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The Prince and the Pauper
work by Twain
The Prince and the Pauper, novel by Mark Twain, published in 1881. In it Twain satirizes social conventions, concluding that appearances often hide a personās true value. Despite its saccharine plot, the novel succeeds as a critique of legal and moral injustices.
On a lark, two identical-looking boys, Prince Edward Tudor of Wales and street urchin Tom Canty, exchange clothes. Edward learns about the problems of commoners, while Tom learns to play the role of a prince and then a king.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
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