The Prince and the Pauper
Mark Twain
The Prince and the Pauper
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"The Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain is a novel first published in 1881. Two identical boys—Prince Edward Tudor and pauper Tom Canty—meet by chance and swap clothes, only to find themselves trapped in each other's lives. As Edward experiences the brutal reality of poverty and injustice firsthand, Tom struggles to maintain the royal charade. This tale of mistaken identity explores class inequality and the harsh English judicial system, while both boys discover what it truly means to walk in another's shoes.
About the book
Published in 1881, The Prince and the Pauper is set in London in 1547. Tom Canty, a poor boy from Offal Court, and Edward, the young Prince of Wales and son of Henry VIII, meet by chance and discover that they look exactly alike. In a moment of play they exchange clothes, and each is taken for the other. Mark Twain uses the switch to show the Tudor world from both ends: Edward is thrown into the life of beggars and thieves and sees the harshness of the law at first hand, while Tom must learn to behave as royalty at court. Twain's first historical novel is an adventure story with a clear argument about justice and mercy.
Characters
Tom Canty — Pauper
A poor boy from Offal Court who dreams of being a prince.
Edward Tudor — Prince of Wales
The young son of Henry VIII, who looks exactly like Tom.
Miles Hendon — Soldier
A penniless soldier returning home, who takes the ragged prince under his protection.
John Canty — Tom’s father
A brutal, drunken thief who beats his son.
Father Andrew — Priest
A kindly old priest who taught Tom to read.
Henry VIII — King of England
The ailing king, Edward’s father.
Hugh Hendon — Miles’s brother
Miles’s scheming younger brother, who has taken his place at home.