The Prisoner of Zenda
Anthony Hope’s The Prisoner of Zenda is a swashbuckling adventure set in Ruritania, a mythical pocket kingdom.
Englishman Rudolf Rassendyll closely resembles the King of Ruritania, and to foil a coup by his rival to the throne, statesmen persuade Rassendyll to impersonate him for a day. However, Rassendyll’s role becomes more complicated when said rival kidnaps the king. To add yet another layer to the intrigue, Rassendyll also starts to fall for the lovely Princess Flavia.
Although the story is set in the near past, Ruritania is a semi-feudal land. A land where a strong sword arm can still carry the day. Therefore, Rassendyll and his allies must fight to rescue the king. But if he succeeds, our hero and Flavia will have to choose between love and honor.
As Nicholas Daly’s Introduction outlines, this thrilling tale inspired not only stage and screen adaptations, but also place names, and even a popular board game. A whole new subgenre of “Ruritarian romances” followed the publication of this book. Nonetheless, no imitation managed to capture the charm, exuberance, and sheer storytelling power of Hope’s classic tale.
