The Prince And The Pauper
Mark Twain | 1981-01-01 00:00:00 | Books on Tape | 0 | Twain, Mark
On the same day in 16th century London were born Tom Canty, destined to become a street beggar, and Edward Tudor, son of Henry VII, a future king. Several years later, young Canty invades the royal precincts hoping to see the Prince. The boys discover they are identical in appearance and exchange clothes. Mistaken for the beggar boy, Prince Edward is thrown into the streets. Tom Canty, too frightened to confess his true identity, assumes the mantle of the Prince of Wales.
Reviews
It's a book everyone knows but hardly anyone seems to read, notes Jerry Griswold in his introduction to the Penguin edition of this book. Even well-read people who recognize the importance of Mark Twain often regard "The Prince And The Pauper" as kiddy lit. Well, it is written for children, yet in a clever and immersive way adults can enjoy, too.
Tom Canty is a 16th century London street urchin who dreams of becoming a king. Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, dreams of escaping his royal confinement. One day Tom stumbles into Westminister and meets Edward. Both are struck by the fact they are practically mirror images of one another. Edward changes clothes with Tom for a lark, then goes outside to upbraid a guard for cuffing Tom. Big mistake. Now Edward is the street urchin, foolishly protesting his kingship, while Tom adjusts to the royal life.
Twain wrote this in 1881, between "The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn." It's darker than the first but lighter than the second, evidence for the theory Twain charted a steady course in his life from cheerful cynic to bitter nihilist. The overall tone of "Prince" is fairly light, with a style that sends up Sir Walter Scott's roundabout locutions. But dark moments occur with bracing frequency, especially as the story rounds on Edward in peasant's garb. He watches executions by fire, witnesses casual crimes, and hears of the depravity people endure under his father's reign.
"The world is made wrong," young Tudor observes. "Kings should go to school to their own laws, at times, and so learn mercy."
There's comedy, too, much of it in what Tom Canty undergoes. In one episode, he discovers it takes a small army to get him dressed in the morning. He also meets another youth whose job is to absorb the corporeal punishment when the young Prince fails his education, a youth who fears he could become unemployed by Tom's instinct for mercy. "My back is my bread" he cries.
The novel is a fun ride and a trip for the imagination, but somewhat indifferent as an adventure story. The main business Edward faces is escaping Tom's cruel father, who turns up rather illogically in several places before disappearing without a word. A subplot involves a down-on-his-luck soldier Edward meets in his wanderings, Miles Hendon; yet the relationship between him and Edward is never explored satisfactorily enough to explain Hendon's selfless loyalty to the boy. Canty's part of the tale falls by the wayside for the book's second half, and never resumes until nearly the end. The novel's conclusion, while satisfying, just sort of happens without any build-up.
All these are admittedly the kind of criticisms that occur to one who is really engaged by the book. "Prince" is very much a pleasure to read, a stylistic detour for Twain that still connects with the kid in all more than a century later.
Reviews
Poor little Tom Canty and Edward, Prince of Whales, could little expect what adventures would ensue the day they innocently exchanged clothes as a means of satisfying their boyish fancies. Each boy is confronted with trials and tribulations unlike anything they expected for their lives, and each grows and matures well, according to those lessons learned.
Mark Twain's tale of innocence and mistaken identity is completely charming, and his expertise as a master story-teller is confirmed with The Prince and the Pauper. Though the prose is simple enough to suit a wide range of readers, the narrative itself is colorful and elegant, and is a real treat for the imagination.
Reviews
Beloved by readers young and old, yet somewhat discounted by scholars and critics, "The Prince and the Pauper" is atypical among Twain's novels. Forgoing the bawdy and irreverent humor common to his other works and indulging in a somewhat moralistic tone, it was the one book that received wholehearted approval from his normally censorious wife (who, with the Clemens children, staged it as a family play for Christmas). It rightfully has become a children's classic.
The larger-than-life characters (caricatures, really) and the fantasy element are what ultimately endear the book to so many readers. From Tom's ogre-like father, John Canty, to the heroic and hermitic Miles Hendon, members of the supporting cast frequently steal scenes from the principal players. Tom and Edward, on the other hand, are largely servants to the plot, but manage to offer fulfillment of a different kind: the unfortunate but likable misfit ascends the class system with some amusing mishaps, while the haughty, spoiled, and somewhat undeserving brat is brought low--and both boys learn from the experience. Twain's purpose, as he told William Dean Howells in a letter, is to force the prince-turned-king to undergo "the exceeding severity laws of that day by inflicting some of the penalties upon the king himself," and there is the satisfying schadenfreude of watching Edward being served a taste of his own medicine. As he did (to better effect) in "Puddn'head Wilson," Twain supplements the idea that all men are created equal with a plot that pits nature against nurture; these two kids, while both deserving of society's kindnesses, are nevertheless products of their upbringing.
As both children's fiction and a historical novel, "The Prince and the Pauper" is not without its faults. The faux Shakespearean dialogue is more faux than Shakespearean, and I am sure that some young readers will find it difficult or tedious. (I can't recall if it posed any difficulties for me when I read it as a child.) In addition, Twain can't help but show off his research notes from his source material, primarily to convince the reader of the authenticity of the prince's more extreme experiences; the effect, however, can be a bit clumsy. And, aside from a few relatively innocuous political comments regarding the author's contempt for monarchies, there is less of the grown-up content to be found in the Twain's other novels often read by children (such as the superior "Connecticut Yankee," or "Tom Sawyer" and its sequels).
But don't let the book's faults spoil the fun. Even 125 years later, this enduringly famous story of switched identities retains the wholesome charms and riveting melodrama enjoyed so much by Twain's own family, and just waiting to be enjoyed by yours.
Reviews
Historical fairy tale about a prince (based on Edward, the real-life son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour) who somehow accidentally switches places with a very poor young boy. Neither of them enjoy their new life, and it ends happily ever after: the prince is restored to his throne with a new understanding of his subjects and some of his kingdom's unfair laws, and the pauper, who does an admirable job of ruling while he's the mock-prince, is forever respected and loved by the people of London.
Reviews
A world away from Mark Twain's more popular Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn novels, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER takes place during the 'second quarter of the 16th century' in Tudor England's London. As young boys from polar opposite social situations become accidentally switched, the reader is treated to an adventure story with a fairy tale-like simplicity and obvious lessons. Mark Twain's wit and humor is on prominent display throughout this one, with all of the situations and characters speaking towards the now ridiculous-seeming way of life and social structure of the seriously brutal 16th century. Really a satirical look at the unjust facts of life from that long ago time, this book is both amusing and potentially educational. One thing though, Did peasant women really used to drown unwanted kittens?? Don't think PETA would stand for that today..
While it is a relatively short and easy story, some young or inexperienced readers may find the Old English writing difficult and annoying. However, if you stick with it, most will find that after a while it becomes easier to digest and makes for a very pleasant read. A children's story with valuable lessons even today. Highly recommended!
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