Mark Twain always provides me with an easy read because of long familiarity and affection. I read this last when I was young and thought it was a rousing good story. I enjoyed reading it again, but this time with greater understanding of Twain's story and themes.
The first thing that struck me was how little people have changed in fundamental ways over the centuries. Some sentences struck a chord during our own tumultous political times when facts seem to matter less than 'feelings', and putting on an entertaining show is preferred over boring substance.
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One never had any occasion to prove his facts, with these people; all he had to do was to state them. It never occurred to anybody to doubt the statement.
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Hank knew that people are easily manipulated with a dramatic presentation, and he used this to satisfy his own need for attention and power.
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For I never care to do a thing in a quiet way; it’s got to be theatrical or I don’t take any interest in it.
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It would be showy and picturesque enough, all things considered, though I would have preferred noonday, on account of the more theatrical aspect the thing would have.
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Although Hank believed that his knowledge of 19th century technology and scientific advancement made him the only person (always a red flag) who could solve 6th century problems, his self aggrandizement became even more important to him. Predictably, it all blew up in the end. I think he was doomed from the start, given the reluctance of many, if not most, people to accept change. He understood the superstition of the people and used it for his own purposes, which were not purely benevolent. He understood the power of the Church, even while under-estimating it. In the end, it defeated him.
Hank does a marvelous job of conveying Twain's disdain, even anger, at Sir Walter Scott's glorifying the era of knights errant. Twain believed that the culture of the South embraced the romanticism and chivalry, and that it led to attitudes that contributed to the War Between the States.
I'm grateful for the choice of a novel by Mark Twain. In a time when focusing upon reading has been a problem for me, Mark Twain is a sure thing. I loved the familiarity of Twain's cadence, humor, and passion.