Pudd'nhead Wilson

Set in pre-Civil War Missouri, the narrative revolves around a dramatic baby switch between a light-skinned black child and a white child, leading to a complex exploration of identity and racism. As the black child grows up believing he is white, he adopts a racist mindset, while the white child, raised as a slave, descends into a life of crime. The peculiar lawyer Pudd'nhead Wilson ultimately uncovers their true identities during a murder trial. The story blends wit with a profound critique of racial inequality and Southern customs.