Rudolf himself is a very appealing narrator: self-confident and fully aware of the fine figure he cuts, relishing every aspect of his unexpected adventure. You won’t find yourself lingering over beautiful passages of description and sensitively observed characterisation, but trust me: you’ll be enjoying yourself far too much to even think of such things. It brims with brio, panache, sprezzatura and other similar qualities. It has an archaic charm with its Boys’ Own spirit, but it also manages to be rather modern in its thoroughly tongue-in-cheek approach to the story. And, the longer Rudolf remains in his role as the king, the harder it will be for him to leave it – and to set aside the attentions of the king’s beautiful cousin, the Princess Flavia.Īh yes, this is good fun. To succeed, they must face the added danger of Black Michael’s most loyal henchmen: the formidable Six, among whom is the fearless and dashing young villain Rupert of Hentzau. As the king languishes a prisoner in Black Michael’s castle at Zenda, Rudolf and his new friends must come up with a plan to rescue him. Rudolf believes that his role as understudy will last only as long as the coronation celebrations, but when he and the loyal officer Sapt return to the king, they find that he has vanished – captured by none other than the wicked Duke himself. Have you guessed yet?) But worse is to come. It is vital that the Duke’s wicked ambitions are thwarted, but where can they find someone who will stand in for the king? (I’ll give you one guess.
The king’s loyal servants fear that if he doesn’t turn up for his own coronation, then Black Michael might well take the chance to seize the throne. And when the young king is drugged on the eve of his coronation by his cunning and ambitious half-brother, Duke Michael, Rudolf Rassendyll finds himself drawn into a dangerous charade. The two Rudolfs are the spitting image of one another. At first he sees this as a bit of a lark, but he has barely set foot in Ruritania (having told his disapproving brother that he’s off to the Tyrol) before Rudolf comes to realise that this jaunt has the potential to turn into something much more serious.Īn accidental meeting with Ruritania’s king, also called Rudolf, is like looking into a mirror. The genes have forced their way out in Rudolf, who has the dubious honour of being the one Rassendyll in his generation to bear the red hair and long nose of the Ruritanian royals. Before he signs his future away, he decides on one last jolly: a trip to the Central European kingdom of Ruritania, whose royal house has a scandalous adulterous connection with Rudolf’s own family. However, good things come to those who wait…Īn amiable waster, Rudolf Rassendyll promises his sister-in-law that he will finally make something of his life and join the diplomatic service.
#The prisoner of zenda anthony hope full#
That was a full year ago, which gives you some idea of how easily I’m distracted where books are concerned. Like Scaramouche, this was something that I finally decided to try when I saw that Helen had been reading it (I have to thank Helen for a lot of swashbuckling goodness).
It’s a deliciously fast-paced tale of disguise, secret identities, wicked plots, noble heroes and dastardly villains. Silva from Dorothy & Jack, Xmas 1895’), this wonderful romp hasn’t aged nearly as much as you might expect. First published in 1894 (my copy was given to ‘Gladys W. This time the book in question is a much-loved classic which I should really have read years ago. It’s high time for another swashbuckler, as a busy period looms at work.
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