The Prince and the Pauper

Feb 03, 2013 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Holly by: my father

Shelves: fiction

I read this in 1959 and remember being held captive by the twists in the plot and the possibility of each boy escaping the worst of their own situation. It was interesting then but not deeply - it was about the bringing up of two boys after all, not girls. But my long time fascination with the Tudor reigns started here and has brought me pleasure and a desire to learn all my life. Twain has the ability to empathize with boys, think their thoughts and dream their dreams as no writer of his era co...more

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Jan 18, 2010 Anne Hawn Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, history, homeschool

This is one of my favorite books of Mark Twain. Tom Canty is a poor boy in the London slums. His birth only brings more poverty to his already dirt poor family. Edward VI is the long awaited heir to the English throne. They are born on the same day and look so alike they can't believe it. They exchange clothes and Edward VI ends up being thrown out of the palace by guards who think he is the poor boy he looks to be. Both boys have difficulty fitting into the other's lives.

Tom comes to like the l...more

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Jan 05, 2008 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Upon moving to Glenview, I had no reliable bookstore I was aware of, save the bigass Barnes & Nobles near the train station by work. Such a shop near my train station isn’t quite helpful, as the maximum I have at such a locale is about 6 minutes, and it’s a 3 minute walk from the station. Upon finding Books-A-Million, I was quite content; in what I believe to be my first visit there, I had a hankering (for some unknown reason) to get a copy of the much-cited Mark Twain classic “The Celebrate...more Upon moving to Glenview, I had no reliable bookstore I was aware of, save the bigass Barnes & Nobles near the train station by work. Such a shop near my train station isn’t quite helpful, as the maximum I have at such a locale is about 6 minutes, and it’s a 3 minute walk from the station. Upon finding Books-A-Million, I was quite content; in what I believe to be my first visit there, I had a hankering (for some unknown reason) to get a copy of the much-cited Mark Twain classic “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. I walked out with a book of his short stories and was duly pleased.

It was on one of these trips to that I came across The Prince and The Pauper, and decided I’d give that sh-t a try someday in the remote future.

And lo, that time hath come, and sadly, I wasn’t all that thrilled with this work. It’s fairly enjoyable, I’ll give it that, but much like Huck Finn and the usual required reading of Mr. Clemens, this just didn’t quite do it for me; in my estimation, the guy should have stuck to short stories, which are almost universally fricking sweet.

This book has its ups and downs; while the saga of the identity crisis between Poor Tom Canty (of Led Zeppelin fame) and the noble Prince Edward is rich with Twain’s humor, the conversational Middle English gets annoying, and unless you love English history or geography (intimately) some of this is convoluted. Also, had this been a shorter book (not that it’s an exceedingly long volume by any means) it probably would have been better, as the adventures might be funny at times, some of the mishaps which take place aren’t up to the caliber of others, resulting in down time, which is usually filled with repetitive contemplations by the minor characters to the maladies which they presume have afflicted Prince or Pauper. The switch of persona between the two characters happens early in the story, by page 14, and the dual cover-ups of this event by both the mind-numbingly foolish royal troupe and the beggardly and bedraggled poor who succumb to their discontent and exist as villainous brutes takes an exceeding amount of time, as both the false Prince Tom Canty and the fallen, unrecognized urchin that is the disgraced Prince Edward are deemed by the medical masterminds of the time as suffering an affliction of the mind resulting in the loss of their socially accepted identities to assume one of the furthest possible aspect in these days of Olde London. The beggar-turned-Prince, who I thought the tale would focus about, and would be a truly spectacular character of moral integrity, actually is outshone by the bravado and unshakable persistence of the downtrodden former heir.

At that point the story plods along rather endlessly, and while there certainly are some moments of worthy comedy, a fifty page abridgement could be made. The result of that would be a great novelette worthy of the Twain name, as it stands, I don’t see the need for the repetition of lengthy dialogs in a goofy manner of speech, which on both sides of the tale form the foundation of the rest of the world’s beliefs concerning this unspoken but suspected act of governmental subterfuge. Events great and small are covered on Edward’s path to regain the mighty crown which he has so far been unrighteously and unceremoniously denied since the death of King Henry.

