The Prince and the Pauper

By: Mark Twain

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

When street urchin Tom Cantry trades places with Edward VI, Prince of Wales, he thinks everything's going to be easy. But young Tom finds himself caught in the trappings of a Prince, while possessing the heart of a beggar. The Prince and the Pauper is one of the more famous stories in children's literature, as well as one of the greatest "trading places" story of all time, showcasing Twain's satirical wit and acute sense of political irony.Public Domain (P)1994 Recorded Books, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A tale ingenious in conception, pure and humane in purpose, artistic in method, and, with barely a flaw, refined in execution." (Atlantic Monthly)

A great yarn

This is clearly aimed at a younger audience than some of Twain's works. But it's a rollicking swashbuckler, full of plot twists and verbal treats, and Norman Dietz narrates it in exactly the right tone. If Twain had to write "Tom Sawyer" before he could tackle "Huckleberry Finn," maybe he had to write this one before he could tackle "Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." Among other things, I don't think he's gotten enough credit for his expert recreation of Tudor speech -- it sounds pretty convincing to me! Last time I read this, I was 10 years old, and it hasn't lost any of its ability to charm in the last 40-odd years.

love this book

good story that all ages will like, let see the world for what it is.

The book is good, but the recording is terrible.

I'm a big fan of Mark Twain and have been revisiting his works through audiobooks much to my satisfaction, until now. This recording is so grainy and poor that I can barely understand it. I'm sorry I wasted good money on this.