View source for The Prince and the Pauper

{{short description|1882 novel by Mark Twain}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book
| name         = The Prince and the Pauper
| title_orig   =
| translator   =
| image        = The Prince and the pauper bookcover.jpg
| caption      = First US edition
| author       = [[Mark Twain]]
| illustrator  =
| cover_artist =
| country      = United States
| language     = English
| subject      = [[Edward VI of England]]
| genre        = [[Realistic fiction]]<br />Children's literature
| publisher    = [[James R. Osgood]] & Co.
| pub_date     = 1881 (Canada), 1882 (U.S)
| isbn         =
| oclc         =
| preceded_by  =
| followed_by  =
| wikisource   = The Prince and the Pauper
}}
[[File:The Prince and The Pauper - 33-395.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The ''pauper'' and Prince Edward as imagined in 1882.]]
'''''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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Twain |first= Mark|title= The Prince and the Pauper; A Tale for Young People of All Ages |year=1882 |place= Boston |publisher= James R. Osgood and Company |url= https://archive.org/details/princepaupertale00twai4/page/n9|access-date=January 30, 2019 |via= Internet Archive}}</ref> The novel represents Twain's first attempt at [[historical fiction]]. The plot concerns the accession of nine-year-old [[Edward VI of England]] in 1547 and his interactions with [[look-alike]] [[Tom Canty]], a London [[pauperism|pauper]] who lives with his abusive, alcoholic father.

==Plot==
{{anchor|Plot summary}}
[[Tom Canty]], the youngest child of a very poor family living in Offal Court, located in [[London]], [[England]], has been abused by his father and his grandmother but is encouraged by the local [[priest]], who taught him to read and write. Loitering around the [[Palace of Westminster]] gates one day, Tom sees [[Edward VI|Edward Tudor]], the [[Prince of Wales]]. Coming too close in his intense excitement, he is caught and nearly beaten by the royal guards. However, Edward stops them and invites Tom into his palace chamber. There, the two boys get to know one another and are fascinated by each other's lives. They have an uncanny resemblance to each other and learn they were even born on the same day, so they decide to swap clothes "temporarily". Edward hides an item, which the reader later learns is the [[Great Seal of the Realm|Great Seal of England]], and goes outside to confront the guards who abused Tom; however, dressed as Tom, he is not recognized by the guards, who drive him from the palace.

Tom, dressed as Edward, tries to cope with court customs and manners after being mistaken for the prince. Edward's father, [[Henry VIII|King Henry VIII]], his fellow nobles, and the palace staff think the prince has an illness that has caused [[Amnesia|memory loss]] and fear he will go [[Insanity|mad]]. After King Henry dies, Tom is repeatedly asked about the missing Great Seal of England, but he knows nothing about it. However, when Tom is asked to sit in on judgments, his common-sense observations reassure them that his mind is sound.

Edward eventually finds his way through the streets to the Canty home, where the Canty family believes him to be Tom. There, he is subjected to the brutality of Tom's [[Alcoholism|alcoholic]] father, from whom he manages to escape, and meets Miles Hendon, a soldier and nobleman returning from war. Although Miles does not believe Edward's claims to royalty, he humors him and becomes his protector. Meanwhile, news reaches them that King Henry has died and Edward has become king.

As Edward experiences the brutal life of a London pauper firsthand, he becomes aware of the stark class inequality in England. In particular, he sees the harsh, punitive nature of the English judicial system, under which people are burned at the stake, pilloried, and flogged. He realizes that the accused are convicted on flimsy evidence and branded or hanged for petty offenses, and he vows to reign with mercy when he regains his rightful place. When Edward declares to a gang of thieves that he is the king and will put an end to unjust laws, they assume he is insane and hold a mock [[coronation]].

After a series of adventures, including a stint in prison, Edward interrupts the [[coronation of Edward VI|coronation]] as Tom is about to be crowned king. The nobles are shocked at their resemblance but refuse to believe that Edward is the rightful king wearing Tom's clothes until he produces the Great Seal of England that he hid before leaving the palace. Edward and Tom switch back to their original places, and Edward is crowned King Edward VI of England. Miles is rewarded with the rank of [[Earl]] and the family right to sit in the king's presence. In gratitude for supporting the new king's claim to the throne, Edward names Tom the "King's Ward", a privileged position he holds for the rest of his life. The novel ends stating that Tom lived a long life, although it would have been unlikely for both of them to survive the reign of [[Mary I of England|Mary I]], while Edward died at the age of 15.