At the end of the day you don’t really get what you paid for, as far as the time invested in reading the tale went. I also must admit to a distraction whilst reading this parable, I cold not stop thinking that Twain also has a novel called A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and kept thinking that this kind of made Twain the first that I am aware of in a respected line of alternate history sensationalists. That kind of freaked me the hell out. (less)

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Sep 12, 2008 Sonia Reppe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: not children

Shelves: historical-fiction

I actually have the junior deluxe edition, printed in the year MCMLIV (what year is that?) but I can't find any junior deluxe editions in goodreads. This is a tale told about the boy prince Edward Tudor VI, and Tom, the pauper boy whom Edward befriends and feels pity for. They trade clothes for fun, intending to change right back, but before they can, the prince runs to give an order and is thrown out onto the street in his rags.
This is known as a children's classic, subtitled "A Tale for Youn...more

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Jun 19, 2009 Mom rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mark Twain is known for his social satire and I can see that in this book, but I like to read for the story, not for hidden meanings.

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Jan 27, 2009 Jeff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Everything by Mark Twain is good. I only knew this from a kids' (or maybe Disney) version. The most amusing thing was Twain's Shakespearian flourishes. Check out this little bit of "dialogue" from the dying king:

"He is mad; but he is my son, and England's heir; and, mad or sane, still shall he reign! And hear ye further, and proclaim it: whoso speaketh of this his distemper worketh against the peace and order of these realms, and shall to the gallows! . . . Give me to drink -- I burn: this sorro...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Clare rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is my most favorite story ever!! I read it when I was 17 and immediately falling in love with it. This book is very well plotted and very entertaining. I always laugh or at least giggle when I read it.

It is basically about a prince and a pauper who are not really satisfied with their lifestyle and accidentally switch places. They experience each other lifestyle and finally realize that it isn't like what they had expected. the story may sound simple, but actually it is not. The plot is gre...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Kbord rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A classic story. Everyone knows the gist of it, but it's nice to actually read the full story.

I read an Apple Classics (Scholstic) edition, ISBN 0-590-44817-X. It has some notes in the back about historical circumstances. I don't know if those notes are inherent to Mark Twain's writings or specific to this edition. There is also a letter at the beginning of the book about the birth of the prince.

In this story, the clothes make the man, as it were. No one will believe either boy that they switche...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Carelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Prince and the Pauper (252 pages), by Mark Twain, is a classic historical fiction story that takes place in London in the sixteenth century. Two boys Tom Canty, and Edward Tudor are born on the same day and happen to look very much alike. Tom belongs to a very poor family where he is unwanted. His father is a thief who drinks and beats his children. Tom has to beg for his food and sleeps on a bench but always dream of becoming a prince. On the other hand, Edward belongs to a wealthy Royal Ki...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Dave marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: calibre

SUMMARY: The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical,...more SUMMARY: The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. When Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper was published in 1881, the Atlanta Constitution sang its praises in no uncertain terms: “The book comes upon the reading public in the shape of a revelation.” A timeless tale of switched identities, Twain’s story revolves around the miserably poor Tom Canty “of Offal Court,” who is lucky enough to trade his rags for the gilded robes of England’s prince, Edward Tudor. As each boy is mistaken for the other, Tom enters a realm of privilege and pleasure beyond his most delirious dreams, while Edward plunges into a cruel, dangerous world of beggars and thieves, cutthroats and killers. Befriended by the heroic Miles Hendon, Edward struggles to survive on the squalid streets of London, in the process learning about the underside of life in “Merry England.”With its mixing of high adventure, raucous comedy, and scathing social criticism, presented in a hilarious faux-sixteenth-century vernacular that only Mark Twain could fashion, The Prince and the Pauper remains one of this incomparable humorist’s most popular and oft-dramatized tales.Robert Tine is the author of six novels, including State of Grace and Black Market. He has written for a variety of periodicals and magazines, from the New York Times to Newsweek.(less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Dong rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain (240 pages)/ Classic Historical Fiction

