Pudd'nhead Wilson begins serialization in The Century Magazine

Publication Context. The Century Magazine was an illustrated monthly first published in 1881 by The Century Company of New York City. It was recognized as a notable publisher of fiction, having previously presented excerpts of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The magazine's influence helped establish New York as a center for illustrated periodicals in the English language.

Writing and Serialization. Twain wrote 60,000 words for the novel between November 12 and December 14, 1893. During the writing process, he realized that secondary characters such as Pudd'nhead Wilson, Roxy, and Tom Driscoll were taking a more central role in the story; the passages do not tie this realization to a specific date. Separately, the work was serialized in The Century Magazine from 1893 to 1894, before being published as a novel in 1894.

Magazine Profile. By 1892, The Century Magazine was the most widely circulated periodical of its price in England, with 20,000 subscribers. It published various political and literary contributions, including responses to arguments by George Kennan in 1893. The magazine's reputation as a fiction publisher made it a suitable venue for Twain's serialized work.