Guess what? Never mind—you probably won't guess because it's pretty unbelievable: this novel was originally titled The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson. As readers have long pointed out, that title never made a whole lot of sense given that tragedies are known for their sad endings and old Pudd'nhead makes out pretty well in the end of this book.
Whether it's called The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson or its shorter form, it's a little curious that our title character, the star of our show, isn't really the focus for much of the story. Even though Pudd'nhead is undoubtedly a major player, following Tom's escapades takes up way more of our attention. Of course, maybe by naming the book Pudd'nhead Wilson, Twain hoped we'd focus on one of the more positive specimens of humankind.