Rupert of Hentzau

’Rupert of Hentzau’ (1898) picks up three years after ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ ended with Rudolf Rassendyll sadly leaving behind his love, Queen Flavia. Now unhappily married, Flavia writes Rassendyll to reconcile, but the letter is stolen and before long, Rassendyll once again finds himself forced to impersonate the king. Only this time, the ploy promises to leave behind several fatalities.

A decidedly darker sequel, this novel once again asks the question, Duty or love? And the answer might surprise you. The dashing villain, Rupert of Hentzau, has been portrayed on screen by many popular Hollywood actors throughout the years, among these Ramon Novarro (1922), Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1937) and James Mason (1952).

Anthony Hope (1863-1933) was an English novelist and playwright, known for his adventure novel ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’, the first draft of which he wrote in just one month, and its sequel ‘Rupert of Hentzau’. Hope had trained as a lawyer and barrister and completed the final stage of his education under the future Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, but ultimately chose writing as his profession.