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The Prince and the Pauper
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The Prince and the Pauper Paperback - 1997

by Mark Twain; Introduction by Jerry Griswold

Mark Twain's classic novel about a poor boy who exchanges identities with Edward Tudor, the prince of England, brings to life the 16th-century royal court, the crowded, boisterous streets inhabited by London's hoi polloi, and the behavior of two young boys who are in many ways smarter than their elders. Included is the story "A Boy's Adventure", written as part of the novel but published separately.


Summary

This 1881 novel about a poor boy, Tom Canty, who exchanges identities with Edward Tudor, the prince of England, is at once an adventure story, a fantasy of timeless appeal, and an intriguing example of the author's abiding preoccupation with separating the true from the false, the genuine from the impostor. Included is the story "A Boy's Adventure," written as part of the novel but published separately.

From the publisher

Tom Canty and Edward Tudor could have been identical twins. Their birthdays match, their faces match, but there the likeness stops. For Edward is a prince, heir to King Henry VIII, whilst Tom is a miserable pauper. But when fate intervenes, Edward is thrown out of the palace in rags, leaving ignorant Tom to play the part of a royal prince. Even those who have never read the novel will be familiar with Twain's classic tale of mistaken identity: at once an adventure story and a fantasy of timeless appeal. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

From the rear cover

First published in 1881, The Prince and the Pauper is the story of a poor boy, Tom Canty, who exchanges clothes and identities with Edward Tudor, Prince of England. It is at once an adventure story, a fantasy of timeless appeal, and an intriguing example of the author's abiding interest in separating the true from the false, the genuine from the impostor. With characteristic humor and color, Twain brings to life the sixteenth-century royal court, the crowded, boisterous streets inhabited by London's hoi polloi, and the behavior of two young boys who are in many ways smarter than their elders. In spinning his tale, he draws on themes from ancient mythology, the Bible, familiar fairy tales, and popular children's literature of the period. Making a compelling case for the novel's relevance for readers today, Griswold shows how the novel reveals Twain's preoccupation with the elusive nature of identity - an issue that not only recurs in his work but also haunted his life. Also included in this volume is the story "A Boy's Adventure", originally written as part of the novel but published separately.

Details

  • Title The Prince and the Pauper
  • Author Mark Twain; Introduction by Jerry Griswold
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition International Ed
  • Pages 224
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Penguin Group, E Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
  • Date 1997-12-01
  • Features Bibliography
  • ISBN 9780140436693 / 0140436693
  • Weight 0.4 lbs (0.18 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 in (19.30 x 12.70 x 1.52 cm)
  • Ages 10 to 14 years
  • Grade levels 5 - 9
  • Reading level 610
  • Library of Congress subjects Historical fiction, London (England)
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 97013726
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

About the author

Mark Twain's (1835-1910) idyllic childhood in Missouri on the Mississippi river is reflected in his best known books, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. His great skills as a novelist, journalist and social observer assure him a central place in American literary history. Jerry Griswold is Professor of English & Comparative Literature at San Diego State University and is the author of The Classic American Children's Story.
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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)

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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)

The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)

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The Prince and the Pauper

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The Prince and the Pauper
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The Prince and the Pauper

by Mark Twain

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The Prince and the Pauper

The Prince and the Pauper

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The Prince and the Pauper

The Prince and the Pauper

by Mark Twain

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The Prince and the Pauper
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by Twain, Mark

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The Prince and the Pauper
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The Prince and the Pauper

by Twain, Mark

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)
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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)

by Mark Twain; Jerome Griswold [Editor]; Jerry Griswold [Introduction];

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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)
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The Prince and the Pauper (Penguin Classics)

by Mark Twain; Jerome Griswold [Editor]; Jerry Griswold [Introduction];

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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