Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain Illustrated edition

The Prince and the Pauper is a delightful piece of historical fiction set in 1547. The young British Prince Edward, son of Henry VIII, switches place with a young pauper boy, Tom Canty, who happens to look exactly like the Prince. Tom takes over royal duties when King Henry dies and enjoys life in the palace. The real Prince is tossed out on the streets of London and learns about the life and misery of the common people of England at the time. He arrives back in the palace just in time to stop the coronation of the false Prince and take his rightful crown. He uses what he learned in his travels to rule as a benevolent King The real Prince Edward ruled until his early death at the age of 15