The Prince and the Pauper is about a sudden change in life faced by the two boys at the same age, living an opposite life. The prince, Edward IV, lives in the palace and is somewhat spoiled in terms of lifestyle. He does not live to survive but he lives with joy and education. On the other hand, Tom Canty, a poor boy living with his family in a very minuscule space, is living everyday for survival. He has to live ever...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-library

SUMMARY: The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical,...more SUMMARY: The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. When Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper was published in 1881, the Atlanta Constitution sang its praises in no uncertain terms: “The book comes upon the reading public in the shape of a revelation.” A timeless tale of switched identities, Twain’s story revolves around the miserably poor Tom Canty “of Offal Court,” who is lucky enough to trade his rags for the gilded robes of England’s prince, Edward Tudor. As each boy is mistaken for the other, Tom enters a realm of privilege and pleasure beyond his most delirious dreams, while Edward plunges into a cruel, dangerous world of beggars and thieves, cutthroats and killers. Befriended by the heroic Miles Hendon, Edward struggles to survive on the squalid streets of London, in the process learning about the underside of life in “Merry England.”With its mixing of high adventure, raucous comedy, and scathing social criticism, presented in a hilarious faux-sixteenth-century vernacular that only Mark Twain could fashion, The Prince and the Pauper remains one of this incomparable humorist’s most popular and oft-dramatized tales.Robert Tine is the author of six novels, including State of Grace and Black Market. He has written for a variety of periodicals and magazines, from the New York Times to Newsweek.(less)

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Sep 19, 2012 Alayna rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

Tom and Edward are the main characters in this book. Edward is the prince, and Tom is the pauper. They got to switch places for a while.

Tom is wandering around and sees the palace. Edward sees him and invites him in. They start talking. Edward is fascinated by the idea of being free and able to play in the mud. Tom is fascinated by the idea of being a prince because of all the riches and never having to beg or steal. They switch clothes, and Edward runs to...more

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May 20, 2012 Lois rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is not the edition I have, but it looked too tricky to trawl through all the options.

I've loved the story of the Prince and the Pauper for a long time. I think I saw I watched a children's adaption on TV a long time ago and became fascinated with the story concept, so much so, that when I picked this up I wondered if I had infact read it before.

I'm not a complete stranger to Twain. I've read Sawyer and Finn as a child, but nothing recently. I picked this up with a great longstanding fondnes...more This is not the edition I have, but it looked too tricky to trawl through all the options.

I've loved the story of the Prince and the Pauper for a long time. I think I saw I watched a children's adaption on TV a long time ago and became fascinated with the story concept, so much so, that when I picked this up I wondered if I had infact read it before.

I'm not a complete stranger to Twain. I've read Sawyer and Finn as a child, but nothing recently. I picked this up with a great longstanding fondness for the story already in place.

So it disappointed me a little. Partly because it was so short, partly because it was so childlike. I'm guessing it was intended as a children's book, the vocabulary is impressive - but I think children were better readers back in Twain's day, so that would account for the book appearing to be adult-like and coming across with much less depth.

The characters weren't as layered as I had imagined them to be. Miles was all together too perfect - he would have had a whole orphanage of street urchins to care for if he really was so kind! Tom and Edward didn't always seem to use their common sense, particularly Tom, who should have worked out that he could have started to hunt for Edward using his new powers, rather than sit about and wait for him to show up. I did like the edge of dark side that Tom had, and both her and Edward were quite likeable, if not particularly clever. The way the mix-up happened was a little unbelievable. It was a very simplistic adventure romp. I read children's books all the time, so I wonder if my own preconceptions have damaged by opinion of this book, because usually discovering something was written for children doesn't put me off at all.

