num_pages: 176
description: This treasured historical satire, played out in two very different socioeconomic worlds of 16th-century England, centers around the lives of two boys born in London on the same Edward, Prince of Wales, and Tom Canty, a street beggar. During a chance encounter, the two realize they are identical and, as a lark, decide to exchange clothes and roles — a situation that briefly, but drastically, alters the lives of both youngsters.The Prince, dressed in rags, wanders about the city's boisterous neighborhoods among the lower classes and endures a series of hardships; poor Tom, now living with the royals, is constantly filled with the dread of being discovered for who and what he really is.Brimming with gentle humor and discerning social scrutiny, this timeless tale of transposed identities remains one of Twain's most popular and best-loved novels.
language: English
title: The Prince and the Pauper
titlecomplete: The Prince and the Pauper (Dover Thrift Editions)
characters: Prince Edward Tudor, Lady Elizabeth, John Canty, Tom Canty, Miles Hendon, Hugh Hendon
genres: Historical, Literature, American, Young Adult, Childrens, Classics, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Classic Literature
ratings_count: 117516
places: London, England
publisher: Dover Publications