Anthony Hope published his adventure book The Prisoner of Zenda in 1894. In it, the night before being crowned, the King of Ruritania takes drugs and is unable to attend the event. A man on vacation who looks like the monarch is convinced to serve as his political stooge.Michael, Duke of Strelsau, Rudolf V's half-brother, see to it that he is given a bottle of wine that has been drugged. His friends are unable to rouse him up in time for Rudolf V, the Elector of Ruritania, to be crowned.Englishman Sapt persuades Rassendyll to impersonate the King of France so he can attend Duke Michael's coronation. The King is being held in the castle at Zenda.Rassendyll explores the moat by swimming at night. King Rudolf can be heard conversing with one of his captors. A supporting factor, according to Rupert, is his attraction to Antoinette de Mauban.In defiance of Michael's men, Rupert stands at the drawbridge and challenges Michael to fight for Antoinette. Despite having a pistol, Rassendyll is unable to shoot Rupert. Accidentally learning about Rudolf Rassenyll, Princess Flavia collapses. King Rudolf is reinstated to the throne, but the lovers are forced to split ways because of duty and honor.
Anthony Hope was a British novelist and playwright who lived from 9 February 1863 to 8 July 1933. The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau (1898) are the two novels for which he is best renowned. Hope had his education at Balliol College, Oxford, Marlborough College, and St. John's School in Leatherhead. Father Stafford and Mr. Witt's Widow were two of the subsequent novels and short stories. His first significant literary achievement, The Prisoner of Zenda, was written in 1894. Zenda was an immediate hit, and its amusing lead character, the dapper Rudolf Rassendyll, became a well-known literary creation. He also published The God in the Car, a political tale, in 1894. He first published The Chronicles of Count Antonio in 1896, and then Phroso, an adventure novel set on a Greek island, appeared in 1897. He produced the historical novel Simon Dale in 1898, which features the courtesan and actress Nell Gwyn. He first published Second String in1910, and Mrs. Maxon Protests the following year. Later works included The Secret of the Tower, Beaumaroy Home from the Wars, and Lucinda, both of which appeared in 1919. Hope passed away from throat cancer in 1927 at the age of 70.