Having said that, what a brilliant idea! 'Classic' is the kind of word that deserves to be applied here. Some of the language was great, and one thing that struck me (surely a proof that I hadn't, in fact, read it before now)was that Twain used the actual Tudor family. That was intriguing in itself, and definitely a unique perspective on Edward! I consider the Tudors to be some of the most fascinating people in history, and already knowing a fair bit about them really expanded the story for me.

Glad I read it, just wish it had been a bit more substantial - the plot concept would have made it one of my favourite books of all time.

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Mar 15, 2012 Staurt Patterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stuart Patterson
English review paper

An idea that looked better than it tasted
Mark Twain is a person that can do what he loves in any way that involves some paper and a writing utensil. He was able to show everyone that he could write elegantly and pull it off in such a way that people thought that he had done this, his whole life.
When he was writing The Prince and the Pauper people were saying that he couldn’t write formal in any way shape or form, this book would prove them wrong. He was also...more Stuart Patterson
English review paper

An idea that looked better than it tasted
Mark Twain is a person that can do what he loves in any way that involves some paper and a writing utensil. He was able to show everyone that he could write elegantly and pull it off in such a way that people thought that he had done this, his whole life.
When he was writing The Prince and the Pauper people were saying that he couldn’t write formal in any way shape or form, this book would prove them wrong. He was also able to give you such little details that no one could see unless you were really looking for them. This was a fabulous thing that he did because it give you such a better understanding of the time period and what the people were like and looked.
During the book there were two boys that had a dream, a dream that were totally different from each other in every way. The Prince for example want to be free, free from all of the standards and things that he was restricted to do because of his place or royalty. The pauper was a boy that lived in the poorest place possible in the area, all he wanted was to be taken care of and treated with the proper respect that he deserved. As you can tell they end up switching because each of their lives were the dream they wanted.
I thought that this concept was really good because it puts it in your head that each one would have the time of their life. This was something that you knew would change because without change there would be no happy ending. Mark Twain was able to make you believe this in such a way that it was amazing to me. It made me realize that you can’t go your whole life without change or you wouldn’t have a very good adventure.
To me the Pauper in the story reminded me of Mark Twain because he went for something that people never thought he could do because of his past and the Pauper did the same thing; this same thing was meeting the prince because in his mind the prince was the greatest person alive that he would do anything just to see up close.
What I really loved about this book was the fact that they added a hero. Now this hero was one that you would normally see in any other movie or book; this hero was one that didn’t what his name to be looked down, instead he just wanted to do well. In the regular story that has a hero he is usually saving people on a daily basis when this hero just did it because he felt that he should. I really liked this because it made you want to be like him, just a regular person that offers help when he sees and opportunity to give it but does it to make him feel like he is helping some one’s life.
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Mar 07, 2012 Corinne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Probably you know the idea of this story already: a street urchin and a prince trade places and see life "on the other side." And that is definitely the crux of the plot. Tom, the urchin, thinks that there could be nothing better in the world than being king and Edward, the prince, dreams of a free life out on the streets. Of course, reality is always a rude awakening and both being a prince and being a street rat have their, uh, disadvantages.

I read this one because my sixth grader is studying...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Admatha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lovers of children's and/or historical adventure stories

I was surprised at how well this was written. I must have absorbed the story early, through children's shows knockoffs as a child, because I knew and yet did not know the basic plot. It far exceeded what I'd expected and somehow, despite the frequent moral lessons, it manages to avoid being preachy. The two boys are both likeable and sweet, and you can't help but be interested in both their fortunes. I found that as it led up to the end I grew impatient with the descriptions of splendor or squal...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Zachary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: irvite

An enteraining and cleverly-written tale of mistaken identity, and a classic.

On the surface, it is clearly an unlikely tale that requires the reader to suspend the disbelief, but to step out of our boring universe and entering the universe of Twain is essential to fully appreciating this monumental work of fiction.

In the first place, the main characters are honest - very honest. No main character tells a single lie, excepting one. When John Corney has impersonated the King long enough, he lets t...more An enteraining and cleverly-written tale of mistaken identity, and a classic.

