Rupert of Hentzau

What It's About

Three years after the events of The Prisoner of Zenda, Rudolf Rassendyll is living quietly in England, his brief reign as decoy king behind him. But his old life catches up with him when a compromising letter written by Queen Flavia falls into the hands of the scheming Rupert of Hentzau, who intends to use it for blackmail. Rassendyll is drawn back across Europe to Ruritania, where he must once again risk everything - and his own identity - to protect the woman he loves and the throne of a kingdom that no longer belongs to him. What follows is a story of pursuit, disguise, and duelling swords, narrated by Rassendyll's loyal friend Fritz von Tarlenheim.

Key Concepts

The novel weighs personal honour against duty and self-interest, and explores the cost of concealed love within a marriage built on public appearances. It also plays with themes of identity and impersonation, carried over from the first book, as Rassendyll's resemblance to the King forces him back into old deceptions. Rupert of Hentzau himself is often read as the novel's most memorable figure: a charming, entirely amoral villain whose wit makes him more engaging than the heroes he opposes.

About the Author

Anthony Hope was the pen name of Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, an English novelist and playwright born in London. He trained as a barrister and practised law before turning to writing full-time after his early success. He was knighted in 1918 for his propaganda work during the First World War, and died in Surrey in 1933.