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The Prince and the Pauper
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The Prince and the Pauper

work by Twain
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Article History

The Prince and the Pauper, novel by Mark Twain, published in 1881. In it Twain satirizes social conventions, concluding that appearances often hide a person’s true value. Despite its saccharine plot, the novel succeeds as a critique of legal and moral injustices.

On a lark, two identical-looking boys, Prince Edward Tudor of Wales and street urchin Tom Canty, exchange clothes. Edward learns about the problems of commoners, while Tom learns to play the role of a prince and then a king.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.