==Themes==
The introductory quote—"The quality of mercy is . . . twice blest; / It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: / 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes / The throned monarch better than his crown"—is part of the "[[The quality of mercy (Shakespeare quote)|quality of mercy]]" speech from [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]'s ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]''.

While written for children, ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is both a critique of social inequality and a criticism of judging others by their appearance. Twain wrote of the book, "My idea is to afford a realizing sense of the exceeding severity of the laws of that day by inflicting some of their penalties upon the King himself and allowing him a chance to see the rest of them applied to others..."<ref name=Cope>{{cite web|url=http://www.penguin.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/princepauper.pdf|last1=Cope|first1=Jim|last2=Cope|first2=Wendy|title=A Teacher's Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper}}</ref>

==History==
Having returned from a second [[Grand Tour|European tour]]—which formed the basis of ''[[A Tramp Abroad]]'' (1880)—Twain read extensively about English and French history. Initially intended as a play, the book was originally set in [[Victorian England]] before Twain decided to set it further back in time.<ref name="Emerson">{{cite book|last=Emerson|first=Everett|url=https://archive.org/details/marktwainliterar0000emer|title=Mark Twain, A Literary Life|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|year=2000|isbn=9780812235166|page=[https://archive.org/details/marktwainliterar0000emer/page/119 119]|quote=the prince and the pauper theme.|url-access=registration}}</ref> He wrote ''The Prince and the Pauper'' having already started ''[[Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]]''. 
[[File:The_Prince_and_the_pauper_13-149.jpg|thumb|Chapter head by Ludvig Sandöe Ipsen]]
The "whipping-boy story", originally meant as a chapter to be part of ''The Prince and the Pauper'', was published in the [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] ''Bazar Budget'' of July 4, 1880, before Twain deleted it from the novel at the suggestion of [[William Dean Howells]].{{why|date=October 2017}}

Ultimately, ''The Prince and the Pauper'' was published by subscription by James R. Osgood of Boston, with illustrations by Frank Thayer Merrill, John Harley and [[Ludvig Sandöe Ipsen]].<ref name="Rasmussen">{{cite book |last1=Rasmussen |first1=R. Kent |title=Mark Twain A–Z |date=1995 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York Oxford |isbn=0-19-511028-5 |page=314}}</ref>

The book bears a dedication to Twain's daughters, Susie and Clara Clemens, and is subtitled "A Tale For Young People of All Ages".<ref name=Emerson/>
[[File:Eul ms 202 1898 06 theatre royal playbill.jpg|alt=Tall white playbill with black lettering, advertising a performance of The Prince and the Pauper at the Theatre Royal in Exeter on 28 February 1898|thumb|Playbill for a performance of ''The Prince and the Pauper'' at the Theatre Royal in Exeter on 28 February 1898]]

==Adaptations==
{{anchor|Film, TV, theatrical, and other adaptations}}
{{main|List of adaptations of The Prince and the Pauper}}
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2015}}

=== Theater ===
[[File:Prince-and-Pauper-Faversham-Findlay.jpg|thumb|[[William Faversham]] and [[Ruth Findlay]] in the Broadway production of [[Amélie Rives Troubetzkoy|Amélie Rives]]' adaptation of ''The Prince and the Pauper'' (1920)]]
''The Prince and the Pauper'' was adapted for the stage during Twain's lifetime, an adaptation that involved Twain in litigation with the playwright.<ref name="TwainQuotesNYT">{{cite web|title=The New York Times, March 9, 1890 MARK TWAIN IS DEFEATED. "THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER" CASE DECIDED.|url=http://www.twainquotes.com/18900309.html|website=TwainQuotes.com|access-date=11 August 2016|quote=Edward H,. House, the invalid playwright, has won in his suit against Samuel L. Clemens, (Mark Twain.) Judge Daly in the Court of Common Please yesterday handed down a decision enjoining Daniel Frohman from producing Mrs. Abby Sage Richardson's dramatization of the wealthy Hartford humorist's novel. "The Prince and the Pauper," which recently was seen in this city on the stage of the Broadway Theatre.}}</ref> In November 1920, a stage adaption by [[Amélie Rives Troubetzkoy|Amélie Rives]] opened on Broadway under the direction of [[William Faversham]], with Faversham as Miles Hendon and [[Ruth Findlay]] playing both Tom Canty and Prince Edward.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Prince and the Pauper|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=8340|work=IBDB Internet Broadway Database|publisher=The Broadway League|access-date=1 July 2012|author=Staff|year=2001–2012}}</ref>

