Customer Reviews

The Prisoner of Zenda

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

[This is a review of the Penguin edition dual-volume of `Prisoner' and `Rupert']

I've long been a fan of Errol Flynn swashbucklers and the classic works of prolific (and unjustly forgotten) Rafael Sabatini, but if you want the greatest swashbuckler novel of them all, Anthony Hope's "The Prisoner of Zenda" is a classic you'll come back to again and again: over a hundred years after being written, it's still as sharp as a rapier point.

"The Prisoner of Zenda" is something of a rarity: a Victorian adventure novel that is as fresh and entertaining to read in this modern jaded age as it was in 1894. If you've ever seen one of the many movie adaptations you already know the story: Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman vacationing in the tiny European country of Ruritania, meets and befriends the soon-to-be-crowned King Rudolf--his exact and identical double. When the King is kidnapped by the dastardly Black Michael, Rassendyll must impersonate the King in the coronation ceremony...and in the heart of the Queen. Hope's handling of the romance between Rassendyll and Queen Flavia is both a daring and romantic love story and a subtle examination of the meaning of honor and duty to a gentleman. Of course there's plenty of swordplay and derring-do along the way (put on an Erich Korngold CD while reading for the best effect). If Tom Clancy was writing this one, there'd be nuclear weapons instead of swords and email instead of telegrams, but even he couldn't pull off the simple but subtle romantic story and the triumphant but poignant ending.

I recommend this Penguin edition especially because unlike any other editions of "The Prisoner of Zenda" currently available, it also contains Hope's lesser but still worthy sequel "Rupert of Hentzau," which brings Rassendyll back to Ruritania years later to match wits and swords with Michael's henchman, bringing an end to the saga so satisfyingly that there's no need for a third adventure. I loved both but would definitely rank "Rupert" a level below "Prisoner": "Rupert" is narrated by Fritz, the faithful royal retainer from "Prisoner," and suffers from much of the action taking place outside Fritz's personal view and being retold later on. Still, it's a stunning and emotional end to the story, and one which'll bring a proper tear to your eye. Like Rudolf of Ruritania, Anthony Hope is a king...of adventure novels. Unlike Rudolf, he has no equal.

I've long been a fan of Errol Flynn swashbucklers and the classic works of the prolific (and unjustly forgotten) Rafael Sabatini, but if you want the greatest swashbuckler novel of them all, Anthony Hope's "The Prisoner of Zenda" is a classic you'll come back to again and again: over a hundred years after being written, it's still as sharp as a rapier point.

"The Prisoner of Zenda" is something of a rarity: a Victorian adventure novel that is as fresh and entertaining to read in this modern jaded age as it was in 1894. If you've ever seen one of the many movie adaptations you already know the story: Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman vacationing in the tiny European country of Ruritania, meets and befriends the soon-to-be-crowned King Rudolf--his exact and identical double. When the King is kidnapped by the dastardly Black Michael, Rassendyll must impersonate the King in the coronation ceremony...and in the heart of the Queen. Hope's handling of the romance between Rassendyll and Queen Flavia is both a daring and romantic love story and a subtle examination of the meaning of honor and duty to a gentleman. Of course there's plenty of swordplay and derring-do along the way (put on an Erich Korngold CD while reading for the best effect). If Tom Clancy was writing this one, there'd be nuclear weapons instead of swords and email instead of telegrams, but even he couldn't pull off the simple but subtle romantic story and the triumphant but poignant ending.

If you enjoy this, you'll also want to read Hope's worthy sequel "Rupert of Hentzau," which brings Rassendyll back to Ruritania years later to match wits and swords with Michael's henchman, bringing an end to the saga so satisfyingly that there's no need for a third adventure. I loved both but would definitely rank "Rupert" a level below "Prisoner": "Rupert" is narrated by Fritz, the faithful royal retainer from "Prisoner," and suffers from much of the action taking place outside Fritz's personal view and being retold later on. Still, it's a stunning and emotional end to the story, and one which'll bring a proper tear to your eye. Like Rudolf of Ruritania, Anthony Hope is a king...of adventure novels. Unlike Rudolf, he has no equal.

I am not going to rehash the plot. The other reviewers have already done that, probably better than I could have. I just wanted to comment that this novel is quite entertaining and not at all boring. It is well-written (at times more exciting than many current "popular" adventure novels) and not as stuffy as one would think of a book published in 1894. It offers cliffhanging chapters, foreign intrigue, romance, swordplay, and lots of derring-do. The villain, Rupert, is a nastier character than all of the other nasties that Rudolf contends with...but he's somehow likeable. I guess because I actually saw him as the movie star Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. portrayed him. At any rate, it's no wonder this novel was made into a great movie. It's a great book.

