This book follows the story of two young boys-Tom Canty (a beggar from London) and Edward, Prince of Wales-who, through as bizarre set of circumstances, switch places, and are thrown into the other's life.

The two boys are so alike, that nobody realises anything is amiss. Even King Henry VIII, does not know the boy before him is not his son.

Since the two boys constantly claim they are not who people think they are, everyone comes to believe they are insane.

Tom Canty spends much of the novel living the life of a prince, and later a king, while Edward Tudor spends his time either in the company of thieves and murderers, or with Sir Miles Hendon (who saves Edward Tudor from an unruly mob).

Despite living in opulent luxury and having everyone carrying out his every whim and command, Tom Canty slowly tires of his life in the palace. He comes to hope that Edward will reappear and switch places again, but Tom is soon on his way to Westminster Palace for his coronation as king.

Through his many adventures, Edward comes to see how much the ordinary people of England suffer under the law. He promises to learn from his time away from the palace and hopes it will make him a better king.

That is if he makes it to the coronation.

Anyone who enjoys historical dramatisations

The time and devotion that Mark Twain spent getting the language of the era right. The whole book is written in as close to 16th century English as you'll find.

Mark Twain is an American author, probably best known for his novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". He was born in 1835 and died in 1910, and he had been lauded as the greatest humourist America has produced.

It is a great dramatisation of a pivotal point in English history, the death of King Henry VIII and the coronation of a new king.

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Created Jan 19, 2018 at 6:27am • Submit your own review...