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starry_sim's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Worth every star I have given it, I can't believe the source material for all of the adaptations was so so good! I loved the main characters, particularly Miles Hendon, and this Edward is so so real to me now. (No one really talks about this book though, which is such a shame).
sminismoni's review against another edition
4.0
Although hardly plausible and maddeningly slow to arrive at the predictable outcome, I nevertheless really enjoyed this story. I listened to the audiobook, which I'm sure contributed greatly to my enjoyment, as I felt I was hearing a Shakespearean play performed rather than reading a book.
lestradez0's review against another edition
3.0
Since English is not my first language, I must admit that "The Prince and the Pauper" is a difficult novel for me to read. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading it. It effectively reveals the unspoken realities of life on all ends of the social spectrum. Fortunately, each sentence in the book flows naturally into the next, which makes reading it easier, despite the use of archaic English. It is filled with historical anecdotes, covering everything. Lastly, I liked seeing Edward learn and develop as a person, even though many readers would have rather read more about Tom's experiences.
sinningsammy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
meginsanity's review against another edition
4.0
I watched this story on Wishbone once. (All of you who grew up in the 90's and watched PBS in the afternoons are humming the theme song now, aren't you?) This episode was on all the time. So I kept imagining poor Tom Canty and Prince Edward as loveable little Jack Russell Terriers. It certainly made the reading a good deal more cute.
I enjoyed my first reading of Mark Twain in years, definitely. Though the pomp and circumstance he describes surrounding England's royal court was a little yawn-inducing, Tom and Edward's adventures are varied and humorous. The ending is well-done, frought with tension as the confusion mounts over who is the rightful king; each boy is written truthfully, and honestly.
I enjoyed my first reading of Mark Twain in years, definitely. Though the pomp and circumstance he describes surrounding England's royal court was a little yawn-inducing, Tom and Edward's adventures are varied and humorous. The ending is well-done, frought with tension as the confusion mounts over who is the rightful king; each boy is written truthfully, and honestly.
annanar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
conner_knoll's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
chri5ti's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annapox's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement and Religious bigotry
thatgirlinblack's review against another edition
4.0
It started out as an innocent amusement, but it went on to have national ramifications.
Edward, Prince of England and heir to the throne. Tom Canty, beggar boy of London. Edward, having pity on the poor, dirty, abused Tom, takes him into the palace for some food and rest. While there, the boys discover that they both long for a taste of the other's life, and decide to switch clothes to achieve that, if only for a little while. Events move so fast that Edward finds himself living the rough, dirty, miserable life of a London beggar, and Tom finds himself living the comfy, luxurious, pampered life of the Crown Prince of England.
Edward, flustered and maltreated by the coarse life of the streets, comes to know Tom's family—the drunk, brutal father, the kind, suffering mother, the two timid older sisters, and the malicious grandmother. Escaping from them one day, he embarks on a journey back to the palace to reclaim his rightful place.
Tom, honest and plain, slowly adjusts to life in the palace as King Henry VIII's son. He's astonished by the finery around him and the servants who do everything for him. His unfamiliarity with procedure is put down to temporary madness, and politely dealt with. He gets to know the lords and ladies whom it's assumed he's been around all his life, starts tutoring lessons (and is extremely thankful for the kindly priest who started his education while he was a beggar), is instructed in court etiquette and politics, and generally learns to play the part of a prince excellently. Slowly, he begins to forget his old life and bask in this new one, even hoping that Edward will not return.
In Edward's travels through England, he meets vagabond Miles, who becomes his protector. The two witness such atrocities in their travels through England that Edward is appalled. Cruelty toward prisoners, brutality among outcasts and outlaws, animosity toward the king, corruption in the government, and more are rife. He becomes even more adamant to get home and fix things.
The situation becomes more complicated when King Henry dies and Tom is crowned king. He is as shocked as Edward was at the way the government deals with lawbreakers, actual and accused. His dealing out of true justice and mercy surprises the kingdom.
But once Edward gets home, that's not the end. Two claimants to the throne is a serious matter. Edward insists he is king, and Tom backs him up, but that is put down to his former madness. With the whole court against them, can two boys set this national crisis right?
Edward, Prince of England and heir to the throne. Tom Canty, beggar boy of London. Edward, having pity on the poor, dirty, abused Tom, takes him into the palace for some food and rest. While there, the boys discover that they both long for a taste of the other's life, and decide to switch clothes to achieve that, if only for a little while. Events move so fast that Edward finds himself living the rough, dirty, miserable life of a London beggar, and Tom finds himself living the comfy, luxurious, pampered life of the Crown Prince of England.
Edward, flustered and maltreated by the coarse life of the streets, comes to know Tom's family—the drunk, brutal father, the kind, suffering mother, the two timid older sisters, and the malicious grandmother. Escaping from them one day, he embarks on a journey back to the palace to reclaim his rightful place.
Tom, honest and plain, slowly adjusts to life in the palace as King Henry VIII's son. He's astonished by the finery around him and the servants who do everything for him. His unfamiliarity with procedure is put down to temporary madness, and politely dealt with. He gets to know the lords and ladies whom it's assumed he's been around all his life, starts tutoring lessons (and is extremely thankful for the kindly priest who started his education while he was a beggar), is instructed in court etiquette and politics, and generally learns to play the part of a prince excellently. Slowly, he begins to forget his old life and bask in this new one, even hoping that Edward will not return.
In Edward's travels through England, he meets vagabond Miles, who becomes his protector. The two witness such atrocities in their travels through England that Edward is appalled. Cruelty toward prisoners, brutality among outcasts and outlaws, animosity toward the king, corruption in the government, and more are rife. He becomes even more adamant to get home and fix things.
The situation becomes more complicated when King Henry dies and Tom is crowned king. He is as shocked as Edward was at the way the government deals with lawbreakers, actual and accused. His dealing out of true justice and mercy surprises the kingdom.
But once Edward gets home, that's not the end. Two claimants to the throne is a serious matter. Edward insists he is king, and Tom backs him up, but that is put down to his former madness. With the whole court against them, can two boys set this national crisis right?