Publisher's Synopsis
Set in 1547, The Prince and the Pauper 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 off Pudding Lane in London, and Prince Edward, son of King Henry VIII. After a chance encounter, Prince Edward decides to switch places with Tom, so that he can experience life as a London pauper. He quickly learns of the harsh, punitive nature of the English judicial system and vows to reign with mercy when he regains his rightful place.
The Prince and the Pauper is Mark Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Initially intended as a play, the book was originally set in Victorian England before Twain decided to set it further back in time. The novel is both a critique of social inequality and a criticism of judging others by their appearance.
