Showing results by author "Anthony Hope" in All Categories

The Prisoner of Zenda is a thrilling tale of political intrigue, romance, and adventure. When Englishman Rudolf Rassendyll discovers he is a perfect double for the King of Ruritania, he is drawn into a dangerous plot to save the throne from treacherous enemies. With sword fights, secret dungeons, and a forbidden love story, this novel is a swashbuckling masterpiece.

An incriminating love-letter from the Queen of Ruritania to Rudolph Rassendyll, the hero of The Prisoner of Zenda, is intercepted by the dastardly villain Rupert of Hentzau, who is intent on causing trouble for the Royal Family. Rassendyll is forced to return to save the day and again assume his impersonation of King Rudolph. Once more he is embroiled in a world of deception, intrigue, deadly swordfights and strained loyalties, but will he be able to restore peace to Ruritania a second time?

Rudolf Rassendyll travels to the small kingdom of Ruritania for what should be a quiet holiday. But when the newly crowned king is drugged and kidnapped, Rudolf's uncanny resemblance to him pulls him into a dangerous plan. To prevent a national crisis, he agrees to impersonate the king. As he steps into royal life, Rudolf must navigate court politics, betrayal, and a plot to seize the throne.

Anthony Hope was constrained to return to the fictional land of Ruritania by an appreciative public who wanted more swashbuckling and derring-do from the hero Rudolph and more Machiavellian moustache twirling from the suave villain Rupert. The author came up with a literary construction which ensured he would never again have to visit fictional Ruritania - but nothing he subsequently wrote appealed as much as the two Zenda stories.

Anthony Hope's swashbuckling historical novel The Prisoner of Zenda was first published in 1894 and was an instant hit, spawning an 1898 sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, and launching the Ruritanian romance genre. Included here are the radio dramatisations of both thrilling novels, starring Julian Glover as Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf, Martin Jarvis as Rupert of Hentzau and Hannah Gordon as Flavia.

The hugely successful romantic adventure story which continues to thrill a century after it was written. It has all the classic ingredients - a twisting plot of betrayal and deception, love interest, great swashbuckling action and a most beguiling villain in Rupert of Hentzau, who captured the public’s imagination and had them begging the author for a sequel. Rudolph Rassendyll visits Ruritania, with whose Royal Family he has a connection because of a scandalous sexual indiscretion in the past.

Rupert of Hentzau is a sequel by Anthony Hope to "The Prisoner of Zenda", written in 1895, but not published until 1898. This story commences three years after the conclusion of Zenda, and deals with the same fictional country somewhere in Germanic Middle Europe, the kingdom of Ruritania.

The ultimate escapist adventure story, The Prisoner of Zenda transports the listener into a bygone era, awash with swashbuckling heroism, cunning plots and courtly love. The popularity of Hope’s tale of intrigue was such that it spawned an entirely new genre known as the ‘Ruritanian romance’. When the King of Ruritania is kidnapped, the onus falls on a British tourist, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the King, to stand in for him and to avert disaster by coming to his rescue.

In this series we explore the many facets of love through literary talents that span both time and country. When two people meet, when eyes glance and lock. And we often say something ‘clicks’; ‘it feels like I’ve known you forever’. Romance begins to brew and to blossom. In this volume our masterful writers take on the task of describing and revealing the beginnings of a romance, and some may even lead to love.

Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins was born on 9th February 1863 in Clapton, London. He was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead, Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford. Hope trained as a lawyer and barrister and was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1887. Despite what was thought to be a promising legal career, he had literary ambitions and wrote in his spare time. His early works appeared in various periodicals of the day but for his first book, ‘A Man of Mark’ (1890), with no publisher interested, he published with his own resources.

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.

In this series we explore the many facets of love through literary talents that span both time and country. By a choice of vows each undertakes to stay with the other through the good times and the bad. And most probably there will be plenty of both and much in between. But the union of marriage comes in many shades and hues, some balanced, some destined to last a lifetime and others set to fizzle out or stumble to an ill-mannered conclusion in separation or divorce and, of course, death.

Lucinda is a compelling historical novel set in 1914 London. When Lucinda disappears on her wedding day, a frantic search begins, only to be interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. Years later, her whereabouts are discovered, and a shocking truth is revealed.

Esta historia, trata de las aventuras de Rodolfo, que por su extraordinario parecido con el rey de Ruritania, es reclutado para remplazarlo cuando el verdadero rey cae prisionero de unos villanos, mientras este es rescatado.

The king of the fictional country of Ruritania is abducted on the eve of his coronation, and the protagonist, an English gentleman on holiday who fortuitously resembles the monarch, is persuaded to act as his political decoy in an attempt to save the situation.

This rip-roaring 19th-century adventure yarn by Anthony Hope tells us the adventure of Rudolph Rassendyll, who, thanks to his bearing an uncanny likeness to his distant relative Crown Prince Rudolph of the fictional land of Ruritania, is forced to swap places with him in order to secure the throne from Black Michael the usurper. What follows is a fast-paced adventure replete with derring-do, romance, and heroism.

Dive into a delightful collection of short stories that explore the whimsical journey of love and courtship. Each tale, narrated by Michele Eaton, brings to life the charm and challenges of finding romance in unexpected ways.

In Anthony Hope’s classic adventure, "The Prisoner of Zenda," an ordinary Englishman finds himself thrust into a perilous world of mistaken identity and political intrigue. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to the ailing king of Ruritania, he becomes entangled in a dangerous plot filled with swashbuckling heroism, romance, and betrayal. This timeless tale combines action, suspense, and honor, captivating readers with its rich narrative and unforgettable characters, making it a must-read for fans of historical adventure and classic romance. With unexpected twists and daring confrontations, the ...

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating.

Spartans on the Clock is the podcast where we celebrate Norfolk State University's rich history, impactful alumni and bright future. Join us as we dive into inspiring stories of giving back, leadership and what it means to embody the Spartan Spirit. Now Is Our Time!