Who wrote the book 'The Prince and the Pauper'?

The Prince and the Pauper is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Set in 1547, it 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.

Twain wrote The Prince and the Pauper having already started The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain wrote, "My idea is to afford a realizing sense of the exceeding severity of the laws of that day by inflicting some of their penalties upon the King himself and allowing him a chance to see the rest of them applied to others..." Having returned from a second European tour which formed the basis of A Tramp Abroad (1880), Twain read extensively English and French history. Initially intended as a play, it was originally set in Victorian England before he decided to set it further back in time.

The book bears a dedication to his daughters, Susie and Clara Clemens and subtitled "A Tale For Young People of All Ages".

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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36 Comments

Maia

Somewhat similar to another book Twain wrote, called ''Pudd'nhead Wilson", about two boys born to the same father, a slave owner. The boy born to the white wife grows up with all privileges. The boy born to the slave woman has no privileges.

Donna Smith

Got the correct answer.

Cedric Walters

The Victorian era was about underground sex clubs and fake manners and morals.

dlh

Got it and read it!

Don Racette

Kay Eicher I missed it.

Diding Otico

👍👍👍

Todd Van Dell

Sandy Margolin, There have been several movies made, including live action movies of Mark's novel. There was even a Richie Rich version of The Prince and the Pauper, if my memory serves. I recall that being in one of the Richie Rich comic books. I think there was a cartoon as well.

Todd Van Dell

arath, Jenny Borsten said she saw the movie. Granted, there have been several movies based on The Prince an the Pauper, so which one she saw might have been nice additional information.☺☺ But, that's my opinion only, and a minor nitpick at that. Then she said she originally thought Mark Twain was the author, but then second guessed herself, as many of us here do, and chose the wrong answer instead. These things happen. (That's why I use the hints, when I'm not feeling 100% confident with my own answer. I have wasted a few Double Chances when I knew the answer already but wanted to be 100%. But that's why they're there.) I didn't have any problems figuring out what Jenny said, myself. She might have done a little better with her spacing and punctuation, but even still. Minor nitpicks again. Not all that hard to decipher.☺☺ I hope my explanation helped you understand her answer better. Jenny Borsten, I hope my more detailed explanation of your comment was an accurate interpretation and correctly reflected what you were trying to say?