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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Written by: Mark Twain
Narrated by: Nick Offerman
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About this listen

Praise for Nick Offerman narrating Mark Twain:

“Offerman’s Illinois-raised voice and actor’s talent suit him ideally to channel Mark Twain.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“There’s something about his wry Midwestern merriment that aspires to Twainishness.” (Men’s Journal)

“It’s a melding of sardonic voices: Mark Twain, meet Nick Offerman.” (The Wall Street Journal)

With his trademark mirth and boundless charisma, actor Nick Offerman brought the loveable shenanigans of Twain's adolescent hero to life in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Now, in yet another virtuosic performance, the actor proves that despite being separated by a span of over a century, his connection to the author and his work is undeniable and that theirs is a timeless collaboration that should not be missed. Trading in the idyllic banks of Twain's Mississippi for medieval England, Offerman regales listeners with one of American literature's foremost satires and the author's most inventive and darkly funny pieces of fiction.

Hank Morgan is the archetype of modern man in 19th-century New England: adept at his trade as a mechanic, innovative, forward thinking. So when a blow to the head inexplicably sends him back in time 1300 years and places him in Camelot, instead of despair, he feels emboldened by the prospect placed before him and sets out to modernize and improve the lives of his fellow citizens. But, in order to do so, he'll need to contend with brash nobles, superstitious nincompoops, and a conniving, blowhard wizard.

While time travel has become a common trope in storytelling today, in Twain's time it was truly a novel idea; all the more imaginative when you consider how it's used for satirical effect. A thinly veiled critique of the political and social institutions that impede progress and a scathing condemnation of the naiveté that allows them to thrive, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court saw Twain's biting wit and sharp tongue honed to a fine point.

Told primarily through Hank's first-person perspective, Offerman effortlessly captures the Yankee's straightforward, matter-of-fact gruffness. Like Offerman - whose woodworking skills are the stuff of legend - Hank is a natural builder of things and his can-do, by-the-bootstraps spirit finds its vocal foil in Offerman's crisp delivery. But it's in Offerman's ability to convey the myriad characters and absurdities Hank faces that makes this an incomparable listening experience: the flowery embellishments and insane braggadocio of knights; the lilting, feathery sing-song of Clarence; the garrulous, long-winded pomp of the aristocracy; the old, dithering windbag pronouncements of Merlin. Offerman plays each of these with a humor and humanity that Twain himself would have enjoyed.

Public Domain (P)2017 Audible, Inc.
Classics Arthurian Witty Celebrity Science Fiction Funny Time Travel Fiction Young Adult
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What listeners say about A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

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Really good and quite relevant!

I found this book forced me to have many stunning revelations! There is a passage speaking to the fact that people must stand for democracy and the republic not the institutions surrounding them. The institutions are put in place as supports for democracy and they can go off course so people must be willing to stand for the freedom of democracy itself. The whole book is begging people to wake from a brainwashed state and take what they are due. Brilliant.

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Very enjoyable, especially the narration

Very perceptive observations with much skewering of laws and elites pretentiousness. Twain would have a field day with today's state of affairs.

Nick Offerman enhances the story immensely.

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a comfortable listen

Nick Offerman provides the perfect voice to drawl this classic Twain tale in your ear. #Audible1

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Simply Wonderful

Incredible story for anyone of any age read by the perfect narrator. Will listen to it again

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Amazing Read (Listen)

For the first 20 minutes I didn’t think I’d enjoy this book. There were a lot of Middle English words and it was hard to follow. It changes to modern English after that and becomes an easy listen.
Nick Offerman does a superb job with the narration; I will be looking for other audio books that he narrates in the future.
This was my first Mark Twain book, and after this it won’t be my last. I really enjoy his style of story telling. It has time travel, knights and royalty, science and the main character is an engineer. What more could you ask for?

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Typically American

This is a wonderfully entertaining story of a man from the 19th century awakening in the 6th century within King Arthur‘s court. Reading this over 130 years after its original publication adds a bit of satire and reminds us that it is not a good idea to judge the past past by present standards. Overall it is entertaining but I do have some issues with it.

First, how (stereo)typically American to solve all problems with a gun,

Second, the idea of an American coming to a foreign (to him) land and attempting to impose the rule and government of America is no less suspect then when the British did it in India, Africa, etc. or when the French did it to England, or America to the Middle East and Asia in the 20th Century. The assumed superiority of “the American way” is amusing.

Third, I cannot get passed the idea that while fighting for equality for the lower classes the slaughter of 30,000+ people becomes acceptable since those 30,000 are of the nobility. It goes against the idea that all men are created equal - something the main character repeats.

Fourth, and somewhat related to the previous point, naming yourself “The Boss” kind of sets you apart from the common man you claim to represent. What is the difference between The Boss, The President or The King? Just a name. As Albert Camus wrote: a slave beging by demanding Justice and ends by wanting to wear a crown.

Fifth, the main character ridicules many of the customs and beliefs of the 6th century English; however from here in the 21st century it is just as easy for us to ridicule some of The Boss‘s notions and ideas that he feels makes him superior.

Sixth, the attempt to destroy the Catholic Church and replace it with the Protestant one is amusing. Deeming one faction of Christianity better or worse than another is amusing as both have negative and positive aspects and it’s always the one in power that will receive the most criticism.

In summary, this story is probably most enjoyable to Americans but still entertaining to others.

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Hilarious yet great for sleep

I was recommended this audiobook for falling asleep due to Nick Offerman narrating, and have listened to it probably 3-4 times total now. I’ve never read Mark Twain and had no idea what the book was about, but I really didn’t expect time-travel and Sir Lancelot riding a bicycle. Offerman’s voice is perfect for the way the protagonist ponders serfdom and how to be flashier than Merlin.

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A love letter to 19th century thinking

This tale is long, imprecise and very human. It was a simple pleasure to let it wash over me for 45 chapters.

Twain's wit and derision lose nothing in the telling. Offerman's timing and inflection are perfect, and he's a proper Yankee to boot. It is impossible to hear Offerman's narration and not picture him cast in the story as the Boss. This is good.

Twain's passing lampooning of the German language is worth the price of admission.

#Audible1

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Pure joy

I loved this little trip into fantasy. The only downside, as you listen and enjoy it, you know there won't be a sequel. :-(

PS: Offerman's narration is spot on.

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I love Nick Offerman.

I was excited to find this on audible with narration by Nick Offerman. This gem of a human is a comedy idol of mine and that isn’t the sole reason I liked this book, but it was a performance I truly enjoyed. Twains classic was right up my alley and I’m ashamed to say I would have never given it a go without nicks name attached. I figured it would be well dated but after this I can say that is half the charm of this time travelling romp.

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