The Prince and the Pauper
By Mark Twain (1881)
Two boys born in London on the same day—Prince Edward Tudor and beggar-boy Tom Canty—exchange clothes on a whim and discover the realities of power, poverty, and justice.
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Chapter 1: The Birth of Prince Edward and Tom Canty
All England rejoices over the royal baby, while in Offal Court the beggar baby is born unheeded.
The Birth of Prince Edward and Tom Canty
All England rejoices over the royal baby, while in Offal Court the beggar baby is born unheeded.
[Complete Public Domain Work — Pre-1928 Edition.]
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Table of Contents
33 ChaptersEvery chapter below is pre-indexed for oral narration and easy 1-click scheduling into your weekly Charlotte Mason lesson plan.
Chapter 1: The Birth of Prince Edward and Tom Canty
All England rejoices over the royal baby, while in Offal Court the beggar baby is born unheeded.
Chapter 2: Tom's Meeting with the Prince
Tom gazes through the palace gates; the prince invites him in; swapping velvet for rags.
Chapter 3: The Prince Turned into the Street
The palace guards drive the prince into the rain, believing him the beggar boy; the prince experiences brutal street life.
Chapter 4: Tom Canty as Prince of Wales
Tom forced to play the prince; using the Great Seal of England to crack nuts.
Chapter 5: The Noble Miles Hendon
The disinherited soldier takes pity on the ragged boy, defending him from mobs and demanding only the right to sit in the royal presence.
Chapter 6: The Prince Experiences the Cruelty of the Law
Watching poor women burned for witchcraft, men boiled in oil for petty thefts; vowing to make his laws merciful.
Chapter 7: Tom Canty's Reign at Westminster
Pardoning the condemned, showing intuitive mercy and winning the love of the court.
Chapter 8: The Coronation Ceremony at Westminster Abbey
Tom in royal robes; the ragged prince steps forward; proving his identity by revealing where the Great Seal was hidden.
Chapter 9: King Edward VI: The Merciful Monarch
A king who reigned with gentleness because he had tasted the suffering of his poorest subjects.
CHAPTER X. The Prince in the toils.: We left John Canty dragging the rightful prince into Offal Court, with
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 10
CHAPTER XI. At Guildhall.: The royal barge, attended by its gorgeous fleet, took its stately way
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 11
CHAPTER XII. The Prince and his Deliverer.: As soon as Miles Hendon and the little prince were clear of the mob,
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 12
CHAPTER XIII. The disappearance of the Prince.: A heavy drowsiness presently fell upon the two comrades. The King
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIV. ‘Le Roi est mort--vive le Roi.’: Toward daylight of the same morning, Tom Canty stirred out of a heavy
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 14
CHAPTER XV. Tom as King.: The next day the foreign ambassadors came, with their gorgeous trains;
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 15
CHAPTER XVI. The State Dinner.: The dinner hour drew near--yet strangely enough, the thought brought
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 16
CHAPTER XVII. Foo-foo the First.: Miles Hendon hurried along toward the Southwark end of the bridge,
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 17
CHAPTER XVIII. The Prince with the Tramps.: The troop of vagabonds turned out at early dawn, and set forward on
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 18
CHAPTER XIX. The Prince with the peasants.: When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 19
CHAPTER XX. The Prince and the hermit.: The high hedge hid him from the house, now; and so, under the impulse of
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 20
CHAPTER XXI. Hendon to the rescue.: The old man glided away, stooping, stealthy, cat-like, and brought the
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 21
CHAPTER XXII. A Victim of Treachery.: Once more ‘King Foo-foo the First’ was roving with the tramps and
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 22
CHAPTER XXIII. The Prince a prisoner.: Hendon forced back a smile, and bent down and whispered in the King’s
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIV. The Escape.: The short winter day was nearly ended. The streets were deserted, save
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 24
CHAPTER XXV. Hendon Hall.: As soon as Hendon and the King were out of sight of the constable, his
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 25
CHAPTER XXVI. Disowned.: The King sat musing a few moments, then looked up and said--
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 26
CHAPTER XXVII. In Prison.: The cells were all crowded; so the two friends were chained in a large
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 27
CHAPTER XXVIII. The sacrifice.: Meantime Miles was growing sufficiently tired of confinement and
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 28
CHAPTER XXIX. To London.: When Hendon’s term of service in the stocks was finished, he was
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 29
CHAPTER XXX. Tom’s progress.: Whilst the true King wandered about the land poorly clad, poorly
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 30
CHAPTER XXXI. The Recognition procession.: When Tom Canty awoke the next morning, the air was heavy with a
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 31
CHAPTER XXXII. Coronation Day.: Let us go backward a few hours, and place ourselves in Westminster
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 32
CHAPTER XXXIII. Edward as King.: Miles Hendon was picturesque enough before he got into the riot on
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain — Chapter 33
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