The prince and the pauper door Mark Twain

Summary

Mark Twain
The prince and the pauper

Someday in the sixteenth century, two children were born, in London. One of them is the son of Henry VIII, the other one is a poor beggar’s son. The son of the beggar is called Tom Canty, the prince is called Edward. Edward lives in the Westminster Palace, Tom Canty lives with his poor family in Offal Court; a poor house. He frequently fantasises that he is a prince.
On an important day, Tom stands with a large number of people looking at the Westminster Palace. After he is insulted by the keepers, he meets the prince, and they go inside. They introduce themselves and talk a bit. Tom tells the prince about his fantasies. The prince has the idea to change clothes; he wants know how it feels to be a beggar for a day. And so they did. Tom puts on the beautiful, expensive clothes and the prince takes Tom’s old beggar clothes. Then the prince leaves the palace, this is the beginning of some adventurous times. Tom Canty stays in the palace, and claims he is a beggar while the prince claims, on the street, that he is the prince. The people think that both children suffer from a sickness. The real prince has all kinds of adventures but meanwhile his father dies, the king of United Kingdom. At the crowning Tom and the prince can prove that Tom isn’t the real prince. After the real Edward the sixth was back on his throne, The United Kingdom enjoyed a merciful government. Tom Canty and the people who have helped the real Edward were honoured as from that moment on.