马克·吐温（1835—1910），美国作家，真实姓名是塞缪尔·兰霍恩·克莱门斯。“马克·吐温”是他的笔名，原是密西西比河水手使用的表示在航道上所测水的深度的术语。
　　马克·吐温一生写了大量作品，题材涉及小说、剧本、散文、诗歌等各方面。从内容上说，他的作品批判了不合理现象或人性的丑恶之处，表达了这位当过排字工人和水手的作家强烈的正义感和对普通人民的关心；从风格上说，专家们和一般读者都认为，幽默和讽刺是他的写作特点。

《世界名著：王子与贫儿》是一篇著名的讽刺小说，故事以十六世纪时英国的社会状况为背景，以童话体的形式描述了一个贫民窟里的穷孩子汤姆·康蒂，由于一个偶然机会，戏剧性地与王子爱德华调换了身份，当上了英国国王。心地善良的汤姆当上国王以后，施行了一些仁政，废除了一些残酷的刑罚，并赦免了一些无辜的犯人，因此得到了人民的爱戴与拥护。而真正的王子爱德华则经历了封建君主专制统治下的种种社会状况，使他亲眼目睹了民间之疾苦，国家之弊端，使他深切感触到英国法律的残酷与社会阶层的矛盾。作品笔调轻松，但寓意深刻，字里行间都流露出作者对统治者的不满和对受苦受难的人民的同情。

By-and-by Tom's reading and dreaming about

princely life wrought such a strong effect upon him

that he began to act the prince, unconsciously. His

speech and manners became curiously ceremonious

and courtly, to the vast admiration and amusement

of his intimates. But Tom's influence among these

young people began to grow now, day by day; and in

time he came to be looked up to, by them, with a sort

of wondering awe, as a superior being. He seemed

to know so much! And he could do and say such

marvellous things! And withal, he was so deep and

wise! Tom's remarks, and Tom's performances, were

reported by the boys to their elders; and these, also,

presently began to discuss Tom Canty, and to regard

him as a most gifted and extraordinary creature. Fullgrown

people brought their perplexities to Tom for

solution, and were often astonished at the wit and

wisdom of his decisions. In fact he was become a hero

to all who knew him except his own family—these,

only, saw nothing in him.

Privately, after a while, Tom organised a royal

court! He was the prince; his special comrades were

guards, chamberlains, equerries, lords and ladies in

waiting, and the royal family. Daily the mock prince

was received with elaborate ceremonials borrowed by

Tom from his romantic readings; daily the great affairs

of the mimic kingdom were discussed in the royal

council, and daily his mimic highness issued decrees

to his imaginary armies, navies, and viceroyalties.