I loved Anthony Hope's style and imagination while reading this book. It portrays the good-guy, bad-guy scenerio as we all wish it to be. Many tricky and devious criminals sceme against the King and and his little-known double, Rudolph Rassendyl.
The night before his coranation, the King is poisoned by his brother, and Rudolph must take his place at the coranation. But afterwards, when Rudolph and the King's servants come back to return the King to his thrown; he is gone.
Rudolph is now trapped as the King of Ruritania, with mixed feelings on whether to rescue the King. In the end Rudolph makes the right choice and rescues his king from his brother, the duke. After his show of heroism, he is quickly forgotten and returns to his normal life.
In the end Anthony Hope's description of the characters and misfortune leaves you begging for more and in the sequal, the characters return to finish the dispute once and for all.

I have been an voracious reader since I was in the second grade; a bout of mononucleosis and the discovery of the Hardy boys in the third grade sealed the deal for me, and I have been reading furiously ever since. This book, perhaps more than any other I had read in those formative years, thrilled me to my bones and forged me into a lifelong committed adventure reader. They say you never forget your first love, and I have never forgotten the Prisoner of Zenda. It has EVERYTHING a young boy could desire in an adventure book: travel to a distant country, nefarious villains, royalty, beautiful damsels, dashing military officers accoutered with flashing sabers and charging steeds, castles, kidnappings, escapes, swashbuckling....my knees buckle a little bit just thinking about it again. This book literally imprinted me for everything I have read in the genre since then and stirred in me a desire for travel and adventure that has led me all around the globe several times in my life. I do not think it is a stretch to say that this book may very well have changed the course of my life, nudging me into certain dreams and hopes that I have happily chased ever since. I've ordered it today, desiring to read it again and compare it to my 8 year old memories of it, but, more importantly, I also wish to present it to my son and hope it opens the world to him the same way it did for me.

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, a respected British Barrister, wrote two novels of incredible charm and appeal -- The Prisoner of Zenda, and its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, in 1894 and 1898.

The novels created a genre. Rudolph Rassendyll, a distaff cousin of the rightful King of Ruritania, goes to that country from his native England to witness King Rudolph's corination.

Then the plot thickens. The two Rudolphs meet, and are incredibly similar to one another -- so similar, in fact, that when King Rudolph drinks drugged wine, sent by his brother Michael as part of a plot to put the younger brother on the throne, Our Hero successfully impersonates the King.

Worth reading, and a quick read!

I have to admit that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. I bought it when it was required reading for a class in college, and managed to get through the class without reading it. I have since picked it up and read it cover to cover. I was not dissapointed as I had originally thought I would be.

This is a charming tale. A little bit of romance, a lot of adventure, and an unforgettable tale. I really would recomend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading as they would be pleasantly surprised.

When will I learn to listen to my mom? She told me to read this book several times, so finally I did, and I am so GLAD! This is the best action book I have ever read. Sword fights and princesses, stuffy British sister-in-laws, and a bad guy you can't help but love. Ah, arrogance, sometimes you just have to admire it--and this book has it ALL! I recommend to everyone age 10 and up who enjoy a good, fast read with excellent plot development, engaging characters, and just enough romance.

For that is the most precious gift literature has to give: the chance to live many different lives, completely distinct from our own rutines. Imagine that you go on vacation to a tiny country, and find out that the new king looks just like you. Then, hours before the coronation, he is kidnapped by the bad guys, and you have to substitute for him in the throne... and by the side of the queen, the lovely Flavia. But then the fight is just beginning. This is a wonderful book, the kind of simple and intriguing story that is the bottom-line of pure fiction. But, as with all good novels, you can find here, in an unpretentious way, glimpses into the soul of people. The end of the story is a subtle drama, resolved in the best and non-childish way: resorting to honor and nobility. Nobody who reads this novel can be disappointed.

This is a quick review of the Penguin edition, which contains both the classic original novel and its sequel. Both are good reads though quite different. Personally, I preferred the darker and more dramatic sequel; in "Zenda" everything just kind of works itself out and I thought it was just a tad campy.

Well, they're light adventure novels set in the mid-19th century or thereabouts. Not sure where exactly the fictitious kingdom of Ruritania is supposed to be, but I would guess in the neighborhood of Austria or Hungary. The novels feature swordplay, gunfights, romance, and plenty of plot twists (especially the sequel). Very well penned, written in a direct style with outstanding word choice.

In both novels, Rudolf Rassendyl gets himself neck-deep in Ruritanian politics despite the fact that he's a foreigner and total stranger to the people. What enables this is that he's a spitting image of the king, also named Rudolf. This remarkable coincidence is at the heart of the plots of both novels.

It's interesting comparing these novels with "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Dumas, which I'm now reading. "Count" is deeper, more descriptive, paced much slower, and requires more thought. Well, in my book, those elements are part of what it takes to make a five-star novel. "Zenda" and "Rupert" are too on the light side to hit the top of my scale. But I still enjoyed them and recommend them to those looking for a fast-paced yarn set in bygone times.

I finished this book on a flight to Bulgaria a month ago and just left it in the seat pocket. I hope someone found it and is enjoying it now!