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The Prince and the Pauper

Mark Twain

121,210 ratings
The Prince and the Pauper | Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper

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The Prince and the Pauper represents Mark Twain’s first attempt at historical fiction. The book, set in 1547, tells the story of two young boys who are identical in appearance: Tom Canty, a pauper who lives with his abusive father in Offal Court, London, and Prince Edward son of Henry VIII of England. Due to a series of circumstances, the boys accidentally replace each other, and much of the humor in the book originates in the two boys’ inability to function in the world that is so familiar to the other (although Tom soon displays considerable wisdom in his decisions). In many ways, the book is a social satire, particularly compelling in its condemnation of the inequality that existed between the classes in Tudor England. In that sense, Twain abandoned the wry Midwestern style for which he was best known and adopts a style reminiscent of Charles Dickens.

There was a flourish of trumpets within; and the Prince's uncle, the future great Duke of Somerset, emerged from the gateway, arrayed in a 'doublet of black cloth-of-gold, and a cloak of crimson satin flowered with gold, and ribanded with nets of silver.'  He turned, doffed his plumed cap, bent his body in a low reverence, and began to step backward, bowing at each step.  A prolonged trumpet-blast followed, and a proclamation, "Way for the high and mighty the Lord Edward, Prince of Wales!"  High aloft on the palace walls a long line of red tongues of flame leapt forth with a thunder-crash; the massed world on the river burst into a mighty roar of welcome; and Tom Canty, the cause and hero of it all, stepped into view and slightly bowed his princely head.





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He was 'magnificently habited in a doublet of white satin, with a front-piece of purple cloth-of-tissue, powdered with diamonds, and edged with ermine.  Over this he wore a mantle of white cloth-of-gold, pounced with the triple-feathered crest, lined with blue satin, set with pearls and precious stones, and fastened with a clasp of brilliants.  About his neck hung the order of the Garter, and several princely foreign orders;' and wherever light fell upon him jewels responded with a blinding flash.  O Tom Canty, born in a hovel, bred in the gutters of London, familiar with rags and dirt and misery, what a spectacle is this!









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Chapter X. The Prince in the toils.

We left John Canty dragging the rightful prince into Offal Court, with a noisy and delighted mob at his heels.  There was but

Henry 06/13/2024
Imagine you're a nine-year-old boy grungy rags for clothes, belly empty a sadistic father beats you if you don't beg for money (and get it) . Afraid of life an endless, joyless struggle to survive. The only relief from the grim reality is sleep, for a few hours on the dirty floor in something not qu
Federico 09/10/2023
Oops!

Tom Canty is a poor beggar in the streets of London, wishing for a better future; Edward Tudor is the young prince of Wales, bored to death with court life. By those weird chances of fate they find themselves changing places, and nobody the wiser, since they look like identical twins. A prin
Dave 03/01/2018
I read this several times as a kid, and loved it. Twain humor and class commentary about the hypocrisy of the upper classes. And a fantasy, turned weekly into a Disney movie that sapped all the Twain and satire out of it. Then many many spinoff books and movies. But the idea of a beggar switching pl

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