'The Prisoner of Zenda' is a page-turning adventure story, driven by its colourful characters. I came to it after seeing the 1937 film and found the book every page as exciting as the film. It is a short novel, made shorter by the compelling style of Antony Hope.
I also enjoyed the way it discussed the idea of dopplegangers, although was slightly dissapointed that it did not offer more food for thought on this aspect. I was hoping for a great adventure story combined with a look at literary doubles, in the vein of 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'; in the end it is just a great adventure story and an interesting glance into a late 19th century English writer's view of the world. ( )

Rudlf Rassendyll came from royal stock of Ruritania.Because of some accidents,he pretended to be the Ruritania King.However,the real King was caught by enemies.
I felt uneasy about Rudlf's adventure.I also enjoyed love story between Rudlf and Princess Flavia.I like the scene of exchanging rings. ( )

This book is about rescue.
The king of Ruritania is a prisoner in the Castle of Zenda.
So,to rescue him,Rudolf Rassendyll goes to the Castle of Zenda.
He is young,rich person. And in the Castle,soon he fight the king's enemies.
But he fall in love with the king's cousin,the lovely Princess Flavia.
So does his plane succeed?... ( )

I’ve wanted to read this book for 15 years or more. The story is fine, though not novel, and the temptation to remain the king and marry Princess Flavia marks it as modern, but finishing it was more of a duty than a pleasure. It’s interesting as an artifact of late Victorian English attitudes- the gadabout younger son of a titled family does his duty to king and country (though not his own) and gets to kill a few bad guys and kiss a pretty girl. The first two pages smack of Oscar Wilde. The most finely sketched character is the notorious Rupert of Hentzau. Of course, anyone who can rise above the name Rupert most have something going for him.

I still can’t figure out why this has been in print for over 100 years. Maybe it was gathered to the bosom of a nation on Sherlock Holmes’ coat tails and it’s a time/place thing? Thrilling adventure or a penny dreadful for the ruling class? It’s an enjoyable, quick read? I dunno. Maybe it was the first airplane book, a mind movie. (I also can’t figure out why anyone would want to read anything more challenging than Christie when they fly. I once sat across the aisle from a very pretty woman who was reading Plato; I was reading the Princess Bride. She stopped reading and I didn’t.) ( )