The Emperor and the Sultan in Mark Twain: How Innocent were the "Innocents"?
Keywords:
Mark Twain, Napoleon III, Abdülaziz, politics, travel writing, 19th-century travel literatureAbstract
This article analyzes Mark Twain's observations of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, and Abdul-Aziz, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, during their joint review of troops at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1867. The paper explores Twain's detailed descriptions and impressions of the two leaders, set against the backdrop of his travel narrative, The Innocents Abroad. The article argues that Twain's account provides a nuanced portrayal of the political and social contexts of the Second French Empire and the declining Ottoman Empire. This study examines Twain's methodology as a travel writer, highlighting his blend of personal observations, historical context, and cultural commentary. The author contends that Twain's work offers valuable insights into 19th-century European and Middle Eastern dynamics, contributing to both literary and historical scholarship.
(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)",
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