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The Prisoner of Zenda (Classic adventures) Kindle Edition

by Anthony Hope (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 352 ratings
Anthony Hope's swashbuckling romance transports his English gentleman hero, Rudolf Rassendyll, from a comfortable life in London to fast-moving adventures in Ruritania, a mythical land steeped in political intrigue. Rassendyll bears a striking resemblance to Rudolf Elphberg who is about to be crowned King of Ruritania. When the rival to the throne, Black Michael of Strelsau, attempts to seize power by imprisoning Elphberg in the Castle of Zenda, Rassendyll is obliged to impersonate the King to uphold the rightful sovereignty and ensure political stability. Rassendyll endures a trial of strength in his encounters with the notorious Rupert of Hentzau, and a test of a different sort as he grows to love the Princess Flavia.
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  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 352 ratings

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Smidgen Press

Smidgen Press

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Come savor books with us! Our boutique publishing house ensures that each project is treated with care, from digitally harvesting text out of old editions and into a fresh “new-old-book” typeset (no bound scans here!). And we bring ebooks to readers who need accessibility functionality, have limited shelf space, or just want an electronic format for convenience.

We take great care to curate classics that our readers are looking for, and we guarantee the quality of every book.

We’re Smidgen Press: breathing new life into old stories, one volume at a time.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
352 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable read, describing it as a rollicking romance that's a real page-turner of an adventure story.

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12 customers mention ‘Readability’12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thoroughly enjoyable and fantastic to read, describing it as the cutest book ever.

"...It’s a typical lightning book: bold, bright, vivid as the thunder storm. Read it, and ride the lightning." Read more

"...adventure stories then The Prisoner of Zenda is definitely worth a look...." Read more

"...certain points, this novel nevertheless makes for an exciting and absorbing read, but one where the reader is never in doubt that the heroic and..." Read more

"Lovely and enjoyable adaptation of a times classic in comic form, but please consider this: -..." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Story quality’7 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy this adventure story, describing it as a rollicking romance and swashbuckling tale.

"..." but was also aware that the "ordinary man likes to read... novels of rapid narrative, stirring incident, and normal emotions" and, therefore, set..." Read more

"...This is the prototype for tales of daring chaps who happened to look exactly like someone else and stand in for them, win the heart of a fair lady..." Read more

"Well written adventure if a little dated. Takes me back to my school days and borying composition writing. ☺ ." Read more

"...Its a great story. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Obviously more detail than the movies which I also bought later in a double disc set...." Read more

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Edoardo Albert
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great adventure
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 September 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It’s not easy to write a great adventure story. It’s not like writing a good adventure story. That’s not so difficult – I’ve written a couple myself. But a great adventure story, that’s a different matter. It’s different because that which separates a great story from a good story has nothing to do with the formal elements of storytelling: character, plot, three-act structures, all the things they teach you in writing classes. Do these, and you’ll write a good adventure story – or any other type of story.

    No, what separates the great from the good is something that stands outside the formal norms of storywriting. It’s lightning in the words. It’s the letter shock and the story explosion. It’s the way that, sometimes, everything clicks, rising to a level above the good. There’s no way of climbing to that level from simple effort because, in essence, it’s a gift: a gift from the words themselves and, yes, the muse.

