The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau

By Anthony Hope and Gary Hoppenstand

Best known for his political fairy tale, The Prisoner of Zenda, which saw four major screen adaptations, including the acclaimed 1937 incarnation starring Ronald Colman, Anthony Hope was one of the few novelists to achieve wide popular and critical admiration during his lifetime.

Regarded by many critics as the finest adventure story ever written -- and certainly one of the most popular -- The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) tells the story of Rudolf Rassendyl, a dashing English gentleman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the ruler of the fictional kingdom of Ruritania. Rassendyl masquerades as the king in order to save the country from a treacherous plot and secures the release of the wronged prisoner. In the process he wins the heart of the beautiful princess Flavia, but ultimately surrenders the crown and the hand of his beloved princess to the rightful ruler.

Rupert of Hentzau, which ends in tragedy rather than triumph, is the darker, more problematic sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda. Full of swash-buckling feats of heroism as well as witty irony, these adventure tales are also wonderfully executed satires on late nineteenth-century European politics.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Jan 1, 2000
• ISBN: 9781101177037

Anthony Hope

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins was born in 1863 and, after taking a degree at Oxford University, was called to the bar in 1887. He initially combined a successful career as a barrister with writing but the immediate success of his tenth book, The Prisoner of Zenda (1894), allowed him to become a full-time writer. The novel spawned a new genre – Ruritanian romance – and has been adapted numerous times for film, television and stage. In all, Hope wrote thirty-two works of fiction and an autobiography. At the close of the First World War he was knighted for his contribution to propaganda work. Hope died in 1933.

Reviews for The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau

[raizel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

SPOILER: i was excited to learn that there was a sequel and hoped that at last that true love wouldn't have to yield to honor and responsibility. Instead, what I remember from reading the sequel is that the structure is very like the original and we never learn what the main character decides.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my all-time favorites, chiefly for Prisoner --Rupert is too sad for me. I can still recall reading it I suppose about 50 years ago. I also love the movie versions.

[ocianain · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

What is it about the English? On one hand they're a raging, thieving horde grinding weaker peoples beneath their booted heel, on the other hand, they write the some of the best fiction out there. This is some of the best of the best. In a ironic twist of fate a Englishman works to save an oppressed people from tyrany. Great books.