Published in 1881, The Prince and the Pauper is Mark Twain’s historical adventure novel for younger readers, set in the court of Henry VIII. When the young Prince Edward (the future Edward VI) and a ragged beggar boy named Tom Canty discover their uncanny resemblance, they impulsively swap clothes — and then cannot swap back, plunging both boys into lives utterly different from their own.
Twain uses the premise to explore social justice, compassion, and the arbitrary nature of rank with characteristic wit. Download this free EPUB from Better Gutenberg for a timeless story about power, poverty, and what it means to be truly royal.