OVERVIEW

About The author

Anthony Hope (1863-1933)

Anthony Hope’s full name was Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins. He was born in
London, England in 1863. He was a British novelist. Hope was educated at Balliol
College, Oxford and become a lawyer in 1887. He practised law until 1894.

While he was a lawyer, he wrote several short stories. He is well known for
his ‘Ruritanian’ stories. When The Prisoner of Zenda was published in 1894, he
received a lot of praise from other famous authors and the novel become quite
popular. With the success of this novel, he gave up practising law and
concentrated on writing. Hope wrote the sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, published in
1898, and this too was a success.

He was knighted in 1918 for his services at the Ministry of Information

during World War 1.
 SYNOPSYS

The Prisoner of Zenda is a story of adventure and romance. Set in an

imaginary country named Ruritania, it is about a rich and handsome young man
named Rudolf Rassendyll. Rassendyll looks exactly like the King of Ruritania,
King Rudolf the Fifth. While in Ruritania for the Coronation of King Rudolf the
Fifth, Rassendyll gets involved in a plot to overthrow the King.

The King’s brother, Duke Michael, wants to take over the throne. King
Rudolf’s two very loyal friends and advisers, Colonel Sapt and Fritz von
Tarlenheim, ask Rassendyll to help save the King’s life and throne. Rassendyll
agrees and ends up having to face many dangerous situations. In the process, he
meets Princess Flavia and falls in love with her.

Finally, Rassendyll manages to save the King’s life and his throne, but has
to make greatest sacrifice of his life- giving up the woman he loves.
CHAPTER 1 Rudolf Rassendyll

Rudolf Rassendyll’s sister-in-law, Rose, urges him to do something useful

with his life.
Lord Burlesdon, Rassendyll’s brother, tells Rassendyll that he has found him
a job as an attaché to Sir Jacob Borrodaile, an ambassador to Ruritania.
As the job will only start in six months, Rassendyll decides to attend the
Coronation of King Rudolf the Fifth, which is to take place in Sterlsau,
Ruritania.

CHAPTER 2 Rassendyll Arrives in

Zenda

Rassendyll leaves for Ruritania by train.

He meets his friend George in Paris. George tells him about Antoinette de
Mauban who is also travelling to Ruritania on the same train.
The Coronation has been brought forward. Rassendyll is unable to get a
room to stay in Strelsau.
 He decides to spend the night at an inn in Zenda, a small town about fifty
miles from the capital.
He hears about the King, Duke Michael/ Black Michael and Princess Flavia,
and the fight for the throne.
Johann, Duke Michael’s forest guard, tells Rassendyll that both Rassendyll
and the King have red hair.

CHAPTER 3 Rudolf Rassendyll Meets

King Rudolf the Fifth

The next morning, Rassendyll takes a walk in the forest.

He meets Colonel Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim. They serve the King
Rudolf and loyal to him.
They tell him that he looks exactly like their king except that he has a
beard.
At the moment King Rudolf appears. He is stunned by the resemblance
between himself and Rassendyll.
The King invites Rassendyll to the hunting lodge where he is staying.
They have dinner and a few drinks. Josef, a faithful servant of the King,
walks in with a bottle of wine, a gift from Duke Michael.
The King finishes the wine all by himself.

CHAPTER 4 Rassendyll Becomes

Rudolf the Fifth
 The next morning they discover that the King has been drugged. The drug
was in the wine sent by Duke Michael.
Since both the King and Rassendyll look alike, Sapt suggests that
Rassendyll takes the place of the King and attends the Coronation. Fritz
thinks it is a good idea too.
Rassendyll agrees to take the King’s place.

CHAPTER 5 Rassendyll Arrives

in Strelsau to Be Crowned

Rassendyll shaves his beard and wears the King’s uniform.

The King is hidden in a cellar and Josef is to look after him. The old
woman who cooked for them is tied up and left in another cellar.
They take the train to Strelsau.
Several ministers and the head of the Army of Ruritania are introduced to
Rassendyll.
No one realizes that he is not the real King.
The Coronation procession begins.

