1) Rudolf Rassendyll decides to visit his cousin, the King of Ruritania, who is to be crowned. However, Rudolf discovers that his distant cousin's evil relative, Black Michael, plans to prevent the coronation to seize the crown for himself. 2) Black Michael kidnaps the king before the ceremony. Due to his resemblance to the king, Rudolf agrees to impersonate the monarch until the real king can be rescued. 3) Rudolf must outwit Black Michael and his men to save the king and ensure the rightful ruler is crowned, facing danger and deception along the way to determine the fate of the kingdom.

2. I wonder when in the
world you‛re going to do
anything, Rudolf?
My dear
Rose, why in the
world should I do
anything?
My position is a
comfortable one. I have
an income nearly sufficient for
my wants, I enjoy an enviable social
position _ I am brother to Lord
Burlesdon, and brother-in-law
to that charming lady, his
countess. Behold, it is
enough!
You are
twenty nine
and you‛ve done
nothing but--
Knock
about? It is true.
But our family is rich.
We don‛t need to do
things.
I‛m so
glad Robert‛s
hair is dark!
Well, it seems
rich families are
generally worse
than others.
CAMPFIRETM
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3. What‛s the
matter, my
dear?
Oh! Of
course he can‛t
help his hair, or
his nose.
Brother! Your
wife objects to my
doing nothing and
having red hair.
No. The nose and
the hair crop up once in
a generation; and Rudolf
has them both.
I wish you‛d
take that picture away,
Robert. Then it might
be forgotten.
Good heavens!
How can you say
such a thing?
And why should
it be forgotten? I
rather like being an
Elphberg myself.
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4. Perhaps I should explain why I, a Rassendyll,
said I was an Elphberg. After all, the
Elphbergs are the royal family of Ruritania,
and have been for hundreds of years.
In the year 1733, Prince Rudolf
of Ruritania came to England on a
visit, staying for several months.
During his stay, he became friendly
with Lady Amelia, the beautiful
wife of Lord Burlesdon. Naturally,
that did not please Lord Burlesdon.
One cold, wet morning, the two men fought.
Prince Rudolf received a severe wound and,
while recovering, was cleverly smuggled off
by the Ruritanian ambassador.
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5. Lord Burlesdon contracted a severe
chill and died six months later.
Two months after that, Lady
Amelia, whose picture my sisterin-law wished to remove from the
drawing room in London, had a baby
boy _ the next Lord Burlesdon.
As for Rudolf, he took a wife in
Ruritania and ascended the throne.
I had given my promise. But
six months would give me time
to visit Ruritania _ something
I was curious to do.
Due to this event in the past,
my sister-in-law treated my
complexion like an offence
for which I was to blame.
Why can‛t you
be responsible like your
brother? Sir Jacob Borrodaile
is offering you exactly what you
need. He will have an embassy in
six months, and Robert says he
is sure that he‛ll take you
as an attache.
Do take
it, Rudolf, to
please me.
I can tell
them that I am
going for a ramble
in the Tyrol. They know
it is an old haunt of mine.
If in six months‛
time no unforeseen
obstacle has arisen, and
Sir Jacob invites me,
hang me if I don‛t go
with him!
CAMPFIRETM
The news that morning made me
even more determined to go.
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6. On the way to Ruritania, I decided to spend a night
in Paris visiting a friend, George Featherly. In the
morning, he accompanied me to the train station.
That‛s Madame
Antoinette de Mauban.
She‛s a widow _ rich, attractive
and, according to repute, ambitious.
She is travelling on the same train
as you. But don‛t fall in love
with her, Rudolf.
CAMPFIRETM
Why is
that?
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7. Swordfights, midnight rides, castles and dungeons…
The Prisoner of Zenda is the classic romantic adventure!
When Rudolf Rassendyll decides to take a journey to
see his distant cousin crowned king of Ruritania, it soon
becomes apparent that it is not going to be a normal
trip. The first indication of this comes with the realisation
that he bears an uncanny resemblance to his cousin.
Added to that there is the discovery that Black Michael,
a relative of the rightful king, is determined to prevent
the coronation taking place, so that he might receive
the crown himself.
What follows is an adventure involving abduction,
imprisonment and deceit. As the story races to its
conclusion, Rudolf Rassendyll faces choices that will
determine not only his future, but the futures of King
Rudolf, Princess Flavia and the whole of Ruritania.
Published in 1894, The Prisoner of Zenda launched
Hope’s writing career, and was followed by the sequel,
Rupert of Hentzau.
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