A historical novel for the young, Twain's classic tells the story of Tom Canty, a pauper boy who possesses a fascinating resemblance to Prince Edward. Prince Edward persuades Tom to change clothes with him, only to find himself chased from his palace by mistake. The pauper boy is treated like a prince, while Prince Edward wanders the streets of London in rags & sees first-hand the wretchedness of the poor & the cruelty of the law. King Henry VIII dies & the prince's identity is finally established when he alone can reveal the whereabouts of the Great Seal, which is missing. The prince becomes King Edward VI & during his reign, does his best to keep in mind the lessons he learned during his own days as a pauper.