CHAPTER 6 Rassendyll Is
Crowned King Rudolf the Fifth
 The people of the New Town give the King a rousing welcome.
There is hardly any trouble in the Old Town. Rassendyll rides bravely down
the streets and wins the hearts of the townspeople.
The procession stops at the Cathederal for the Coronation. Rassendyll is
crowned King.
Then Rassendyll meets Black Michael and Princess Flavia for the first time.
The Princess tells him that she finds him rather different.

CHAPTER 7 Where Is the King?

Black Michael leaves for Zenda.

Both Sapt and Rassendyll also leave for Zenda. They use a secret passage to
leave the Palace. They ride towards Zenda.
Along the way they see Duke Michael and Max Holf(Johann’s brother) ride
towards the Castle.
At the lodge Rassendyll and Sapt find the cook missing and Josef dead. The
King is missing too.

CHAPTER 8 Rassendyll Must Return

to Strelsau as King.

Sapt realizes that Duke Michael has captured the King.

 Sapt tells Rassendyll that he has to continue playing the part of the King is
saved.
Eight of Black Michael’s men arrive to bury Josef’s body. Sapt and
Rassendyll attack and kill three of them.
A bullet hits Rassendyll’s hand injuring one of his finger.

CHAPTER 9 The Famous Six

Rassendyll and Sapt reach Strelsau safely.

Rassendyll carries out the King’s duties.
Fritz informs them that Black Michael is back in Strelsau. Only three of
Black Michael’s Famous Six are with him.
Sapt believes that the King is alive and that the rest of the Famous Six are
guarding him.
Rassendyll leaves for an appointment with Princess Flavia.

CHAPTER 10 Rassendyll Meets Black

Michael and Three of the Famous Six.

Rassendyll and Fritz ride off to Princess Flavia’s house.

Rassendyll realizes that he is in love with the princess. He knows that it is
wrong as he is not the true King.
 Princess Flavia is pleased to meet Rassendyll, unaware that he is not the real
King.
Duke Michael also calls on the Princess. Rassendyll makes Duke Michael
angry when he unknowingly kept Duke Michael waiting to see the
Princess.
Duke Michael introduces Rassendyll to the three men who are part of the
Famous Six- Bersonin, De Gautet and Detchard.

CHAPTER 11 A Kind of Tea-party

Sapt informs Rassendyll that the King is being held prisoner in Zenda
Castle.
Rassendyll receives a letter from Antoinette de Mauban. She wants him to
meet her as she has information that might save him.
Rassendyll meets Antoinette. She says that Duke Michael forced her to
write the letter. She tells Rassendyll about the Duke’s plan to take over the
throne and mary Princess Flavia.
She urges him to leave at once because three of the Famous Six are on their
way there to kill him. They arrive and a fight breaks out.
Rassendyll escapes unhurt.

CHAPTER 12 The Marriage Will

Shortly Take Place
 The next afternoon, Sapt informs Rassendyll that the Duke, his three men
and Antoinette have left the city for Zenda.
During a dance that night, both Rasendyll and the Princess confess their
love for each other. Rassendyll realizes that she really loves him- Rudolf
Rassendyll- and not the King.
He wants to tell the Princess the truth but Sapt stops him.
The news about the proposal spreads . The people are happy and they cheer
for the couple.

CHAPTER 13 Love or Honour?

Rassendyll feels torn between his love for Flavia and being honourable to
the King. He decides to rescue the King.
Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz head to Zenda with ten other men.
Sapt spreads the news that they are going hunting near Zenda.
Before leaving, Rassendyll tells Marshal Srakencz to help rule the country
until Princess Flavia is crowned Queen if anything happens to the King.
Rassendyll and his men leave for the Castle of Tarlenheim.

CHAPTER 14 Rassendyll Revisits the

Inn in Zenda.
 Duke Michael sends three of his Famous Six, the Ruritanians, to visit
Rassendyll at the Castle.
Rassendyll meets Rupert of Hentzau for the first time.
Rassendyll goes to the inn in Zenda with Fritz. He reveals himself as the
King to the daughter of the innkeeper. He asks her to tell Johann to meet her
at the bridge just outside Zenda at ten o’clock the next night.
Sapt warns Rassendyll to be careful. Bernenstein was shot because he was
mistaken for Rassendyll.

