| Author |
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 |
| Title |
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 79.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
|
| Credits |
David Price,
email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk Transcribed from the 1907 Chatto & Windus edition
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| Summary |
"The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg" by Mark Twain is a satirical novella written in the late 19th century, addressing themes of morality, hypocrisy, and human nature. The story revolves around the town of Hadleyburg, heralded as the most honest community in America. Twain exposes the town's self-righteousness and its residents' inability to maintain their integrity when faced with temptation, primarily focusing on the corrupting influence of wealth and pride. Through the narrative, readers are introduced to characters such as the mysterious stranger and the Richards couple, reflecting the moral dilemmas inherent in their attempts to uphold their esteemed reputation. The opening of the novella establishes Hadleyburg as a paragon of virtue, having cultivated an unwavering reputation for honesty over generations. However, this façade of integrity is threatened when a stranger arrives seeking revenge on the town for a past grievance. He leaves behind a sack of gold coins intended for the man who once helped him in distress, but with a caveat that tests the town's values and exposes their hypocrisy. As the news of the sack spreads, the residents' greed leads them down a treacherous path, revealing the fragility of their moral principles. The narrative intricately weaves their reactions, illustrating their descent into temptation and the resulting moral quandary, setting the stage for the ensuing chaos and revelations about human nature. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Humorous stories, American
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| Subject |
United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1213 |
| Release Date |
Feb 1, 1998 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jun 4, 2024 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
779 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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