The Prince and the Pauper
Mark Twain · 1835–1910 · USA
Why it matters
A Tudor prince and a beggar boy who look identical swap places on a lark and can't swap back, each discovering the other's world is crueler than imagined. Twain's identity-swap fable makes class itself the costume.
At a glance
historical fictionsatire
Difficulty 3/10fast pace233 pagesSimple period prose and a clear dual plot aimed at a broad readership.
Where to go next
Mark Twain · 1876The Adventures of Tom SawyerLvl 3Fast paced
Mark Twain · 1883Life on the MississippiLvl 4Medium pace
Mark Twain · 1884Adventures of Huckleberry FinnLvl 5Fast paced
Mark Twain · 1889A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtLvl 5Fast paced
Mark Twain · 1894Pudd'nhead WilsonLvl 5Fast paced
Charles Dickens · 1861Great ExpectationsLvl 4Medium pace