Regarded by many as one of the finest adventure stories, 'The Prisoner of Zenda' (1894) is a political fairy tale, telling the story of Rudolf Rassendyl, a dashing English gentleman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the ruler of the fictional kindgom of Ruritania. Rassendyl masquerades as the king in order to save the country from treachery and secure the release of a wronged prisoner. 'Rupert of Hentzau' is the darker and more problematic sequel. Full of swash-buckling feats of heroism and witty irony, these tales are also wonderfully executed satires on late 19th century European politics.
Anthony Hope (1863-1933) was educated at Oxford and entered the law profession before devoting his life to the writing of over thirty novels and short story collections. He is best remembered for 'The Prisoner of Zenda'. 'Rupert of Hentzau', 'The God in the Car', and 'The Dolly Dialogues'.
Gary Hoppenstand is Associate Chair of the Department of American Thought and Language at Michigan State University.