The Prisoner of Zenda
Being the History of Three Months in the Life of an English Gentleman
The Prisoner of Zenda, published in 1894, made Anthony Hope's name and created a genre. Rudolf Rassendyll, an idle English gentleman with the red hair of a royal ancestor, travels to the kingdom of Ruritania for the coronation and finds that he is the double of its king. When the king is drugged and then imprisoned in the castle of Zenda by his half-brother Black Michael, Rassendyll is persuaded to take his place, and for three months he rules, fights, and falls in love with the Princess Flavia, who is promised to the man he is impersonating. The dashing villain Rupert of Hentzau, the swordplay by moonlight and the renunciation at the end set the pattern for countless imitations. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Prisoner of Zenda
The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Prisoner of Zenda online?
Yes. The Prisoner of Zenda opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Prisoner of Zenda free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Prisoner of Zenda is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Prisoner of Zenda in the public domain?
Yes. The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Prisoner of Zenda?
About 3 h 36 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Prisoner of Zenda?
The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope is filed under "Adventure" in the Vinteuil library.
