The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, and Other Stories: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, and Other Stories: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, and Other Stories is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Twain, Mark (1835–1910).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg" by Mark Twain is a satirical novella that fits into the genre of social commentary fiction, likely written in the late 19th century. It revolves around the fictitious town of Hadleyburg, celebrated for its supposed incorruptibility and unblemished honesty, only to have that reputation put to the test when a stranger's malicious plan threatens to expose the hypocrisy lurking beneath its prided façade. The story follows key characters, including Mr. and Mrs. Richards, who find themselves grappling with temptation and moral decline as they become integral to the unfolding drama. The opening of the novella sets the stage by establishing Hadleyburg as a community proud of its virtuous reputation, which has persisted for generations. However, an unexpected encounter with a stranger ignites a series of events leading to the introduction of a sack filled with gold coins, purportedly meant for a good Samaritan who once aided the stranger. Mr. and Mrs. Richards, consumed by the allure of wealth and recognition, become enmeshed in the implications of the strangers' challenge while grappling with their own moral dilemmas. As the town prepares for a public inquiry to identify the anonymous benefactor, the ensuing chaos and revelations begin to peel away the layers of Hadleyburg's pretentious purity, hinting at the broader themes of human nature, pride, and the vulnerability of so-called virtues to greed and corruption.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, and Other Stories
- Author credits: Twain, Mark (1835–1910)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- City and town life -- Fiction
- Honesty -- Fiction
- Humorous stories, American
- Short stories
- United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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