The Prisoner of Zenda

THE PRISONER OF ZENDA tells the story of Rudolf Rassendyll, younger brother of the Earl of Burlesdon and a distant cousin of Rudolf V, the new King of Ruritania. Rassendyll is a peace-loving English gentleman who goes to Ruritania on a secret visit. By a strange quirk of fate, he happens to look like Rudolf V, the real heir to the throne of Ruritania. Rudolf V is imprisoned in the castle of Zenda by Black Michael, the evil Duke of Strelsau. Rudolf Rassendyll impersonates as Rudolf V and is coronated. He falls in love with a beautiful princess, but being duty-bound, he draws up a plan to free the real king from the clutches of Black Michael and restores him his kingdom. 

SIR ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS, better known as Anthony Hope, was an English novelist and playwright. He was a prolific writer, especially of adventure novels.