The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

The Prince and the Pauper is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in
Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt
at historical fiction. It tells the story of two young boys who were born on the same day and are identical in
appearance: Tom Canty, a pauper who lives with his abusive, alcoholic father in Offal Court off Pudding
Lane in London, and Edward VI of England, son of Henry VIII of England.

It’s a story of 2 young boys Edward and Tom. One was born as a Prince of England, and another one in a
poor household. The streets were very narrow and dirty in the part where Tom Canty lived, which was not
far from London Bridge. The house was called Offal Court, out of Pudding Lane. It was small but packed full
of wretchedly poor families. Canty's tribe occupied a room on the third floor. The mother and father had a
sort of bedstead in the corner; but Tom, his grandmother, and his two sisters, Bet and Nan had all the floor
to themselves. Bet and Nan were fifteen years old--twins. They were good-hearted girls, unclean, clothed in
rags, and profoundly ignorant. Their mother was like them. But the father and the grandmother were
abusive alcoholics. They forced him and his 2 sisters to beg and beat them.

This was the first time I read Mark Twain`s book, but I’m not sure if I’m going to pick his work again
anytime sooner. The reason is his writing and narratives, complex language did no good to me. This novel
put me nearly in reading slump. But as the same time, I like how he wrote this historical fiction with
accurate details of gentlefolk and elites. The different characters support the leads and help them to
reach their destinations despite their own miseries is commendable. I’m not going to recommend this
book but if you’re into classics, give it a try.