The Prisoner of Zenda (Classic Adventures)

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Anthony Hope: The Prisoner of Zenda (Classic Adventures) (Paperback, Fabbri Publishing)

Paperback

Published by Fabbri Publishing.

ISBN:
978-1-85587-305-6
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OCLC Number:
44827041

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3 stars (1 review)

An adventure novel, originally published in 1894, set in the fictitious European Kingdom of Ruritania. An English tourist is persuaded to impersonate the new king after he is abducted before he can be crowned. This act draws upon him the wrath of the Prince who has had the king abducted and his partner in crime the villainous Rupert of Hentzau.

6 editions

reviewed The prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (Penguin Popular Classics)

Review of 'The prisoner of Zenda' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

I was almost immediately reminded of [b:The 39 Steps|153492|The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1)|John Buchan|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327974679s/153492.jpg|2422487] when I started this book. Both open with a 1st Person account of the protagonist lacking occupation and being idle just before the action begins and both betray unpleasant attitudes, too. Buchan's Hannay is much worse in this regard than Hope's Rudolf: Hannay is racist, sexist, Imperialist, arrogant and frankly unlikeable. Rudolf, however, makes one fairly mild sexist remark. There are differences, though: Hannay is bored of being idle whereas Rudolf would happily be idle for the rest of his life... None of this really matters beyond chapter one of either book, though. It's interesting to compare with Thomas Hardy. He was contemporary with both Hope and Buchan - but look at the views espoused about women, class, education and social mobility there! Perhaps the lesson is that 'frillers are not the place to look …

Subjects

  • Adventure / thriller