The Prince and the Pauper
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| Author | Mark Twain |
|---|---|
| Country | Setting is England Image:Flag of England.svg; Written in the United States Image:Flag of the United States.svg |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Realistic Fiction |
| Publisher | |
| Publication date |
The Prince and the Pauper is a novel by Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada before its 1882 publication in the United States. The book represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Set in 1547, the novel tells the story of two young boys who are identical in appearance: Tom Canty, a pauper who lives with his abusive father in Offal Court, London, and Prince Edward, son of Henry VIII of England.
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[edit] Plot summary
Due to misconceptions of each other's lifestyles, the boys exchange roles, with Tom Canty brought into the palace, and Prince Edward attempting to escape from the clutches of Tom's father. Finally Edward attaches himself to a discredited nobleman, Miles Hendon, who offers to help him return to the palace. Meanwhile, news reaches them that King Henry VIII has died and Edward is the rightful king.
After a series of adventures, including a stint in prison, Edward manages to exchange places with Tom just as the latter is about to celebrate his coronation. Tom is eager to give up the throne, but the nobles refuse to believe that the beggarly child is the rightful king, until he produces the Great Seal that he had hidden before leaving the palace. Later, Miles is rewarded with a raised noble rank of an Earl and the unique family right to sit in the presence of the king. As for Tom, in gratitude in supporting the new King's claim to the throne, Edward names him "The King's Ward," a privileged position he holds for the rest of his life..
[edit] Literary significance & criticism
Much of the humor in the book originates in the two boys' inability to function in the world that is so familiar to the other, although Tom soon displays considerable wisdom in his decisions. In many ways, the book is a social satire, particularly compelling in its condemnation of the inequality that existed between the classes in Tudor England. In that sense, Twain abandons the wry Midwestern style for which he is best known and adopts a style reminiscent of Charles Dickens.
Though not as popular among critics as Twain's other works, the book foreshadowed the author's successful forays into historical fiction with A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In the later book, Twain depicted some manifestly unjust laws prevailing in Tudor England as if they had already existed in the 5th century society of King Arthur - an obvious anachronism .
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
The book was later adapted for the stage in an episode that involved Twain in a serious lawsuit with the playwright. It was also the basis of several films. A silent version, much abridged, was produced, as one of his first films, by Alexander Korda in Austria in 1920 under the title Der Prinz und der Bettelknabe. The 1937 version starred Errol Flynn (as Hendon) and twins Billy and Bobby Mauch as Tom Canty and Edward Tudor respectively. The film was originally intended to coincide with the coronation of King George VI, but its release was delayed and it was first screened the following year.
There was a 1962 Disney 3-part Wonderful World of Disney adaptation with Guy Williams as Miles Hendon.
A 1977 film version of the story, starring Oliver Reed as Miles Hendon, co-starring Mark Lester and Raquel Welch, and directed by Richard Fleischer, was released in the UK as The Prince and the Pauper but in the US under the title Crossed Swords.
The BBC produced a television adaptation by Richard Harris, consisting of six 30 minute episodes, in 1976. Nicholas Lyndhurst played both Prince Edward and Tom Canty. It was adapted again in 1996.
The book was also adapted by The Walt Disney Company into a 24-minute short film starring Mickey Mouse, which was released in 1990 and screened with The Rescuers Down Under. In 2000 it was adapted again, and in 2004 it was adapted yet again, this time into an 85-minute CGI-animated musical, Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper, with Barbie playing both the blonde Princess Anneliese and the brunette pauper, Erika. Martin Short provided the voice for the villain, Preminger. The film was released directly to DVD and VHS. In 2006 Garfield's second live-action film entitled Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, was yet another adaptation of the classic book.
In addition a Giles Foster film based on the same novel was released in 2000 starring: Aidan Quinn (as Miles Hendon), Alan Bates, Jonathan Hyde, Jonathan Timmins, Robert Timmins.
In 2007, there will be a new movie about a modern-day Prince and The Pauper story starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse.
In some of these versions, Prince Edward takes the precaution of carrying identification when he assumes Tom's role; an idea whose effectiveness varies depending on the versions.
In music, the Canadian geek rock band Moxy Früvous recorded the song King of Spain which is a modern retelling of the famed story, as the former King works at the Pizza Pizza.
On the Wishbone TV series, there was an episode titled The Prince and the Pooch.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Prince and the Pauper - searchable, indexed e-text.de:Der Prinz und der Bettelknabe
fr:Le Prince et le Pauvre he:בן המלך והעני lt:Princas ir elgeta ja:王子と乞食 pl:Książę i żebrak ro:Prinţ şi cerşetor simple:The Prince and the Pauper zh:乞丐王子
