The Prisoner of Zenda (Oxford World's Classics)
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"I "highly recommend" Campfire's comics. They do what they are intended to do and do it in a way that excites kids about classic literature."
-- Chris Wilson, The Graphic Classroom (a resource for teachers and librarians)
-- Chris Wilson, The Graphic Classroom (a resource for teachers and librarians)
Product Description
Rudolph Rassendyll's life is interrupted by his unexpected and personal involvement in the affairs of Ruritania whilst travelling through the town of Zenda. He is shortly on the way to Streslau, the capital, where he finds himself engaged in plans to rescue the imprisoned king.
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First Sentence
'I wonder when in the world you're going to do anything, Rudolf?' said my brother's wife. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
'I wonder when in the world you're going to do anything, Rudolf?' said my brother's wife. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Some books are brilliant through the sheer beauty of the writing, others through the characterisation or the quality of thought on the subject matter. But there are some books that, quite simply, capture your imagination and hold it prisoner in another world.
"The Prisoner of Zenda" does just that. In 200 pages, one is transported with the hero into a world of adventure, intrigue and romance, amongst deep forests, in dark dungeons and splendid palaces. This world is peopled with brave heroes, dastardly villains and noble ladies. And who cares that some of the turns of the plot may seem far-fetched? This is pure escapism at its best.
"The Prisoner of Zenda" does just that. In 200 pages, one is transported with the hero into a world of adventure, intrigue and romance, amongst deep forests, in dark dungeons and splendid palaces. This world is peopled with brave heroes, dastardly villains and noble ladies. And who cares that some of the turns of the plot may seem far-fetched? This is pure escapism at its best.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thrilling chases, daring escapes, dashing heroes (and villains), kidnapped Kings, beautiful Princesses, dastardly evil plots, derring-do, swordfights, amazing coincidences, stalwart friendship and honour saving the day. This classic tale of adventure has it all.
This was one of the first `proper books' I read as a child, and it got me hooked on reading. Unfortunately, no other adventure story I ever read quite matched the heights of this true original!
It tells the story of Rudolph Rassendyll, holidaying in the central European Kingdom of Ruritania. By chance it turns out Rassendyll is the exact double of the King. When the King is kidnapped by his evil brother Michael, it is up to Rassenyll to save the Kingdom by first impersonating the King so that no-one realises anything is wrong, then launching a daring night assault on Michael's castle to rescue the real King.
As well as a strong plot, the book is brought to life with great characters - the stout and implacable Colonel Sapt, the loyal young Fritz, the weak playboy King, the evil Black Michael and, of course, the devilishly dashing Rupert of Hentzau. Each is given a distinctive voice and really lives when one reads the book. Added to this, Hope had a great eye for action, describing fights scenes in such a manner as to leave you feeling quite breathless by the end of it. He also had an eye for the human story, with the motives of many of the characters examined, making their actions seem more believable and not just merely convenient plot devices.
This is a truly classic story, one that bears reading and re-reading. Definitely one to get reluctant young readers interested in books, and a great pece of escapism for the older reader. Highly recommended. Also check out the sequel `Rupert of Hentzau', in which the story is satisfactorily continued and concluded.
This was one of the first `proper books' I read as a child, and it got me hooked on reading. Unfortunately, no other adventure story I ever read quite matched the heights of this true original!
It tells the story of Rudolph Rassendyll, holidaying in the central European Kingdom of Ruritania. By chance it turns out Rassendyll is the exact double of the King. When the King is kidnapped by his evil brother Michael, it is up to Rassenyll to save the Kingdom by first impersonating the King so that no-one realises anything is wrong, then launching a daring night assault on Michael's castle to rescue the real King.
As well as a strong plot, the book is brought to life with great characters - the stout and implacable Colonel Sapt, the loyal young Fritz, the weak playboy King, the evil Black Michael and, of course, the devilishly dashing Rupert of Hentzau. Each is given a distinctive voice and really lives when one reads the book. Added to this, Hope had a great eye for action, describing fights scenes in such a manner as to leave you feeling quite breathless by the end of it. He also had an eye for the human story, with the motives of many of the characters examined, making their actions seem more believable and not just merely convenient plot devices.
