find out who's smuggling rifles to the Indians, and winds up married to a hapless correspondence school dentist as part of her cover. Clay Spencer is a hard-working man who loves his wife and large family. He is respected by his neighbors and always ready to give them a helping hand.
Although not a churchgoer, he even Bud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Lou's girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Any premise would lead to slapstick, puns, lots of gimmicks from their movies. Two sailors on leave, Stanley and Oliver meet two girls at a park and invite them to have a soda. Unfortunately, the boys have only enough money to split theirs, a point which Oliver can't Bill's separated from his litter, making friends with the wild creatures until he's found and adopted by young Kathie.
An accident separates him from her, and he's drafted into K-9 duty in Most movies nowadays try to involve multiple elements in their plots but none of them come close to what "Connecticut Yankee" accomplishes. It has action, it has romance, it has good comedy, it has fantasy, it has intrigue, it has music and all of them weave into each other well. Extraordinarily well to the point where it becomes a joy to watch. Of course, modern audiences might shrug off this movie as just another piece of fuddy old Bing Crosby fluff, which it is, in the sense that Bing seems to have absolute control over every situation and basically plays himself in a light-hearted movie.
It's not deep, but sometimes that's not what we look for when we watch movies. This is a good "sit down with a loved one and a bowl of popcorn and just enjoy yourselves" film, one of the best in my opinion. Ok, the garish technicolor does get annoying, but it's the only downside to a great great film. Please see this film!
Visit Prime Video to explore more titles. Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet! The next day, Hank reveals his 19th century infrastructure to the country. With this fact he was called a wizard as he told Clarence to do so as well. Three years later, Hank has married Sandy and they have a baby. However, the baby falls critically ill and Hank's doctors advise him to take his family overseas while the baby recovers.
In reality, it is a ploy by the Catholic Church to get Hank out of the country, leaving it without effective leadership. During the weeks that Hank is absent, Arthur discovers Guinevere 's infidelity with Lancelot. This causes a war between Lancelot and Arthur, who is eventually killed by Sir Mordred. The church then publishes "The Interdict " which causes all people to break away from Hank and revolt.
Hank meets with his good friend Clarence who informs him of the war thus far. As time goes on, Clarence gathers 52 young cadets, from ages 14 to 17, who are to fight against all of England. Hank's band fortifies itself in Merlin's Cave with a minefield, electric wire and Gatling guns. The Catholic Church sends an army of 30, knights to attack them, but the knights are slaughtered by the cadets wielding Hank's modern weaponry.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
However, Hank's men are now trapped in the cave by a wall of dead bodies. Hank attempts to go offer aid to any wounded, but is stabbed by the first wounded man he tries to help, Sir Meliagraunce. He is not seriously injured, but is bedridden. Disease begins to set in amongst them. One night, Clarence finds Merlin weaving a spell over Hank, proclaiming that he shall sleep for 1, years.
Merlin begins laughing deliriously, but ends up electrocuting himself on one of the electric wires. Clarence and the others all apparently die from disease in the cave. More than a millennium later, the narrator finishes the manuscript and finds Hank on his deathbed having a dream about Sandy. He attempts to make one last "effect", but dies before he can finish it. Twain first conceived of the idea behind A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court in December and worked on it between and The book pokes fun at contemporary society, but the main thrust is a satire of romanticized ideas of chivalry , and of the idealization of the Middle Ages common in the novels of Sir Walter Scott and other 19th-century literature.
Twain had a particular dislike for Scott, blaming his kind of romanticizing of battle for the southern states ' deciding to fight the American Civil War. He writes in Life on the Mississippi:. It was Sir Walter that made every gentleman in the South a Major or a Colonel, or a General or a Judge, before the war; and it was he, also, that made these gentlemen value these bogus decorations.
For it was he that created rank and caste down there, and also reverence for rank and caste, and pride and pleasure in them. For example, the book portrays the medieval people as being very gullible, as when Merlin makes a "veil of invisibility" which, according to him, will make the wearer imperceptible to his enemies, though friends can still see him. The knight Sir Sagramor wears it to fight Hank, who pretends that he cannot see Sagramor for effect to the audience.
Hank Morgan's opinions are also strongly denunciatory towards the Catholic Church of the medieval period; the Church is seen by the Yankee as an oppressive institution that stifles science and teaches peasants meekness only as a means of preventing the overthrow of Church rule and taxation. The book also contains many depictions and condemnations of the dangers of superstition and the horrors of medieval slavery.
It is possible to see the book as an important transitional work for Twain, in that earlier, sunnier passages recall the frontier humor of his tall tales such as The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County , while the corrosive view of human behavior in the apocalyptic latter chapters is more akin to darker, later Twain works such as The Mysterious Stranger and Letters from the Earth. George Hardy notes, "The final scenes of 'Connecticut Yankee' depict a mass horse attempting to storm a position defended by wire and machine guns—and getting massacred, none reaching their objective.
Deduct the fantasy anachronism of the assailants being Medieval knights, and you get a chillingly accurate prediction of a typical First World War battle The modern soldiers of with their bayonets had no more chance to win such a fight than Twain's knights". One frequently overlooked aspect of the book is the emotional intensity felt by Hank towards his family: Twain's own son, Langdon, died of diphtheria at the age of 19 months, which was likely reflected in Hello-Central's membranous croup.
Twain also outlived two of his three daughters, but they both died after the completion of "Yankee. While Connecticut Yankee is sometimes credited as the foundational work in the time travel subgenre of science fiction , Twain's novel had several important immediate predecessors. Among them are H.
A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court
Also published the year before Connecticut Yankee was Edward Bellamy 's wildly popular Looking Backward , in which the protagonist is put into a hypnosis-induced sleep and wakes up in the year In this novel, a technically proficient American is shipwrecked on an island that broke off from Britain during Arthurian times, and never developed any further. Since the beginning of the 20th century, this famous story has been adapted many times for the stage, feature-length motion pictures , and animated cartoons. The earliest film version was Fox 's silent version.
The story was adapted as an hour-long radio play on the October 5, , broadcast of the Ford Theatre , starring Karl Swenson. In , Tennessee Ernie Ford starred in a television adaptation. In , the book was adapted into a minute animated TV special directed by Zoran Janjic with Orson Bean as the voice of the title character.
See a Problem?
Army of Darkness drew many inspirations from the novel. The film Black Knight similarly transports a modern-day American to Medieval England while adding racial element to the time-traveler plotline. The quotation " 'Bridgeport? In humorous Monday Begins on Saturday Merlin's character is taken entirely from the Mark Twain's book, and he often references it.