On the surface, it is clearly an unlikely tale that requires the reader to suspend the disbelief, but to step out of our boring universe and entering the universe of Twain is essential to fully appreciating this monumental work of fiction.

In the first place, the main characters are honest - very honest. No main character tells a single lie, excepting one. When John Corney has impersonated the King long enough, he lets the role get to his head. When during the procession to his coronation, his mother recognizes him to be the son she has lost, she runs to him overjoyed. Realizing that her presence is a threat to his crown, John disowns her and says "I do not know you, woman!" Thus the only lie told by John is uttered, and it shames him so much that he willingly gives up the crown to its rightful heir.

Twain also plays with irony, and weaves themes that suggest Christology. The delightful irony is most apparent in Edward VI's plight; he is truly King, and says so, but he is disbelieved. His lone supporter believes he is mad - and for good reason. But Twain never fails to call Edward "the Prince" or, after the death of Henry VIII, "the King." The medieval view of sovereinty is here respected. Hence, while Miles Hendon thinks that he is only a knight in "the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows," he is in fact a Knight (and Earl) because - independent of the knowledge of the Nation - he has been made a Knight by the embodiment of the State.

Christological flavors are scented in several places - most apparently in the chapter "The Prince with the Peasants." In this chapter, Edward makes his usual revelation that he is the King to two peasant girls. This is one of the only places where Edward's claim is believed, and he observes "'I will always honor little children, remembering how that these trusted me and believed in me in my time of trouble; whilst they that were older, and throught themselves wiser, mocked at me and held me for a liar.'" These words nearly mirror Christ's in the book of Matthew, speaking of the necessity of faith "like little children" and also employ words used in describing the Passion of Jesus. It is true that Twain was not a very religious man, but he could not have failed to realize how approximate to the Incarnation is his tale of a King who becomes a commoner - if only for a time.

"The Prince and the Pauper" is a charming tale that delights readers through witty dialogue and dramatic irony. Its form is rather like that of Shakespeare's "A Comedy of Errors," but it draws artistic influence from diverse sources including the just mentioned Gospels. I will highly recommend it to everyone.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Andrew Ives rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The version I read included a few extra pages on the writing of the Prince and the Pauper, which apparently gained an ill-advised lengthening of the Prince-dressed-as-Pauper's time in the country due to a suggestion by Clemens' friend Howells, and was unfortunately kept in. The general premise is such a contrived one that two boys - so similar in looks, stature, voice, age, actions and personality but so different in backgrounds - could swap roles for a while and swap back again, that this extra...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My summary of the story as an 8 year old girl:

Well most of the book was the pauper and then he found a prince at the city gates and then he saw so fine clothes on the prince that he wanted to touch him. A guy came up to him and threw him on the ground and said "Don't touch him!". Then the prince said "Leave him alone!". Then he asked the pauper if he wanted to come into his palace, the pauper said nothing, but came into his palace with him. Soon they traded clothes and then the pauper was in fin...more My summary of the story as an 8 year old girl:

Well most of the book was the pauper and then he found a prince at the city gates and then he saw so fine clothes on the prince that he wanted to touch him. A guy came up to him and threw him on the ground and said "Don't touch him!". Then the prince said "Leave him alone!". Then he asked the pauper if he wanted to come into his palace, the pauper said nothing, but came into his palace with him. Soon they traded clothes and then the pauper was in fine clothes and the prince was in old clothes. So then soon the prince saw a purple bruise on the pauper so he said "who did that?" and the pauper said "the guy who threw me down" and then the prince went and said "I am going to punish him". He went there in the pauper's clothes and said "I am going to punish you for pushing down my friend." Then the guy said "Fine boy, who are you? Are you the boy I threw down." Then the prince said "No I am not, I am not a pauper, I am the prince." He said "Why are you not in fine such clothes?" "Because we traded clothes for a little bit". Then people started getting mad at him and holding their fists up like they were going to hit him. But then the prince ran away and the pauper's dad found him and thought he was his son and then brought him to his home. He begged, "please let me go, please let me go." Then the pauper, he was in fine robes himself and soon a woman with a dress on and a red necklace, she bowed to the pauper and said "Oh my lord what can I do for you?" He said "Who are you?" and the woman with the dress on said "I am your sister." The pauper said, when he was in fine clothes, he said "please let me go, please, please, I am not a prince, I am a pauper". "I am Tom Canty." And his sister thought he was out of his mind so she sent for the king. The king was sick so he went there and the king said "Boy I am about to die soon, you are going to have to be king soon." Then the pauper said "Please, please let me go to my home." So the king thought he was out of his mind and then soon the king died and the pauper was about to be king soon. Soon the pauper was king now since the other king died.(less)