This is a truly classic story, one that bears reading and re-reading. Definitely one to get reluctant young readers interested in books, and a great pece of escapism for the older reader. Highly recommended. Also check out the sequel `Rupert of Hentzau', in which the story is satisfactorily continued and concluded.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When reading I found myself surprised at how quickly and well the story unfolded, told as a narrative by Rudolf Rassendyll, the principal character, it skipped along quickly and drew me in without much effort, so much so that I read it at one sitting.
I greatly enjoyed his adventures in Ruritania, the humour, the deviousness and towards the latter part of the book the pathos. The characters were well drawn and although it was first published in 1894 it appeared to me that the style seemed timeless.
The plot is well known, an Englishman meets the crown prince of Ruritania and due to a romantic encounter, many years before, by a member of the Rassendylls and a member of the Elphbergs, it means that the two men are distant cousins, but more fortuitously it turns out, they also look so alike as to be mistaken one for the other, and so the story unfolds.
If you want adventure this is a good book to read, swashbuckling, chivalry, bravery and honour with romance and a choice of villainous enemies. Most enjoyable.
I greatly enjoyed his adventures in Ruritania, the humour, the deviousness and towards the latter part of the book the pathos. The characters were well drawn and although it was first published in 1894 it appeared to me that the style seemed timeless.
The plot is well known, an Englishman meets the crown prince of Ruritania and due to a romantic encounter, many years before, by a member of the Rassendylls and a member of the Elphbergs, it means that the two men are distant cousins, but more fortuitously it turns out, they also look so alike as to be mistaken one for the other, and so the story unfolds.
If you want adventure this is a good book to read, swashbuckling, chivalry, bravery and honour with romance and a choice of villainous enemies. Most enjoyable.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An unexpectedly frothy Victorian adventure
Rudolph Rassendyll is an upper class English idler with a distinctive nose and red hair which suggest that rumours of a family connection to the royal family of Ruritania might... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Katie Stevens
A light read that is page turningly enjoyable
An action adventure story worthy of Dumas, with believable characters, careful plot development, fast unfolding events and poignant love interest. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Brownbear101
The Prisoner of Zenda, Anthony Hope - THE classic adventure story
Thrilling chases, daring escapes, dashing heroes (and villains), kidnapped Kings, beautiful Princesses, dastardly evil plots, derring-do, swordfights, amazing coincidences,... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Victor
A Really Swish Swash Buckler!
First published in 1894, and not out-of-print since, 'The Prisoner of Zenda' remains one of the slickest, sharpest and most entertaining of novels loosely bracketed as... Read more
Published on 11 May 2010 by Barty Literati
A Really Swish Swash Buckler!
A REVIEW OF 'THE PRISONER OF ZENDA' by ANTHONY HOPE
First published in 1894, and not out-of-print since, 'The Prisoner of Zenda' remains one of the slickest, sharpest... Read more
First published in 1894, and not out-of-print since, 'The Prisoner of Zenda' remains one of the slickest, sharpest... Read more
Published on 10 May 2010 by Barty Literati
Action, adventure and romance
Due to a royal indiscretion in a former generation Rudolf Rassendyll, second son of an English aristocratic family, looks exactly like the King of Ruritania. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2010 by Roman Clodia
Good swashbuckling stuff!
Only 200 pages long but packed to the gunnels with action! The mixture of chivalry and heroism make this feel like a medieval tale updated to the Victorian era. Read more
Published on 5 April 2009 by Adrenalin Streams
A Simply Brilliant Tale From Another Age
What is there to be said about The Prisoner of Zenda that has not been said elsewhere? This is a glorious tale of a sort that they don't and can't produce any more. Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2009 by C. Green
Perfect escape to a swashbuckling age
You will not find a richer concentration of sword fighting, dramatic love, plots counter plots and downright intrigue than in `The Prisoner of Zenda'. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2008 by Howard Green
An excellent read
Having read both of the stories I can say that I am very impressed. They also illustrate how closely the films have stayed to the original story. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2001 by Alistair Duncan
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