The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2754)
I enjoyed it. Mark Twain's style is witty and feels as contemporary as anything I like to read. He sometimes went off about how humorous the numerous servants of the king with their overly precise titles (Royal Napkin Holder, Royal Whipping Boy, etc.) for too long; the joke either got very thin, or he was going to humor with an edge of sarcasm or social satire. I don't know. Anyway, the historical element was interesting, too, especially with the footnotes. He did his research, which is always c...more
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Read in June, 2008
My 2008 attempt to read the complete Mark Twain bibliography had stalled for a while as I tried to slog through The Innocents Abroad. This easy-reading novel was a good way to jump-start the Twain craze again.
The Prince and the Pauper is pretty much a straightforward fairy tale. There's not nearly as much of the biting wit present in other Twain stories, but you can still hear his voice in the writing. That said, it's still really a kids' book, but I look forward to reading this as a bedt...more
The Prince and the Pauper is pretty much a straightforward fairy tale. There's not nearly as much of the biting wit present in other Twain stories, but you can still hear his voice in the writing. That said, it's still really a kids' book, but I look forward to reading this as a bedt...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
older kids, those interested in historical fiction
I just re read this book, which I had read as a teenager (I think). It is still my favorite Mark Twain book, and I enjoyed it. I also know more about the Tudor period, though, and I felt that Mark Twain's depictions of the real characters, while interesting and necessary for the story, were not necessarily very accurate.
As a portrayal of society at the time, though, it is very fascinating, and decently well-documented. It subtlely makes points about inequities in society. At the end of the...more
As a portrayal of society at the time, though, it is very fascinating, and decently well-documented. It subtlely makes points about inequities in society. At the end of the...more
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Read in February, 2008
I didn't enjoy the P&theP as much as the other two books. I suppose I had a feeling of "what's the point?". Two boys, one highly privileged, the other very poor, inadvertently swap places. The poor boy finds the privileged position hard, but it has its compensations. The privileged boy finds poverty very hard, but manages to discover a true friend. Then they swap back.
Parts of the book are tedious, and I skipped the detailed account of the coronation. I suppose there is her...more
Parts of the book are tedious, and I skipped the detailed account of the coronation. I suppose there is her...more
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Read in July, 2008
This was a fun read. It was interesting to see how absurd the laws actually were in England back then. I have always loved historical fiction and this one was a good one. I like how compassionate and understanding the prince became after living the life of a poor pauper boy. The prince was already compassionate towards others as he saved the pauper from the guard in the beginning but what a real eye opener it was to then have to live the life in rags with no money for a time. I think we woul...more
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This is a book of good clean fun--not usually my cup of tea. However, reading it is more enjoyable if you consider that this was basically a gift to his wife and daughters. They were so proud to have him write something "proper." One can imagine him reading new chapters to his kids by the mantle, they being eager to hear how it was turning out for their straight-laced protagonist. And so it is in light of his love for his family that I find this a sweet and acceptable story, for don't...more
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Read in January, 1962
recommends it for:
everyone
Hooray for Mark Twain! In having the two main characters switch their stations in life, he is able to show social conditions through fresh eyes, and comments on society in a way that is still relevant today. This is a good book for children to read, because it teaches them about looking at the world from the perspective of other people. Plus, Twain's exuberant good humor and delightful sense of irony keep the reader engaged and entertained whilst he gets his point across with nary a sermon ...more
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Read in February, 2008
I am including this book here because my 8year old son read it and loved it so much he asked me to read it. And I did. I was a little leery of some of the details of hangings and boiling someone in oil, but I guess the historical setting made those ideas less threatening to him and he seems to have handled all of it just fine. I think he was excited to read something about Henry VIII since he knows I have. (I had to explain what historical fiction was.)
