The Prince and the Pauper

The writing of Mark Twain is often considered inherent to the soul and character of the American landscape, not least the vast, rolling Mississippi River that would influence so much of the writer's life and work. But Twain could cast his eye beyond this, focusing his creative talents on other themes and other settings and developing a rich world of characterization and intrigue.

The Prince and the Pauper is Twain's first foray into this world of historical fiction, eschewing the banks of the Mississippi for 16th century London and an improbable friendship across societal boundaries. The book was written with a young audience in mind, but Twain succeeded in weaving mature themes deep into the narrative, providing something for adults to pick up on as well as children. Themes include social injustice and inequality, as well as the more personal concepts of compassion and acceptance.

Sitting between The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in Twain's bibliography, The Prince and the Pauper is something of a departure from these works. Twain would return to this creative ground repeatedly over his career, and his historical novels represent an important part of the author's canon.