Prince and the Pauper. Twain M.

In his first experience in the field of historical prose - the novel “Prince and the Beggar” (1877–1880, publ. 1881) - American writer Mark Twain skillfully interferes with a long -standing literary motive of confused twins (memorable for everyone in “Comedy of errors” and “twelfth Nights "Shakespeare) in the canvas of English history of the 16th century. On the same day in London, two boys are born, similar to each other like two drops of water: in the royal palace, Eduard Tudor, Prince of Wales, the future king of England Edward VI, whose birth is celebrated, and in the miserable shack of the courtyard The scum, behind the gluttonous nearby, is the son of a thief and beggarly Tom Kent, in whose family no one is happy with the addition. A few years later, by the will of chance, they temporarily change places, and soon a small beggar due to the death of the old king falls out a unique opportunity to rule a whole state, and the young prince receives a lesson from his poorest subjects...