A review by creolelitbelle
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I have always loved retelling of The Prince and the Pauper, but this was my first time reading the tale by Twain. Writing dialogue in it at least close to how people spoke during the sixteenth century was a...choice. That historically accurate aspect is appreciated, but hearing it in the old style took some mental adjusting at first. Honestly, I expected more trouble to arise from the prince and the commoner switching places, but neither being believed by those around them is plausible. In an age with DNA testing and social media, I would be hard-pressed to buy into a modern, 21st century retelling. The switch of rich & poor lookalikes only seems to work up to a certain time period. Using a real, historical figure does add intrigue to this version, though. 

I listened to the Blackstone Audio edition, which I recommend for the clear narration. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death

Minor: Death and Death of parent