What Mark Twain novel features a prince and a pauper swapping places?

The Mark Twain novel in which a prince and a pauper swap places is The Prince and the Pauper.

Published in Canada in 1881 and in the United States in 1882, the novel follows Edward Tudor, the young Prince of Wales, and Tom Canty, a poor boy from London. The two boys look remarkably alike and decide to exchange clothing as a temporary experiment. They are then separated, leaving each trapped in the other’s social position.

The story uses the switch to examine class inequality, criminal justice, poverty, and the responsibilities of political power. Edward experiences the harsh treatment faced by the poor, while Tom must navigate royal ceremonies and court expectations. Their resemblance eventually helps reveal the truth, and Edward returns to his rightful place as King Edward VI.

The book is sometimes confused with The Prisoner of Zenda, another famous story involving a royal double, but that novel was written by Anthony Hope and published in 1894. The Prince and the Pauper was Twain’s first attempt at historical fiction and was dedicated to his daughters, Susy and Clara.