The Prince and the Pauper

The story of two boys – one rich, one poor – exchanging places is so familiar that we forget that the original tale, The Prince and the Pauper, was Mark Twain's. His story, set in Tudor London, follows the fortunes of Tom Canty (resident of Offal Court, father a thief) and Prince Edward (son of Henry VIII, master of all he surveys). During a chance meeting they swap clothes, amused that they look so alike. But a harmless joke turns into a great error, and Edward, in Tom's rags, is thrown out of the palace, whilst Tom is led away to assume his royal duties.