Synopsis
This classic satire represented Mark Twain's first foray into historical fiction, a clear departure from the homespun wisdom and humor for which he became best known. The narrative surrounds two boys living in England in 1547, who are alike in appearance but very different in every other respect. Tom Canty is the pauper of the title, living in the slums of London with his abusive father, while Edward is the son of King Henry VIII, and heir to the British throne. Edward is anxious to cast off the responsibilities of princedom, and Tom is eager to escape his father's beatings, so they agree to temporarily switch their clothes and their social roles. Each boy struggles mightily to adapt to the everyday life of the other, as Tom can not abide by the strict rules of etiquette and ritual which dictate the behavior of royalty, and Edward is appalled by the horrific injustices and living conditions he witnesses among the poor. In the midst of their grand experiment, King Henry dies, which makes "Edward" the reigning ruler of the country, while "Tom" is tossed into prison and nearly executed because of an unfair law. Luckily, with the help of a resourceful soldier named Miles, the boys resume their rightful roles, each with a newfound appreciation of the difficulties of life at the opposite end of the class spectrum.
Twain published this novel himself in collaboration with the firm of James R. Osgood. A satiric costume novel full of mock-elegant language and convoluted plot elements, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER was a critical and financial failure in its day, and a personal disaster for Twain.
When young Edward VI of England and a poor boy who resembles him exchange places, each learns something about the other's very different station in life.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1982-10-01 | | Edition Description: | Reissue |
| Size | | Height: | 7.0 in | | Width: | 4.3 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 4.0 oz |
Publisher's Note
Mark Twain's classic novel about a poor boy who exchanges identities with Edward Tudor, the prince of England, brings to life the 16th-century royal court, the crowded, boisterous streets inhabited by London's hoi polloi, and the behavior of two young boys who are in many ways smarter than their elders. Included is the story "A Boy's Adventure", written as part of the novel but published separately.
Rich with surprise and hilarious adventure, The Prince And The Pauper is a delight satire of Englands romantic past and a joyful boyhood romp filled with the same tongue-in-cheek irony that sparked the best of Mark Twains tall tales. Two boys, one an urchin from London's filthy lanes, the other a prince born in a lavish palace, unwittingly trade identities. Thus a bedraggled "Prince of Poverty" discovers that his private dreams have all the come true -- while a pampered Prince of Wales finds himself tossed into a rough-and-tumble world of squalid beggars and villainous thieves. Originally written as a story for children, The Prince And The Pauper is a classic novel for adults as well -- through its stinging attack on the ageless human folly of attempting to measure true worth by outer appearances.
Industry Reviews
"The twenty-nine-volume 'Oxford Mark Twain' is a magnificent production, which makes accessible the range and scale of his achievement."
Literary Review - Max Saunders (06/19/1997)
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