:)
:)
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i read this book for school, and at first i was bored and i didnt care at all about some naive boys who switched places. i mean, they guys used about fifty million words just to say "he fell asleep in a bush." but after a while i really got into it and looked forward to my assigned nightly reading. so even if you start this book and get bored within an inch of your life, stick it out and wait til later in the book to decide how you feel about the book.
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Read in December, 2007
Mark Twain makes an argument against social inequality by highlighting the utter absurdity of the stratified society of 16th century England. He has his characters Tom and Edward switch places, and then he tells the story of each of their experiences. He has his characters change places again in The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson, a novel that offers a scathing commentary on racism in America. I recommend both books for the young social scholar.
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Read in October, 2007
This book was good if you got the general message, but it is written in "Ye Olde English" because it takes place in 17th century England so it is hard to understand. But it has a good message: don't judge people by the way they look. To tell the truth, it took me 6 months to finish it because I was reading other books while I was reading this. But I recommend it to anyone who can successfully get through "Ye Olde English."
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Read in December, 2007
I got a book of Mark Twain classics for Christmas from my in-laws and this was one that I hadn't ever read. I thought it was a sweet little story that had a lot of perspective in it. It would be nice if every ruler could go through an experience like the prince in this story. It would surely make them more compassionate. Mark Twain has a talent for storytelling and this is no exception.
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This book shows precisely what would happen if a prince and a pauper who looked similar changed places, i.e. the prince would switch homes, attire, etc. with the pauper. The reactions of the characters are effective and natural. It was as if Mark Twain has been in a similar situation. The dialogue and descriptions are balanced well, although in some paragraphs there was too much dialogue.
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Always wanted to read this, and finally did - and it is very moving. This is a keeper. I love the scene where Tom, as King, sets free the woman accused of being witch because a storm comes every time she removes her stockings. Hilarious. But while being funny, Twain weaves in such wonderful examples of humanity, humility, and what truly makes a person noble. I really enjoy his work.
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Read in January, 2007
There was a classics sale at Barnes and Nobles, and my family just finished reading it together, so I decided to go for it. I loved it. My dad read it to me when I was about 8, and it brought back memories of laying on my hands in bed, listening to him read aloud in the hallway. What a delightful story about 2 boys living the "wrong" life, and learning to empathize.
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Of course, I've read his most noteworthy books, but I only did so because I felt obligated. I didn't really enjoy them at the time. However, I think that I'm actually begining to enjoy Mark Twians individual style of writing. Despite the fact that he hated some of my favorite authors, tearing them apart with his scathing wit, he had a way with words.
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
readers of classics
Not quite what I was expecting from ol' Mark Twain, but it was a fun story. There wasn't quite as much adventure and a lot more explainery than I would have liked, but it was obvious Twain had an agenda hiding behind this "children's story." The unjustice, unmerciful, and ignorant were exposed in all their horrific glory. It's worth reading.
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PJ and I have just started reading this book together. I love to watch how he "gets" the sarcasm and humor of Twain. He doesn't know much about this time period, and the copy that we are reading has a lot of footnotes. He makes us read every footnote!
This book made an impression on me when I read it as a kid. I hope PJ likes it, too.
This book made an impression on me when I read it as a kid. I hope PJ likes it, too.
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If it wasn't for this book, there would be no Freaky Friday.
That was a joke.
I honestly haven't read this since high school, but I remember it being loaded with really great, satiric observations on social and political relations between the upper and lower classes.
I think I might read it again.
That was a joke.
I honestly haven't read this since high school, but I remember it being loaded with really great, satiric observations on social and political relations between the upper and lower classes.
I think I might read it again.
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this book inspired my 4th grade story 'Prince and Miss Lauper', which was not a critical success.
it also inspired me to read Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess, two other books in the newfound-nobility genre that even at the time i remember thinking were pretty stupid.
it also inspired me to read Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess, two other books in the newfound-nobility genre that even at the time i remember thinking were pretty stupid.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.55 (2501 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.58 (2045 ratings) number of reviews: 115popular shelves
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"Learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity."
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