“This is one of those rattling good yarns whose heart is so solidly in the right place that one is prepared to forgive some shoddy writing at the margins.” Telegraph (London)
Description
This swashbuckling romance transports a droll young English gentleman from his comfortable life in London to a fast-moving adventure in a mythical country steeped in political intrigue. Rudolf Rassendyll, pondering his life’s purpose, sets out on a journey to the tiny European kingdom of Ruritania, where he discovers that he bears a marked physical resemblance to the king. Perils and adventures ensue when he decides to impersonate the king in order to defeat a plot to dethrone him, and falls deeply in love with the king’s betrothed, Princess Flavia.
With its witty hero and shrewd villains, The Prisoner of Zenda became an instant classic when it appeared in 1894 and has been made into a film five times since.
Praise
“This is one of those rattling good yarns whose heart is so solidly in the right place that one is prepared to forgive some shoddy writing at the margins.” Telegraph (London)
“This fast-moving, well-placed romance reaffirmed the pride of English men in what they thought they had: a sense of justice, profound honor and adroitness, all worn lightly.” Sunday Times (London)
“The story is full of swordplay (and a little gunplay), barely repressed passion, political maneuvering, and severely tested personal honor.” AudioFile
“The tale speeds like an arrow, never deviating from its appointed course. There are no loopholes, only a rising tide of intrigue and excitement that never abates.” Nathan R. Teitel, New York University
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Jun 30, 2011 |
| Release Date | July 1, 2011 |
| Number in Series | 2 |
| Series Display String | The Ruritania Trilogy |
| Release Date Machine | 1309478400 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Action & Adventure, Classics, Evergreen Classics, Evergreen Classics, Classics, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Anthony Hope (1863–1933) is the pseudonym of Anthony Hope Hawkins, a successful and prolific author of fiction and drama. The son of a school headmaster, Hope was born in London in 1863. While practicing law, Hope experimented with creative writing, publishing his first novel in 1890. With the publication of his most famous novel, The Prisoner of Zenda, in 1894, Hope abandoned his career in law to write full time. Throughout his productive life, Hope published a wide variety of works, ranging from light comedy to serious fiction.
Narrator Bio
James Wilby starred as Senator James Dorr in the Masterpiece Theatre production of Island at War. In film, he can be seen in Gosford Park, Howards End, and De-Lovely.
Overview
This swashbuckling romance transports a droll young English gentleman from his comfortable life in London to a fast-moving adventure in a mythical country steeped in political intrigue. Rudolf Rassendyll, pondering his life’s purpose, sets out on a journey to the tiny European kingdom of Ruritania, where he discovers that he bears a marked physical resemblance to the king. Perils and adventures ensue when he decides to impersonate the king in order to defeat a plot to dethrone him, and falls deeply in love with the king’s betrothed, Princess Flavia.
With its witty hero and shrewd villains, The Prisoner of Zenda became an instant classic when it appeared in 1894 and has been made into a film five times since.
Reviews
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