A studio-cast musical adaptation with book/lyrics by Verna Tomasson and music by [[George Fischoff]] was recorded in 1963 on [[London Recordings|London Records]] (AM 98001/AMS 98001), with Joan Shepard as Tom Canty, Carol Blodgett as Prince Edward, [[John Davidson (entertainer)|John Davidson]] as Miles Hendon, Flora Elkins as Lady Anne, Joe Bousard as John Canty and Robert McHaffey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/13468518-George-Fischoff-Verna-Tomasson-The-Prince-And-The-Pauper-Original-Cast-Recording|title=George Fischoff, Verna Tomasson – The Prince And The Pauper Original Cast Recording|website=Discogs.com|access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref> Another version of this musical was recorded on [[Pickwick Records]] (SPC-3204) with the misleading cover blurb stating that it was the "Original Soundtrack from the New Movie".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/12364189-Unknown-Artist-Original-Soundtrack-From-The-New-Movie-The-Prince-And-The-Pauper|title= Original Soundtrack From The New Movie The Prince And The Pauper|website=Discogs.com|access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>

An [[Off-Broadway]] musical with music by [[Neil Berg]] opened at [[Lamb's Theatre]] on June 16, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Prince and the Pauper|url=http://www.iobdb.com/Production/1385|website=iobdb.com|access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref> The original cast included Dennis Michael Hall as Prince Edward, [[Gerard Canonico]] as Tom Canty, [[Rob Evan]] as Miles Hendon, Stephen Zinnato as Hugh Hendon, Rita Harvey as Lady Edith, [[Michael McCormick (actor)|Michael McCormick]] as John Canty, Robert Anthony Jones as the Hermit/Dresser, Sally Wilfert as Mary Canty, [[Allison Fischer]] as Lady Jane and Aloysius Gigl as Father Andrew. The musical closed on August 31, 2003.

English playwright [[Jemma Kennedy]] adapted the story into a musical drama, which was performed at the [[Unicorn Theatre]] in London between 2012 and 2013, directed by [[Selina Cartmell]], and starred twins Danielle and Nichole Bird as the Prince and the Pauper and [[Jake Harders]] as Miles Hendon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unicorntheatre.com/the-prince-and-the-pauper|title=Unicorn Theatre - The Prince and the Pauper|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729172223/http://unicorntheatre.com/the-prince-and-the-pauper |archive-date=July 29, 2012 }}</ref>

A musical adaptation has been produced by the [[Shiki Theatre Company]] in Japan. In 2025, it was revived under the title "The Prince and the Boy", because the word used as a translation for "pauper", "''kojiki''", was considered insulting.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=FthbsaW1WPDuBizi&v=RgUKmalgRVk&feature=youtu.be |title=劇団四季：王子と少年：プロモーションVTR |date=2024-11-28 |last=shikichannel |access-date=2025-03-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref> It has music by Toshihiko Sahashi and Izumitaku, and lyrics by Yutaka Watanabe and Koji Ishizaka.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ミュージカル『王子と少年』作品紹介 {{!}} 劇団四季【公式サイト】 |url=https://www.shiki.jp/applause/ohji/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=劇団四季 |language=ja}}</ref>

=== Comics ===
[[File:CC Prince and Pauper.JPG|thumb|alt=Comic-book cover, with young boy menaced by a bearded, knife-wielding man|1946 ''Classic Comics'' cover]]
In 1946, the story was adapted into comics form by Arnold L. Hicks in ''[[Classics Illustrated]]'' ("''Classic Comics''") #29, published by [[Gilberton (publisher)|Gilberton]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Twain|first=Mark|title=The Prince and the Pauper|date=1946|publisher=Gilberton|url=https://archive.org/details/ClassicsIllustrated029ThePrinceAndThePauper}}</ref>

In 1962, [[Dell Comics]] published ''Walt Disney's The Prince and the Pauper'', illustrated by [[Dan Spiegle]], based on the three-part television adaptation produced by ''[[Walt Disney anthology television series|Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color]]''.<ref>''Walt Disney's The Prince and the Pauper'' #01654-207 (Dell, May–July 1962).</ref>

The British comic ''[[Nipper (comic)|Nipper]]'' had a regular strip called ''Will and Bill'' that updated the concept to be about the young [[Prince William]] regularly swapping places with a working-class boy who looked identical to him.

