Books

Hartford, CT: American Publishing Company, 1894. First Edition, First State. Hardcover. Thick octavo, 432 pages. In Very Good condition.Bound in publisher's brown cloth with black tooling and gilt titling. Slight bumping to corners. Boards show minimal soiling and very mild rubbing to lower edges. Frontispiece photograph of Twain included, along with beautiful engravings framing every page. With a short introduction by Mark Twain. First state, with conjugate title page, gatherings 1-2, 4, 6-8 unsigned, frontispiece with facsimile signature 1-7/16 inches wide, and text block measuring 1 1/8 inches. The preferred American edition, published simultaneously with the English. Shelved in Case 2. 1349537. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.

"The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson" is a novel by Mark Twain set in the antebellum South. The story centers on two infants, one white and one black, switched at birth. Pudd'nhead Wilson, a keen but socially awkward lawyer, plays a key role in uncovering the switch. The novel explores themes of racial identity, slavery, and social injustice. Twain employs his trademark wit to satirize societal norms while delivering a poignant commentary on prejudice and the tragic consequences of mistaken identities.

Look for the Charles L. Webster and Company imprint with 1894 as the publication date, along with the original dust jacket.