The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson

By: Mark Twain

Narrated by: Full Cast

David Wilson is called "Pudd'nhead" by the townspeople, who fail to understand his combination of wisdom and eccentricity. He redeems himself by simultaneously solving a murder mystery and a case of transposed identities.

Two children, a white boy and a mulatto, are born on the same day. Roxy, mother of the mulatto, is given charge of the children; in fear that her son will be sold, she exchanges the babies. The mulatto, though he grows up as a white boy, turns out to be a scoundrel. He sells his mother, murders and robs his uncle, then blames the murder on Luigi, one of a pair of twins. Pudd'nhead, a lawyer, undertakes Luigi's defense and, on the basis of fingerprint evidence, exposes the real murderer.

The book implicitly condemns a society that allows slavery. It concludes with a series of witty aphorisms from Pudd'nhead's calendar.

(P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Excellent light period piece

You have to reserve five starts for Twain's landmark books, but, this was entertainment of a different kind that I welcome in todays entertainment environment. Pure storytelling at its best. The production was very good. I am not fascile with 1860's ebonics so it was a bit hard to follow in places. But the period english and accents made the characters come alive.

Excellent audio presentation!

l loved this book! Mark Twain does an excellent job of telling this story. A must read!