In 1990, [[Disney Comics (publishing)|Disney Comics]] published ''Disney's The Prince and the Pauper'', by Scott Saavedra and Sergio Asteriti, based on the [[The Prince and the Pauper (1990 film)|animated featurette starring Mickey Mouse]].<ref>''Disney's The Prince and the Pauper'' (Disney Comics, Nov. 1990).</ref>

=== Film ===
The novel has also been the basis of several films. In some versions, Prince Edward carries identification when he assumes Tom's role. While animations such as the Mickey Mouse version retell the story, other cartoons employ parody (including an episode of the animated television show ''[[Johnny Bravo]]'' in which Twain appears, begging cartoonists to "let this tired story die").<ref>''Johnny Bravo'' season 2, episode 3 ([[Hanna-Barbera]] Productions, 21 August 1999).</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] suggested that the 1983 comedy film ''[[Trading Places]]'' (starring [[Dan Aykroyd]] and [[Eddie Murphy]]) has similarities to Twain's tale due to the two characters' switching lives (although not by choice).<ref>{{cite news|last=Ebert |first=Roger |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19830609/REVIEWS/306090301/1023 |title=Trading Places Movie Review & Film Summary (1983) &#124; Roger Ebert |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date= 9 June 1983|access-date=2013-04-10}}</ref>

A much-abridged [[The Prince and the Pauper (1920 film)|1920 silent version]] was produced (as one of his first films) by [[Alexander Korda]] in [[Austria]] entitled ''[[Der Prinz und der Bettelknabe]]''.

The [[The Prince and the Pauper (1937 film)|1937 version]] by Warner Bros. was its biggest hit for the year and starred [[Errol Flynn]] (as Hendon), [[Claude Rains]], [[Alan Hale Sr.|Alan Hale]], and twins [[Billy and Bobby Mauch]] (as Tom Canty and Edward Tudor, respectively).

A 1977 film version of the story, starring [[Oliver Reed]] as Miles Hendon, [[Rex Harrison]] as the [[Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk|Duke of Norfolk]], [[Mark Lester]] as Edward/Tom, [[Ernest Borgnine]] as John Canty, [[Charlton Heston]] as Henry VIII, and [[Raquel Welch]] and directed by [[Richard Fleischer]], was released in the UK as ''[[The Prince and the Pauper (1977 film)|The Prince and the Pauper]]'' and in the US as ''Crossed Swords''.

In 1990, [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] released an [[The Prince and the Pauper (1990 film)|animated featurette]] inspired by the novel and starring [[Mickey Mouse]]. In this version, Mickey "plays" both of the title roles, with a cast of other Disney characters.

''[[It Takes Two (1995 film)|It Takes Two]]'', starring twins [[Mary-Kate Olsen|Mary-Kate]] and [[Ashley Olsen]], is another loose adaptation of this story, in which two look-alike girls, one the wealthy daughter of a wireless service tycoon and the other an orphan, switch places in order to experience each other's lives. Similarly, 2000's ''[[Model Behavior]]'', which originally aired on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Disney anthology television series|The Wonderful World of Disney]]'', stars [[Maggie Lawson]] as a teenage model and an ordinary high schooler who also decide to switch places.

A 2000 made-for-TV film directed by [[Giles Foster]] stars [[Aidan Quinn]] (as Miles Hendon), [[Alan Bates]], [[Jonathan Hyde]], and identical twins Jonathan and Robert Timmins.

In 2004, ''The Prince and the Pauper'' was adapted into an 85-minute animated [[musical film|musical]], ''[[Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper]]'', with [[Barbie]] playing the blonde Princess Anneliese and the brunette pauper Erika. In 2012, a second animated musical adaptation was released, titled ''[[Barbie: The Princess and the Popstar]]''. In it, Barbie plays a blonde princess named Victoria (Tori) and a brunette pop star named Keira. Both crave the life of another; one day, they meet and magically change places.

[[Garfield]]'s second live-action film, 2006's ''[[Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties]]'', is another adaptation of the classic story, although its title references [[Charles Dickens]]'s ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]''.

A 2007 film, ''[[A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper]]'', stars identical twins [[Dylan and Cole Sprouse]].

Another loose adaptation, ''[[Monte Carlo (2011 film)|Monte Carlo]]'', was released in 2011 by [[20th Century Fox]] and stars [[Selena Gomez]].

