Puddnhead Wilson

Pudd'nhead

Wilson

By: Mark Twain

Pudd'nhead Wilson, a book written by Mark Twain, during a period where his writing was darker than previous works. First published in 1894, the book displays racial themes, after the civil war. The book has the feel of a mystery, but is more non-fiction, since you know more than the characters of the story.

In Dawson's Landing Missouri, a secluded little town with very few visitors, David Wilson, a young lawyer comes to visit and set up a law firm to help out in town. On his first day he makes a comment about half a dog, which makes little sense to the townspeople. After this incident David is renamed Pudd'nhead for the rest of his life. No one trusts him to be their lawyer, with a name like Pudd'nhead, so he takes up hobbies, such as fingerprinting, and takes the fingerprints of the town every couple of years.

The book follows the life of Tom Driscoll, the nephew of the town's best known judge. As a reader you know that as children tom and a primarily white slave were switched at birth, and only one person knows. Pudd'nhead has the ability to figure out that the lives were switched, but doesn't realize until 20 years after.

One day a set of twins who proclaim to have traveled the world come to Dawson's landing, and cause quite a stir. They become a big part of town, and partake in a feud with the Driscoll family after a fight with "Tom". The twins are accused of murdering judge Driscoll after a denied duel attempt, which leads to the truth that "tom" killed his uncle, with the twins' knife. After examining the knife, Pudd'nhead finds fingerprints that