The Prince and the Pauper is a novel by Mark Twain, first published in 1881 in Canada and in 1882 in the United States. It was Twain's first foray into historical fiction. The story is set in 1547 and follows two young boys: Edward VI, the Prince of Wales, and Tom Canty, a pauper from Offal Court in London. The two meet by chance and, struck by their uncanny resemblance, swap clothes and lives. Edward experiences the brutal reality of poverty and injustice, while Tom struggles with the bewildering demands of royalty. Through their adventures, Twain offers a sharp social commentary on inequality, the arbitrariness of class, and the nature of power. The novel has been adapted numerous times for stage, screen, and television, and remains one of Twain's most beloved works.