A [[Telugu film]] version, ''[[Raju Peda]]'', was released in 1954, starring [[N. T. Rama Rao]] and directed and produced, for Indian television, by [[B. A. Subba Rao]] and dubbed into [[Tamil Language|Tamil]] as ''Aandi Petra Selvam'' in 1957. Later, a [[Hindi film]] version, ''[[Raja Aur Runk]]'', was directed by [[Kotayya Pratyagatma]] and released in 1968. These films "Indianized" many of the episodes in the original story. A 1983 [[Kannada]] movie, ''[[Eradu Nakshatragalu]]'', was also inspired by ''The Prince and the Pauper''. The 1996 [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Tere Mere Sapne (1996 film)|Tere Mere Sapne]]'' is loosely based upon this story, in which two boys born on exactly the same date switch places to experience the other's life while learning valuable lessons along the way. In 2020, another [[Telugu film]] version, ''[[Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo]]'', was released, with the [[Hindi]]-language remake ''[[Shehzada (2023 film)|Shehzada]]'' released in 2023.

=== Television ===
A 1962 three-part ''[[Walt Disney anthology television series|Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color]]'' television adaptation features [[Guy Williams (actor)|Guy Williams]] as Miles Hendon. Both Prince Edward and Tom Canty are played by [[Sean Scully (actor)|Sean Scully]], using the split-screen technique that Disney had used in ''[[The Parent Trap (1961 film)|The Parent Trap]]'' (1961) with [[Hayley Mills]].

The 21st episode of ''[[The Monkees (TV series)|The Monkees]]'', aired on February 6, 1967, is titled "The Prince and the Paupers".

The ''Josie and the Pussycats'' episode "Swap Plot Flop" has Valerie agreeing to pose as a kidnapped princess who looks just like her, only for the plan to backfire.

An episode of ''The Osmonds'' called "Jimmy and James in London" has Jimmy and Fuji switching places with their doppelgangers.

In a 1976 ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]'', [[Lance Kerwin]] plays the dual role in a modern American-based adaptation of the story titled "[[ABC Afterschool Special#Season Five (1976-77)|P.J. and the President's Son]]".

The [[BBC]] produced a television adaptation by [[Richard Harris (television writer)|writer Richard Harris]], consisting of six thirty-minute episodes, in 1976. [[Nicholas Lyndhurst]] plays both Prince Edward and Tom Canty.

''[[Ringo (1978 film)|Ringo]]'', a 1978 TV special starring [[Ringo Starr]], involves the former [[Beatles]] drummer trading places with a talentless look-alike.

The BBC TV comedy series ''[[Blackadder the Third]]'' has an episode, "[[Duel and Duality]]", in which the [[George IV of the United Kingdom|Prince Regent]] believes that the [[Duke of Wellington]] is after him. The prince swaps clothes with his butler Blackadder and says, "This reminds of that story 'The Prince and the Porpoise'." Blackadder corrects him: "and the ''Pauper''," to which the prince replies, "Ah yes, the Prince and the Porpoise and the Pauper." Since ''Blackadder the Third'' is set during the early 1800s, this is an [[anachronism]].

In 1996, PBS aired a ''[[Wishbone (TV series)|Wishbone]]'' adaptation titled [[List of Wishbone episodes|"The Prince and the Pooch"]], with [[Soccer (dog)|Wishbone]] playing both Tom Canty and Edward VI.

The BBC produced a six-part dramatization of the story in 1996, adapted by [[Julian Fellowes]], starring [[James Purefoy]], with [[Keith Michell]] reprising his role of Henry VIII. This series was nominated for a [[British Academy Children's Award]].<ref>Parrill and Robison. "The Prince and the Pauper (November 10 - December 15, 1996)". The Tudors on Film and Television. Macfarland & Company. 2013. pp [https://archive.org/details/tudorsonfilmtele0000parr/page/170/mode/1up 170] to 173. See also pp 5 and 7.</ref><ref>McGown and Docherty. "The Prince and the Pauper". The Hill and Beyond: Children's Television Drama: An Encyclopedia. British Film Institute. 2003. [https://archive.org/details/hillbeyondchildr0000mcgo/page/257/mode/1up p 257].</ref><ref>Hischak. "The Prince and the Pauper". American Literature on Stage and Screen. Macfarland & Company. 2012. pp 184 and [https://archive.org/details/americanliteratu0000hisc/page/185/mode/1up 185].</ref>

A 2011 episode of ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]'' ("Make Play", season 2, episode 64) follows a similar storyline, with Candace switching places with Princess Baldegunde of Drusselstein and discovering that royal life is dull.

''[[Switched at Birth (TV series)|Switched at Birth]]'' is an American teen and family drama television series that premiered on [[Freeform (TV channel)|ABC Family]] on June 6, 2011{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}.