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Sep 30, 2010 Kaung Myat Han rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-classics

A great juvenile fiction by the classic American author Mark Twain where a young Prince of Wales and a very poor pauper decided to swap their roles as the resemblance between them is striking and as the former wanted to know more about what it feels like to be a commoner and what awaits him outside of the palace. Set in the final days of Henry the Eighth, "The Prince and the Pauper" is a good read for both adults and teenagers alike.

What I like about the book:
the morality behind the book. Always...more

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May 31, 2010 Jelly Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, classics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 16, 2011 Holly Olsen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Imagine finally getting the dream of your life and it turned out not as planned. King Edward and Tom Canty's dreams came finally true and then they realized it was not what they wanted. Tom Canty had always dreamt of becoming a prince but he finds out when he gets his dream, he just misses his old life. Prince Edward was tired of being treated like a prince and could of never wished more than being a pauper, and making his own choices. Edward realizes that he is not meant to be a pauper and miss...more Imagine finally getting the dream of your life and it turned out not as planned. King Edward and Tom Canty's dreams came finally true and then they realized it was not what they wanted. Tom Canty had always dreamt of becoming a prince but he finds out when he gets his dream, he just misses his old life. Prince Edward was tired of being treated like a prince and could of never wished more than being a pauper, and making his own choices. Edward realizes that he is not meant to be a pauper and misses being a prince. Sometimes our dreams can be misleading. The two boys change in the end and are grateful for who they are!

In The Prince and The Pauper, a young boy named Tom Canty has never been treated better than being abused by his father and family. He has been poor ever since he was born and had badly been taken care of. A boy born on the same day as him and born with the same look as him was born in a rich family. His name was Prince Edward. His father was the king of England and is about to die and leave the thrown to Edward. Edward has never been treated worse than a simple tap on his shoulder and orders to give to his servants. These boys will later find each other and switch places. They never knew what they were headed for.

This book shows a miracle which would not normally happen. Two boys look exactly alike with different places and families. They then switch places and nobody knows. I like this book because it is not something that would normally happen and so it is fun to read about. I think this book needs more action to keep you reading. In the middle it was hard to understand and a little dull. Mark Twain wrote this book for different reasons but I think one of the reasons is crazy things can happen even when you don't expect them .For the two boys nothing worked out with switching places but a bunch of trouble.

Different stories are filled with many different themes. Everyone could probably find five in one book. I think it is great to get themes from books and use them in our lives. Books can help just like experiences in our own lives. The Prince and the Pauper's main theme is sometimes things you plan don't work out as they are suppose to. When I plan a party or a main event they sometimes end up as blow outs. We can't tell what will happen in the future.

This book was worth reading once because The sentences and words are really hard to understand. I think it can help your reading skills from just reading the eighth chapter or the tenth. I was glad I read this book to help me improve my reading and just to brag about reading it. Don’t let the middle tell you it was boring. I would recommend it to those who are looking for a challenge.

