Book Cover of The Prince and the Pauper

The Prince and the Pauper

by Mark Twain

A poor young boy from the slums of London watches a royal procession pass, with the youthful Prince of Wales riding at its head. He ventures too close and is caught and beaten by the Prince's guards. However, the young royal stops them and invites the vagrant to the palace. Here the two boys sup alone and are stunned to discover that they bear a startling resemblance to each other. The Prince is Edward, long awaited heir of the monarch, Henry VIII, while the vagrant is Tom Canty, the son of a thief and a beggar. Edward is fascinated by the free and unfettered life that Tom leads, while Tom is overawed by the wealth and luxury of the palace. The boys decide to switch clothes. From here, adventure begins for both of them! First published in 1881, The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain is the famous American writer and humorist's first foray into historical fiction. Set in the sixteenth century Tudor court of Henry VIII, the book is reputedly Mark Twain's most carefully plotted novel. Great attention has been paid to setting, dialog and character. Early plot devices are carefully constructed to become invaluable features that carry the story along. Several real historical figures appear in the book. It is also a novel of contrasts. The two boys, born on exactly the same day, have completely different destinies. Before they meet, they each have dreams that are very different from their circumstances. Edward longs to be free to roam the streets at will, unhampered by court protocol and conventions. Tom yearns for security, comfort and the certainty of knowing where his next meal will come from.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1881

Authors

Mark Twain image

Mark Twain

United States

Twain was fascinated with science and scientific inquiry. He developed a close and lasting friendship with Nikola Tesla, and the two spent much time together in Tesla's laboratory. Twain patented thre...

Books by Mark Twain

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Nine Unlikely Tales Cover image

Nine Unlikely Tales by E. Nesbit

Nine original and, yes, unlikely fairy-tales, which include stories of the arithmetic fairy, the king who became a charming villa-residence and the dr...

Struwwelpeter Cover image

Struwwelpeter by Heinrich Hoffmann

Der Struwwelpeter, zuerst erschienen als “Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder mit 15 schön kolorierten Tafeln für Kinder von 3-6 Jahren”, wurde 18...

The Children's Shakespeare Cover image

The Children's Shakespeare by Edith Nesbit

This children's book retells twelve of Shakespeare's most popular plays as stories for children. Each of the plays are rewritten as short stories or f...

Among the Farmyard People Cover image

Among the Farmyard People by Clara Dillingham Pierson

A wonderful children's book filled with engaging stories about various farmyard animals. Each book ending with a moral which gently encourages childre...

Harper's Young People, Vol. 01, Issue 14, Feb. 3, 1880 Cover image

Harper's Young People, Vol. 01, Issue 14, Feb. 3, 1880 by Various

Harper's Young People was a weekly publication for children, featuring serialized stories, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, and craft projects. This...

Real Mother Goose Cover image

Real Mother Goose by Anonymous

A heartwarming collection of nursery rhymes that will take you back to your childhood! (Summary by Allyson Hester)

Stories of Old Greece and Rome Cover image

Stories of Old Greece and Rome by Emilie Kip Baker

The Stories of Old Greece and Rome is an easy to read summary of all of the famous and not so famous Greek and Roman mythological stories. All of the...

Orange Fairy Book Cover image

Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

This classic collection of fairy tales from around the world has captivated generations of readers with its timeless stories of magic, adventure, and...

The Day Boy and the Night Girl Cover image

The Day Boy and the Night Girl by George MacDonald

The Day Boy and Night Girl, also referred to as The Romance of Photogen and Nycteris, is an 1882 fairy tale novel by George MacDonald. A version of th...

 History of the Britons Cover image

History of the Britons by Nennius

The History of the Britons is a purported history of the indigenous British (Brittonic) people that was written around 828 and survives in numerous re...

Reviews for The Prince and the Pauper

No reviews posted or approved, yet...