The Prince and the Pauper

Title: The Prince and the Pauper

Author: Mark Twain

Pages: 240

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Tom Canty is a young boy born in the slums and beaten and abused from a young age.  Edward Tudor is the heir to the throne.  The two boys were born on the same day and share a striking resemblance to one another. One day Tom and Prince Edward find themselves intrigued by each other on opposite sides of the palace fence.  Edward invites Tom into his quarters where they both fascinate each other with tales from their lives. Tom with tales of poverty and need and Edward with tales of great wealth.  They trade clothes, get separated and Edward is kicked out of the palace as everybody believes him to be Tom Canty.

My Review:  This book was pretty good.  It was a fun story about Tom Canty the son of a beggar and thief trying to figure out life as a Prince and Prince Edward struggling to stay alive on the streets.  It was interesting to get a glimpse of how Mark Twain viewed the two lifestyles back when this book was published (in 1882).