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May 17, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mi opinión es que libro es muy entretenido y se me hizo rapida esta lectura creo que muestra distintos puntos de vista que aquellos tiempos muchos no se atreverian a escribir a profundizar en este tema.
Muestra la riqueza y la pobreza en dos puntos de vista a traves de dos niños uno el principe y el otro el mendigo el primero vivia en una especie de burburja que no sabia lo que estaba sufriendo el pueblo creia que siendo pobre tendria libertad, el segundo creia que si fuera principe seria feliz n...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Ben Babcock rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, british-historical, historical-fiction, own, 19th-century

This is not my first time to the Mark Twain rodeo, but it has been a long time since I last visited. Twain is not high on my list of priorities, sorry to say. However, this lovely edition of The Prince and the Pauper found its way into my possession, so I decided to challenge those priorities. While I don’t think I will be rushing to devour the rest of Twain’s oeuvre just yet, this book has certainly given me a more mature appreciation of Twain as a writer. After all, the last time I encountered...more

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Apr 19, 2011 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There have been countless imitations and adaptations, but none of them live up to this, the original. Though ostensibly for children (if you happen to know any brilliant children who like to read violent old historical novels written in Shakespearean English), the ideas that drive the narrative are very grown-up. The only thing that really seems to distinguish it as a "children's tale" is the fact that it's not very realistic. Both the prince and the pauper's speech is far more elevated than any...more

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Sep 19, 2009 Jason Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

What can I say: better than a 3, but not a 5. It's hard to find an American author who addresses social-economic class as well as Twain, and I'm surprised he's been solidified in the canon of American Lit for that very reason (although that's usually in the guise of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn). But The Prince and the Pauper also has its endearing moments and, in true American fashion, justice is served and the good guys win for all the right reasons in the end.

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Dec 17, 2009 Lindy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked up this book thinking it would be a quick, one sitting read and it turned into much more than that.

This is a story we all know. A prince and a poor boy inadvertently switch places. Basic enough.

Intertwined in this story are the deeper themes of mercy versus justice and what real dignity and honor are comprised of. I also like the general perspective that the misplaced prince has on the whole ordeal. How can one govern a people he knows nothing about? The prince uses his opportunity as...more

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Nov 09, 2012 David Sarkies rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like good literature