CHAPTER 15 Rassendyll Narrowly

Escapes Death

Rupert of Hentzau bring a message from the Duke. Duke Michael offers
Rassendyll a hundred thousand pounds to leave Ruritania.
Rassendyll refuses the offers.
Rupert stabs Rassendyll with a dagger. He wounds Rassendyll on the left
shoulder. Rupert escapes.
Johann is caught. He tells Rassendyll about the King’s whereabouts in the
old Castle and the danger the King is in if the castle is attacked.
Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz decide that something has to be done quickly.

CHAPTER 16 Murder in the Moat

Johann reports that the King is ill and growing worse every day.
 Rassendyll,Sapt,Fritz and six men set out for Zenda Castle to rescue the
King.
Rassendyll goes down into the moat to find a way to rescue the King. He
sees Max Holf sleeping in a boat in the moat and kills him.
Three of the Famous Six (Rupert of Hentzau, Lauengram and Kaufstein)
leave the castle.
Rassendyll’s men fire at them. Rupert escapes by jumping into the moat.
Lauengram, Kaufstein and three of Rassendyll’s men are killed in the fight.
They are not able to help the King that night and they return to the Castle of
Tarlenheim.

CHAPTER 17 Rupert of Hentzau and

Madame de Mauban

The next morning, Rassendyll and Princess Flavia meet the Chief of Police
while riding through the streets of Zenda. He informs Rassendyll that the
British Ambassador is looking for a missing person (Rudolf Rassendyll)
Rassendyll asks Rupert to join forces with him but Rupert refuses. Instead
Rupert asks Rassendyll to join him in a plot to kill both the King and the
Duke.
Antoinette pleads with Rassendyll to rescue her from the Castle.

CHAPTER 18 Rassendyll Makes a Plan

 The wedding date is fixed. The King has to be rescued before the wedding.
The Duke is furious about the news of the wedding. There are more quarrels
among the Duke, Antoinette and Rupert of Hentzau.
The King is very ill. Adoctor who is attending to the king is also a prisoner
at the Castle.
Rassendyll plans to rescue the King the next morning.

CHAPTER 19 Rupert of Hentzau Also

Makes a Plan

Rassendyll,Sapt and Fritz carry out their plannto rescue the King.
Rassendyll sets out alone. He reaches Zenda Castle and climbs down into
the moat.
Rassendyll sees Rupert in Antoinette’s room. She is very angry
Black Michael comes into Antoinette’s room. Rupert leaves.
Rupert and De Gautat leave the castle.
Then Rassendyl sees Rupert in the moat. Rupert swims in the direction of
Antoinette’s room.

CHAPTER 20 Rassendyll Fights Bravely

to Save the King..
 The light goes out in Antoinette’s window and a terrible scream is heard.
The Duke and Rupert start fighting in Antoinette’s room. Other men join in
the fight.
Rupert jumps out the window and into the moat.
Rassendyll kills De Gautet. He takes the keys from De Gautet and goes to
sava the King.
Rassendyll also kills Bersonin and Detchard. Rassendyll is wounded.

CHAPTER 21 Danger for Rassendyll-and

Danger for Rupert of Hentzau

Duke Michael is dead and Rupert is pleased.

Sapt and his party reach the New Castle.
Antoinette shoots at Rupert but she misses. Rupert runs away.
Rassendyll, though very weak,chases after Rupert.
Rassendyll attacks Rupert and he almost gets killed.
Fritz reaches them in time to save Rassendyll. Rupert escapes.

CHAPTER 22 ‘I Am Not the King’

 The King is safe.
Princess Flavia hears that the King is seriously wounded. She rides to Zenda
with the Marshaland some guards. Colonel Sapt meets them half way.
Princess Flavia learns the truth about Rassendyll.

CHAPTER 23 Honour Must Come Before

Love

The King thanks Rassendyll for saving his life and the throne.
Fritz takes Rassendyll to see Princess Flavia who is waiting for him in
another room. They both know that they have to sacrifice their love for the
sake of honour.
Rassendyll leaves for Ruritania.

CHAPTER 24 The Adventure Is Over

Rassendyll stays for a while in the Alps and then goes back to England.
He refuses Sir Jacob Borrodaile’s job offer.
He lives a quiet life in the country. He is still in love with Princess Flavia.
Once a year he meets Fritz and his wife at a small town outside Ruritania.
They talk about old times.
Every year Queen Flavia and Rassendyll exchange red roses.