{"product_id":"2026770000772-secondhand-the-stolen-white-elephant","title":"The Stolen White Elephant","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: Worn\/faded, no tears\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA masterwork of satirical short fiction, The Stolen White Elephant presents a razor-sharp parody of detective fiction and the bumbling incompetence of law enforcement, written with the irreverent wit that made Mark Twain one of America's most beloved authors. The title story chronicles the absurd misadventures surrounding a sacred white elephant gifted to the President of the United States, which is promptly stolen, setting off a farcical police investigation led by the pompous Inspector Blunt. Twain illustrates the gap between institutional self-importance and actual competence with devastating comic precision, skewering the detective genre — and the public's blind faith in it — at every turn. The collection also includes additional sketches and tales that showcase Twain's gift for deadpan humor, sharp social observation, and masterful storytelling. Readers who appreciate biting satire delivered with a light touch will find this volume as wickedly entertaining today as when it was first published in 1882.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48826086588635,"sku":"2026770000772-SECONDHAND","price":12.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/4ac6871c-c2cb-4469-9231-e7681f936a40.png?v=1780312389","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026770000772-secondhand-the-stolen-white-elephant","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}