The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson cover

The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Original en 53119 words First published 1894 United States

David Wilson comes to Dawson's Landing with a hobby of collecting fingerprints and a joke nobody gets, and is pinned with the label that blights his law career: Pudd'nhead. Two boys, one free-born and one a thirty-second part black, are swapped in the cradle by Roxana, the slave mother who cannot bear to see her son sold down the river - and the changeling grows up heir to the town's finest name while the true heir grows up a slave. Twain's darkest comedy, built around an early forensic use of fingerprinting and a trial scene that remains one of his best set pieces.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

Table of Contents

  1. 001 The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson By Mark Twain Samuel L. 2521 words
  2. 002 DAVID WILSON. ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR-AT-LAW. SURVEYING, CONVEYANCING… 2554 words
  3. 003 Once, when she was tucking it back in its cradle again, the other… 2537 words
  4. 004 With all her splendid common sense and practical every-day ability… 2567 words
  5. 005 He was getting into deep waters. 2623 words
  6. 006 Here a prodigious slam-banging broke out below, and everybody rushed down to see. 2560 words
  7. 007 "Well, den, ole Marse forgive him en fixed up de will ag'in--do dat… 2501 words
  8. 008 Tom sprang up and seized a billet of wood and raised raised it; but… 2535 words
  9. 009 But he was ill at ease. He had changed back to Roxy's dress, with the… 2534 words
  10. 010 "So it was, so it was," said Wilson; "to do such a thing to save a… 2789 words
  11. 011 If Judge Driscoll was the recognized first citizen of Dawson's… 2509 words
  12. 012 "By the way, we've just added another to the list of thefts, maybe two. 2531 words
  13. 013 He laughed at the idea, and went rambling on with a detailed account… 2510 words
  14. 014 Blake's dull face flushed under this gibe, but before he could set… 2551 words
  15. 015 Tom's hopes began to rise, and his spirits along with them. 2599 words
  16. 016 "'Bout ten days ago I 'uz sayin' to myself dat I couldn't las' many… 2508 words
  17. 017 "What gave you such an idea?" "You done it. 2506 words
  18. 018 The town was bitter against the unfortunates, and for the first few… 2702 words
  19. 019 Wilson wanted no supper, he had no appetite. 2543 words
  20. 020 "I beg the indulgence of the court while I make a few remarks in… 2556 words
  21. 021 The real heir suddenly found himself rich and free, but in a most embarrassing situation. 1883 words