    Sometimes the muse chooses to place her mark upon writers who deserve it, men and women who have honed their words until they can wield them like a surgeon, such as Robert Louis Stevenson (she flung her .iightning at him at least thrice). But sometimes she strikes the literary jobber, writers who churn out words for a living and somehow find themselves typing lightning. Bram Stoker was one, with Dracula, and Anthony Hope was another with The Prisoner of Zenda. It’s a typical lightning book: bold, bright, vivid as the thunder storm. Read it, and ride the lightning.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Paul S
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful swashbuckling adventure story with dashing heroes and romantic complications!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 September 2021
    Verified Purchase
    If you enjoy swashbuckling adventure stories then The Prisoner of Zenda is definitely worth a look. Written in 1894, the writing style appears a little stilted by today's norms but one soon adapts to it. The plot is totally implausible but don't let that get in the way of what is a great page-turning story-line: the king of Ruitania is kidnapped just before his coronation and if he fails to be crowned then his half-brother, Michael will be crowned king in his place. However a distant English cousin, Rudolf Rassendyll, who is the spitting image of the king is quite by chance visiting the country and this persuades the king's closest and most loyal courtiers to come up with a plan to prevent Michael from ascending the throne. Of course, there are complications and twists and turns as the plot unfolds which make this a real page-turner of an adventure story. There is also a romantic complication which adds some spice to the tale! Does the plan succeed? Sorry, you'll just have to read the story to find out!
    The kindle version I downloaded of this novel has some wonderful illustrations but they are far too small to see on the kindle paperwhite screen. However, they can be more easily viewed if you use the kindle app on a bigger screened computer, laptop or tablet.
    Finally, while it has nothing to do with this kindle version of this novel, I would like to add that if you haven't seen the 1937 film version of this story, starring Ronald Colman, then I'd highly advise you to look it up as in my opinion it is the best film version made so far of this story.
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  • SusannahB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Swashbuckling and Romantic Adventure Story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 April 2020
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    The hero of Anthony Hope's 'The Prisoner of Zenda' is Rudolf Rassendyll, the English son of an aristocratic family who, due to a distant liaison between a female family member and a visiting Prince of Ruritania, bears an uncanny resemblance to Rudolf Elphberg, the present prince of that country who is about to be crowned king. When Rudolf travels to Ruritania and becomes witness to a plot by the prince's rival and half-brother, Black Michael of Streslau, Rudolf finds himself agreeing to impersonate the prince, in order to ensure that Black Michael's plans are foiled. However, Black Michael is not one to let Rudolf stand in his way of achieving his desire to become king - and neither are Michael's partners in crime, one of whom is the daring and fearless Rupert of Hentzau. And it is not just Black Michael's desires to become king that Rudolf thwarts when he impersonates Rudolf Elphberg - there is also the beautiful Princess Flavia destined to become the queen, with whom our Rudolf falls in love, but the lovely Flavia is a woman that Michael wants for himself...

    A fast-moving and very swashbuckling tale and although one will need to suspend's one's disbelief at certain points, this novel nevertheless makes for an exciting and absorbing read, but one where the reader is never in doubt that the heroic and honourable Englishman will eventually triumph over his enemies. 'The Prisoner of Zenda' is, essentially, a light-hearted and romantic adventure story and, as it states in the introduction to my copy, the author was aware of: "the cultural gulf between 'esoteric' and 'popular' literature" but was also aware that the "ordinary man likes to read... novels of rapid narrative, stirring incident, and normal emotions" and, therefore, set out to produce fiction that was readable and enjoyable - and, in this, he has achieved his aim. I read this in one sitting and am now considering obtaining a copy of the sequel 'Rupert of Hentzau'.

    4 Stars.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A rollicking romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 May 2013
    Verified Purchase
    If you like a great yarn about a handsome decent hero -and I don't mean priggish, this is the book for you. This is the prototype for tales of daring chaps who happened to look exactly like someone else and stand in for them, win the heart of a fair lady but don't take advantage and ride off into the sunset, loved by all. It also has a cracking charismatic bad boy villain as fascinating and sexy as the hero. At times you don't know who to root for more. Rudolf Rassendyll is up there with Sydney Carton as one of my all-time favourite heroes. He can't claim the girl but he certainly claims us. Read and be captivated.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Vs in VA
    5.0 out of 5 stars an enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United States on 27 April 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Quick, entertaining adventure story. A fun read. Was looking for something on the lighter side and this book fit the bill perfectly.
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  • Mi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ótimo
    Reviewed in Brazil on 29 January 2025
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    Chegou perfeito e muito rápido
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  • Shubhro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in India on 5 August 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Great buy
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  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars The cover is dirty
    Reviewed in Singapore on 26 January 2023
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    The cover is dirty.
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    Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    The cover is dirty

    Reviewed in Singapore on 26 January 2023
    The cover is dirty.
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  • Matija Grabnar
    4.0 out of 5 stars A classic
    Reviewed in Germany on 14 September 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Having seen two movie versions, and at least one reworking-as-SF story ("Double star" by R.A.Heinlein) I thought it was about time I read the original. It didn't disappoint. The story moves quickly, and while it's not as complex as some of today's adventure stories tend to be, but it's still a page turner and it's clear why it inspired so many people.
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