20 - Tragedy of Puddnhead Wilson by Mark Twain

Released in a series of seven installments by Century Magazine in 1893–1894, Tragedy of Puddnhead Wilson is a riveting detective story with potent racial undertones. The narrative intricately weaves together the identities of several characters – the judges murderer, Tom, Chambers – posing a compelling exploration of identity and self-determination. Mark Twain masterfully employs humor and satire to reveal the harsh realities of racism during that era. The novel uses comic relief not just for entertainment, but as a tool to subtly impart Twains views. Twains adept use of colloquial language and local color as aspects of Naturalism significantly enriches the narrative, making it a timeless classic. (Summary by Wikipedia)