Set in sixteenth-century England, The Prince and the Pauper is Mark Twain's timeless tale of identical strangers, the penniless Tom Canty living in the London slums and the royal Prince Edward, who switch places and experience what the other's life has to offer. Subtitled "A Tale for Young People of All Ages, " The Prince and the Pauper blends action and comedy with a witty satire of social hierarchy that has resonated with readers for generations.