Book Review : The Prisoner of Zenda

The Prisoner of Zenda is a swashbuckling story set in the mythical area of central Europe known as Ruritania.

Rudolf Rassendyll has a private income and a lust for travel. He has the Elphberg red hair and large nose, courtesy of an affair between a young English girl and a previous king of Ruritania centuries before.

When he goes to Ruritania for a quiet holiday, the attendants of the king, Rudolf Elphberg, realise Rassendyll is a dead ringer for the king, so when Elphberg is imprisoned in Zenda by his brother, Black Michael, Rassendyll steps in and performs the role of king, carrying on a romance with the lovely Princess Flavia.

Of course, Rudlof Rassendyll feels duty bound to rescue Rudolf Elphberg and reconnoitres the castle of Zenda and its surroundings where the king is held prisoner.Black Michael has six accomplices and in various sword-brandishing escapades, these are whittled down to one, whose name is used as the sequel to this book. Black Michael perishes as do various other people.