A review by haleyashtonpowell
Pudd'nhead Wilson: And Those Extraordinary Twins by Mark Twain

4.0

This is not Mark Twain at his "best," if that means perfect, completely organized, and entirely satirical. This is Twain at his most ambitious, and marks the beginning of the "darker" period of his life in which his writing is markedly more cynical. Puddn'head Wilson is more challenging than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because it is so much more complex, and areas are left in shades of gray. It is thought-provoking and, of course, laugh-out-loud funny at some points. It's important to note that while some of the plot is muddy-- and some characters and plot points could be taken further (what the heck happened to Rowena? Why don't we talk more about "Chambers"?)-- it is never so out-of-order that it is unpleasant. I just wish Twain had done a bit more with the story, as I know he was so capable.