Pudd'nhead Wilson revolves around two boys-one, born into slavery, with distant black ancestry; the other, white, born to be the master of the house.

The two boys, who look similar, are switched at infancy.

Each grows into the other's social role. From this premise, Mark Twain fashions one of his most entertaining, funny, yet biting novels.

The story possesses all the elements of a classic Victorian mystery: reversed identities, a horrible crime, an eccentric detective, a suspenseful courtroom drama, and a surprising, unusual solution.