Mark Twain's first foray into historical fantasy is a witty and satirical tale of switched identities. Tom is a beggar in 16th-century England. A chance meeting with Edward, the crown prince, results in an instant friendship and a wild scheme. The two boys, almost identical in appearance, decide to take each other's place in society. The escapade that follows opens the eyes of both the prince and the pauper. But when the situation threatens to spiral out of control, will they be able to get back to the lives they knew? A thrilling adventure peppered with sharp criticism of class inequalities,...

The Mysterious Stranger is a tale that is itself both mysterious and strange. Written by Mark Twain, better known for such humorous tales as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, the story concerns the visit of Satan to a medieval Austrian village. One of several versions which he wrote during his later life, it was only published posthumously by his biographer. It is a deeply serious book which examines the nature of morality and maintains a scathing attack on organized religion as a tool of oppression. If you are interested in seeing another side of one of America's most famous authors, The...

What is Man is Mark Twain's treatise on the nature of humankind. Consisting primarily of a long dialogue between an old man and a young man, the book argues that humans are largely mechanistic in their thoughts and actions. Our nature is pre-determined, and our lives are shaped by outside forces. We act, according to Twain, out of self-interest at all times. A very personal project for Twain, and more serious than much of his fiction, What is Man was revised many times and published posthumously. It is a thought-provoking work of philosophy which will make you re-evaluate this much-loved...

When young Edward VI of England and a poor boy who resembles him exchange places, each learns something about the other's very different station in life.

The Mysterious Stranger is a tale that is itself both mysterious and strange. Written by Mark Twain, better known for such humorous tales as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, the story concerns the visit of Satan to a medieval Austrian village. One of several versions which he wrote during his later life, it was only published posthumously by his biographer. It is a deeply serious book which examines the nature of morality and maintains a scathing attack on organized religion as a tool of oppression. If you are interested in seeing another side of one of America's most famous authors, The...