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A review by thatgirlinblack
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
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?