Summary “Yankees from Connecticut at the court of King Arthur” Twain
The hero of the novel, an enterprising and intelligent American from the state of Connecticut – the Yankees. During a fight at his factory, they hit him on the head with a crowbar. As a result, it is transferred from America of the XIX century to Britain of the VI century, which is ruled by the legendary King Arthur. The Yankees are taken prisoner and taken to the palace of King Arthur. The head of the pages Clarence tells him that today – June 19, 528 Yankees recalls that in two days a total eclipse of the sun will take place.
The Yankees were brought into the hall of the royal palace. Behind the huge round table feast knights in amazing outfits. On the galleries are women and musicians. Knights drink and eat meat, throwing bones on the floor to huge dogs. Dogs are fighting because of prey, causing the delight of those present. In pauses between dog fights knights tell about their exploits, trying to pervert each other.
Knight Kay, who took the Yankees into
The court magician Merlin, who lives in the tower, experiences an evil envy towards his rival and spreads slanderous information about him. Yankees with Clarence and gunsmiths managed to make gunpowder and lightning rod. During a thunderstorm, “heavenly fire” destroys the tower of Merlin. The authority of the Yankees increases, but the power of the church remains unshakable. Priority remains and noble origin, not merit. Nevertheless, the people assign the title “Master” to the Yankees. But the noble titled persons still treat him with contempt.
Nevertheless, Sir Sagramor Zhelanniy pays the Boss a call to a duel because of some trifle. But the duel is postponed for several years. First, Sir Sagammore must travel to find the Grail Cup (according to legend, the blood of Jesus was
But here the activity of the Master is interrupted by an absurd event. In the royal palace comes a kind of Alissandra a la Carteuaise (later the Master began to call her Sandy). Sandy reports that her mistress, along with 44 beautiful maidens, languish in a gloomy castle with three one-eyed and four-armed giants. The king orders the Yankees to free the beautiful captives. Yankee puts on a knight’s armor and goes on a journey with Sandy. Knight’s suit causes him tremendous inconveniences: neither scratching nor blowing his nose nor climbing the horse. But still, he manages to take several knights on the way. He smokes a pipe, releasing smoke through the visor. The knights are frightened to death and surrender.
On the way, the Yankees meet a wandering knight, who retrained to a sales agent and advertised “The Soap of Persimons”. He meets another knight who advertises toothbrushes. Yankee is pleased: these are the results of his activities. But he is sad about his former life. Listening to the sweet chirping of Sandy, he remembers his beloved “telephone lady”. How nice it was to say “Hello, central!” and to hear in response her voice: “Hello, Hank!”
But here the pilgrims reached the castle of giants. But it turns out that the evil charms turned the castle into a pig’s pile, the captives into pigs, and the giants into shepherds. Enterprising Yankee buys in bulk the whole herd, returns with him and hands over to servants. Now they will be waiting for their friends from all corners of the earth. The master sees the suffering of slaves and wants to attract people to eliminate slavery. But the people are indifferent. Not far from the palace, a miraculous well ran out. Merlin has been trying unsuccessfully for three days to revive him by witchcraft. Yankee finds a malfunction and repairs the well. Start the well, it accompanies stunning pyrotechnic effects. Stunned, Merlin faints and is carried away on a stretcher. Newspapers cover this event in a cheeky American style. The king decided to enter the exam for officer rank. The main criterion is noble origin. The master tells the king: it is necessary to form a privileged royal regiment from the nobility. In the remaining parts, however, they will not be endowed with generosity. They will require high training and discipline.
The Yankees conceived the idea of making a journey through the country incognito in the clothes of a commoner. The king is fascinated by this idea, and he goes with him. The proud bearing of King Arthur and his behavior cause a lot of trouble. Once a detachment of knights, outraged by his behavior, is enraged. The master rescues the king, throwing a dynamite bomb under the hoofs of knightly horses. The master tries to disaccustom the king from a noble bearing, but he fails. In the most outrageous cases, the king takes the side of aristocrats. However, faced with the epidemic of smallpox, he shows generosity.
During the journey, the Yankees talk with people. He sees them stubborn and stupid. But he also sees positive qualities: a sense of justice, a willingness to sacrifice for relatives and friends. And he comes to the conclusion that any people has the right to a free and happy life. Travelers are captured by a slaver who sells them at an auction: for the Yankees they give 9 dollars, and for the king only for 7. This disturbs Arthur. Yankee asks the king to hide his royal title, so as not to destroy both. The slave soldier realized that the arrogance of the king repelled the buyers, and began to knock down the arrogance from him. But the king showed steadfastness. Trying to free themselves, friends almost fell on the gallows. Fortunately, they are relieved by the armored squad of knights summoned by the Yankees on the phone.
Knight Sagramor returns and immediately starts a duel. Yankee kills him from the revolver, despite Merlin’s witchcraft. Further, he calls to battle all the wandering knights. He rides 500 riders, but from several shots knocking out of the saddle, they turn to flight. This event finally destroys wandering chivalry and opens the way to the onset of civilization. Notable people go to work, wandering knights, become wandering merchants. Yankees already intend to organize a baseball match instead of a chivalrous tournament. He happily marries Sandy. They have a daughter, which Sandy called “Allo-central”. These words her husband often repeated in a dream, and she decided that his beloved was so called.
But here, taking advantage of the temporary absence of the Yankees, churchmen strike – excommunication. Now they even refuse to participate in the funeral. There is confusion in the country. Sir Lacelott, who became a major stockbroker, skillfully manipulated, ravaged all holders of railroad shares. Among them are the two nephews of the king. Those in retaliation inform the king of the infidelity of the spouse, which changes him with Lancelotte. The king goes to war and dies. The churchmen sentence the killer of the king, and at the same time, the Master, to excommunication.
The owner with the faithful Clarence and with another hundred and fifty warriors calls to battle “all of England,” for the churchmen do not remove from him the excommunication. He has dynamite and artillery in service. The knight’s vanguard of the army is destroyed, but trying to help the wounded knight, the Master receives from him a dagger blow to the head. The country is experiencing an epidemic due to the huge number of decomposed corpses.
Merlin, disguised as an old woman, pierces the Boss and lulls him for thirteen centuries with the help of witchcraft. Returned to the XIX century, the Master dies. Before his death in delirium, he repeats the names of Sandy and Allo-Central.
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