2-for-1

Twain’s books Puddin’head Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins are a two-for-one deal. Literally.

First, if you read one, you must read the other. Why? Because you cannot fully understand Twain’s purpose for the books without doing so. And this reading includes the introductory material that so many readers mistakenly skim or skip over.

In Puddin’head Wilson the two Italian twins we meet are “attached at the hip” in a symbolic, not realistic, sense. The attachment between the twins is that of close friendship, which is why they choose to do every activity together—even sleep in the same room and go to political rallies opposite of personal views. They are the best of friends, they have gone through great trials together, and they could not imagine life as anything but twins. While Luigi and Angelo make interesting characters in Puddin’head Wilson, they are not main characters. Their intriguing story is set aside for that of the slave Roxy, her misplaced son “Tom,” and the town fool-turned-success Puddin’head Wilson.

The first story the reader meets is intriguing, but does not follow Twain’s original storyline. Not by a long shot. Twain remarks that the characters hijacked his story—which is why the American and national readership can know enjoy the tragedy of Puddin’head Wilson.

No, the original plot focused on a silly country girl and conjoined twins from Italy. Sure, those three characters made it into Puddin’head Wilson, but their real story is found in Those Extraordinary Twins. That, friends, is why you must read both novels.

In Those Extraordinary Twins, the small Missouri town of Dawson’s Landing is shocked (and somewhat horrified) to discover that their two newest visitors are really one . . .or at least they are one from the waist down. The whole town (excepting that silly girl) is befuddled. Is it “them” or “him”?  More mesmerizing (and perhaps disturbing) are the hands that feed the wrong face and the legs that switch ownership at the precise ending of a week. In the comedic half of the novel, Twain focuses on introducing the reader to the “horrific events” in the life of conjoined twins.

Whether you like Puddin’head Wilson or Those Extraordinary Twins better is completely your choice, but remember, when you read one, you must read the other. Like Luigi and Angelo, they are a two-for-one deal.

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