Starting with the episode "The Shepherd" (which premiered on December 4, 2011), the TV series ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'' introduces a version of the story where a shepherd named [[David Nolan (Once Upon a Time)|David]] is the Pauper and Prince James is the Prince.

In 2017 [[Hallmark Channel]] released the movie ''Switched at Christmas'', starring [[Candace Cameron Bure]] playing both twin sisters Kate Lockhart and Chris Dixon who swap after comparing their lifes.

The 2017 Japanese anime series ''[[Princess Principal]]'' uses a similar story as the background for the characters Ange and Princess Charlotte; their history is revealed by Ange under the guise of a fairy tale named "The Princess and the Pickpocket". Ten years prior to the start of the series, Ange, who was actually the real Princess Charlotte, met Princess, who was actually a common pickpocket named Ange and looked identical to her. They befriended one another and eventually decided to trade places for a day. Soon after the switch, however, a Revolution broke out and divided their country, separating the girls and leaving them trapped in each other's roles.

In ''[[The Princess Switch]]'' (a Netflix romantic Christmas film released in November 2018 starring [[Vanessa Hudgens]]), Margaret, the Duchess of Montenaro, changes places with baker Stacy, whom she accidentally meets. That plot results in 2 new love stories. This film is the first installment in the [[The Princess Switch (film series)|''Princess Switch'' trilogy]]. It was followed by a [[sequel]], ''[[The Princess Switch: Switched Again]]'', which premiered on November 19, 2020, and the [[threequel]], ''[[The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star]]'', which premiered on November 18, 2021. The series is produced by [[Netflix]] and released exclusively through its streaming services as [[List of Netflix original films (since 2021)|Netflix Original Films]].

''[[Sister Swap]]'' is a 2021 American series of TV films starring sisters [[Kimberly Williams-Paisley]] and [[Ashley Williams (actress)|Ashley Williams]]. The films were originally broadcast on [[Hallmark Channel]], as part of the channel's "Countdown to Christmas" seasonal programming.

=== Video games ===
In 1996, C&E, a Taiwanese software company, released an RPG video game for [[Sega Genesis]] entitled 新乞丐王子/''Xīn qǐgài wángzǐ'' ("New Beggar Prince"). Its story was inspired by the book, with the addition of fantastic elements such as magic, monsters, and other RPG themes. The game was [[Software portability|ported]] to PC in 1998. It was eventually licensed in an English translation and released in 2006 as ''[[Beggar Prince]]'' by independent game publisher [[Super Fighter Team]]. This was one of the first new games for the discontinued Sega platform since 1998 and is perhaps the first video game adaptation of the book.

==See also==
{{Portal|Children's literature}}
* [[Cultural depictions of Edward VI]]
*[[William Featherstone]], a man who claimed to be Edward VI after the latter's death
* ''[[The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later]]'' (1850), the third volume of [[Alexandre Dumas]]' Musketeers series, featuring a "royal [[doppelgänger]]" subplot based on the [[Man in the Iron Mask]] legend.
* ''[[The Prisoner of Zenda]]'' (1894), the first volume of [[Anthony Hope]]'s Ruritania series, also involving a royal substitution with a double. It has been parodied almost as frequently as ''The Prince and the Pauper''.

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikisource}}
{{Commons category-inline|The Prince and the Pauper}}
*{{StandardEbooks|Standard Ebooks URL=https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/mark-twain/the-prince-and-the-pauper}}
*{{Gutenberg|no=1837}} 
*{{librivox book | title=The Prince and the Pauper | author=Mark Twain}}
*[https://archive.org/details/lp_the-prince-and-the-pauper_the-prince-and-the-pauper-original-cast Listen to the Studio Cast musical of ''The Prince and the Pauper''] on [[Internet Archive]]
{{Twain}}
{{The Prince and the Pauper}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prince And The Pauper}}
[[Category:1880s children's books]]
[[Category:1881 American novels]]
[[Category:American children's novels]]
[[Category:American novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:American novels adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Children's books set in London]]
[[Category:Children's books set in the 16th century]]
[[Category:Children's historical novels]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Edward VI]]
[[Category:Fictional duos]]
[[Category:Fictional impostors]]
[[Category:Fictional tricksters]]
[[Category:Fiction set in the 1540s]]
[[Category:Novels about royalty]]
[[Category:Novels by Mark Twain]]
[[Category:Novels set in Tudor England]]