Rupert of Hentzau

Description

Set in the fictional kingdom of Ruritania, Rupert of Hentzau is a sequel to Anthony Hope’s previous novel, The Prisoner of Zenda. The action begins three years after the denouement of Zenda, and the story features a few recurring characters, such as Rudolf Elphberg, the king of Ruritania, Flavia – his wife, Rudolf Rassendyll – an English gentleman, Fritz von Tarlenheim and, of course, Rupert of Hentzau.

Flavia has put aside her own chance at happiness and has married Rudolf V, her cousin. She is absolutely unhappy and can no longer deal with Rassendyll being away. She writes him a very compromising letter, telling him how she feels.

Fritz von Tarlenheim is in charge of delivering the letter to Rassendyll, but, unfortunately, Rupert of Hentzau steals it. He plans to show it to the king, take advantage of his extreme jealousy and paranoia, and win his favors again.

Rassendyll wastes no time in coming to the queen’s aid. Together with his friends Ftitz and Sapt, he returns to Ruritania. Upon arrival, he has to impersonate Rudolf V once more, as Rupert of Hentzau has shot the monarch. Rassendyll finally confronts Rupert and kills him in the end. But one more character had to die before the story ends.

The story brims over with humor and swashbuckling heroism, and has its moments of romance as well. Disguised under all that, the reader will find a sharp satire on Europe’s politics of the 19th century.

Anthony Hope was born on the 9th of February 1863 and died on the 8th of July 1933. He was a notable English author who wrote novels and plays. He wrote many adventure stories, but the works that made him famous are The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau. The two books gave birth to a new literary genre called the Ruritarian romance.

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