A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR S COURT

In Twain's 1889 satire/fantasy, Hank Morgan, a Hartford factory worker, after a blow to the head, finds himself transported to sixth-century England, where his knowledge of the scientific advances of the 19th century convince Arthur and his knights that he has magical powers. His attempts to introduce advanced technology lead to disaster. Twain's book infuriated his British readers because of the anti-monarchy opinions of its hero; it was true that Twain did have a somewhat vengeful motive for the novel after an article was published by the eminent English poet and critic Matthew Arnold that savaged the memoirs of President Grant, which Twain had published. The novel was also suggested, Twain said, by a dream he had "of being a knight errant in armor in the middle ages."