Shelves: adventure

I have heard of this book but was never really sure what it was about, however when I read the first few chapters I suddenly realised that I have seen the story before – Trading Places. Okay, there are a few differences, and the themes are somewhat different between the two works, however the plot is pretty much the same. However, Clements does indicate that this was not his original idea, suggesting that he has heard this story from some other place, though he is unsure as to the truth of it o...more I have heard of this book but was never really sure what it was about, however when I read the first few chapters I suddenly realised that I have seen the story before – Trading Places. Okay, there are a few differences, and the themes are somewhat different between the two works, however the plot is pretty much the same. However, Clements does indicate that this was not his original idea, suggesting that he has heard this story from some other place, though he is unsure as to the truth of it or not. The end notes do suggest that Clements had done some research, but whether it is true or not, it is still quite an enjoyable adventure.
The story is about two boys, a poor boy named Tom Cantry and Prince Edward, the crown prince of England. Both boys were born at the same time on the same day and have a remarkable similarlity. However, if it was not for a twist of fate they would never have met and this strange adventure would never have happened. As it turns out, Tom, despite his poverty, did have a little education due to the actions of a kindly priest, and Edward happened to have been allowed to go to the gates of the palace one day and rescued Tom from the hands of the guard. The thing about Tom was that he had a dream of meeting a prince, however it ended up that he got a lot more than he ever expected.
While wandering around Westminster and dreaming of meeting a prince, Tom stumbles upon the crown prince and is invited into the castle. While talking in the princes' room, they exchange clothes, and the prince then goes outside, is mistaken for Tom, and thrown out of the castle. Tom, on the otherhand, is mistaken for the prince, and despite his protestations to the contrary, is suddenly kept inside the palace with no way out. Both boys are diagnosed with madness and end up becoming prisoners of their class. Tom knows his heritage but is unable to escape the palace, and the prince, in his beggerly rags, cannot convince anybody of his royal heritage, particularly since everybody thinks the prince is in the palace, and the palace is keeping tight lipped about the princes' madness.
Many people these days talk about the income gap between the rich and the poor, however the distinction is nowhere near as evident as it is in this book. In this period, during the reign of Henry VIII, there was no middle class, there were only the nobility and the commoners, and neither of them should mix. The commoners would look up at the nobility in awe and the nobility would look down on the commoners in scorn. There was pretty much no way, but by the grace of God and the King, that anybody could move between the two classes, and the classes would never mix. These days at least we have a sembilence of wealth, and can live quite comfortable and easy lives without having millions of dollars in the bank.
It is interesting to see how wealth and status do not necessarily bring freedom. Tom lives in the palace and has everything provided for him, however he is not free to go where he wants or to do what he wants. In fact everything, including the clothes that he wears, is dictated to him. Further, he is also a prisoner in the sense that nobody is allowed to touch him or to mistreat him. He has his own whipping boy, a boy that takes the punishment that is doled out to the prince if he does wrong.
Edward is also a prisoner, and this is more than just the fact that he is thrown into the arms of poverty. He is unable to escape Tom's father, who seems to always lurk around every corner. As he travels through the dark and dirty laneways of London and Southern England, he must face many trials and tribulations, one of them being the fact that Tom's father is a brute, and pretty much uses him for his own wicked purposes. In fact he even attempts to set him up for a crime whose punishment is death. However, despite that he still has some awe of respectability about him that draws some people to him.
I suspect there is also some comment on the nature of crime and punishment and the reason that I suggest that is because he makes comments about the laws of Conneticuit and the laws of Olde England. In particular he focuses on the death penalty, but more so the form of death that the penalty imposes. It is not so much that a person must die for their crime, but the crime also dictates the method of death. No doubt the worse the crime then the more painful the death. However this is no so because some minor crimes seems to attract the death of being submerged in boiling oil, and murder simply seems to result in swinging from a rope. These days there seems to be a desire to make the death penalty as painless as possible, however some really question whether that is possible.
Personally I am pretty much opposed to the death penalty. As I have said and will write, it is better for a guilty man to go free than for an innocent man to be executed. If an innocent man is executed, that is it, there is no going back. Mind you, locking up an innocent man for years on end is still likely to cause irreprebable damage, particularly since there is no compensation for the innocent man. An innocent man (or I should say person) who is locked up at the age of 25 and exhonerated at the age of 35, has still lost 10 years of his life. Those ten years are not going to come back.
Then there is the idea that the punishment is determined by one's status in society. The wealthier you are the more likely that you will get a lesser sentence, simply because you can afford the best lawyers. However, sometimes you can simply be punished by being associated with the wrong people. I remember one case where a man was associating with another group, and two of them had rented a shed for working on cars. One of the men, with his friends, went and stole a bunch of cars, and the only thing the other guy had done was hear about it. As it happened, the guy that had heard about it ended up being the only person who had not had the charges dropped, and his lawyer simply made a bargain with the prosecution simply because somebody had to be convicted of the offence. This is simply not the way a legal system should work.
However, consider what Clemens says at the end of the book, how he points out that the number of crimes attracting the death penalty in Connecticut is around 25 while the number in England 100 years earlier was something like 225. In the same way we can compare our system with that of another country, such as Saudi Arabia. In that country there is a crime of forsaking your religion, which is punishable by death. There are other countries where you do not get a right or reply and are guilty until proven innocence. Mind you that can be the same here, especially when the media has already convicted you long before the trial even begins. Though while we may point at another country and say 'at least we are not as bad as them' that does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to the flaws in our system. Personally, in a system where criminals are locked away in privately run institutions, which are considered to be the university of the underworld, we need to look for ways of reforming and helping people live in society, than locking them up and throwing away the key. Particularly since 90% of all prisoners are in prison due to drug related crimes, we must wake up an realise that there actually is a problem. (less)

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Dec 13, 2009 Andre Olatunbosun added it · review of another edition

This book was pretty interesting. I remember reading it in the 6th grade, it showed that you should be grateful for what you have. The Prince traded places with a pauper that was completely identical to himself and they saw life in either perspective. An interesting tale by the famous Mark Twain. They would soon revert and the prince would allow the pauper to live with him and his family. A definite reccomendation for the younger age group.

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