nihilistmermaid's review
4.0
I promised myself that I will re-read some of my favorite novels every year.
The Prisoner of Zenda will always be on the top of them.. my favorite English classic and my favorite school novel. It's so strange that us -the readers- enjoy every small detail in our favorites even if we're reading them for the thousand time already!
The Prisoner of Zenda will always be on the top of them.. my favorite English classic and my favorite school novel. It's so strange that us -the readers- enjoy every small detail in our favorites even if we're reading them for the thousand time already!
leahegood's review against another edition
4.0
Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman, bears a striking resemblance the king of Ruritania. A chance meeting in the woods leads to Rudolf’s acquaintance with the king. He never expects his face and head of Elphberg red hair to force him to become an impostor, but when the king goes missing, Rudolf is persuaded to impersonate the king until a rescue can be effected. Will they be able to snatch the king away from Black Michael? And what of the love blooming between Rudolf and Princess Flavia?
My first introduction to this story was in video format. I later read the book as part of the required reading for the One Year Adventure Novel writing class. I loved both versions. In some ways the story is a typical adventure tale but it has its own unique flair. A good read for girls and guys alike.
My first introduction to this story was in video format. I later read the book as part of the required reading for the One Year Adventure Novel writing class. I loved both versions. In some ways the story is a typical adventure tale but it has its own unique flair. A good read for girls and guys alike.
rach_eb's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun, swashbuckling adventure that I found quite entertaining. It gets three stars from me because I found the protagonist to be an overly proud, sexist jerk, even for the 1890s. With lines like "women are careless, forgetful creatures" sprinkled throughout the book, he was easy to hate. But aside from the protag and the stereotypes, I enjoyed the daring deeds and adventurous spirit of the tale.
laurahadi's review
2.0
I was forced to read it because its for school i didnt really like it theres 1 million other stuff better maybe if ur like under 10 you would enjoy it. It was at somtimes boring i read only the summarys of each chapter so i finished it in a day
chickiebean_loves_books's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Five things about The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope 📚📚📚📚📚
1. What a dreamy, swashbuckling, silly and wonderful ride!
2. The premise is that a Englishman on holiday in a little German state comes to find that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the soon to be coronated king of that state mere hours before the need arises for him to impersonate that king for the public.
3. This story has everything. Political intrigue, romance, action, humor, melodrama…honestly, it was a joyfully rollicking read from beginning to end.
4. At just about 150 pages it would make a very fun read aloud.
5. Apparently, according to the introduction (that I read after I finished it as per the warning the introduction begins with) this little book was incredibly popular upon publication. It was released by the same publishers and in the same line as Three Men In a Boat and was met with instant acclaim both from the public and reviewers. It inspired a deluge of similar action adventure stories taking place in fictional Baltic and German monarchies. Hope was compared to Alexandre Dumas pere (the father…the elder…Sr.) and Zenda to Arthurian Tales. It was adapted successfully for both stage and screen. I’m going to try to track down a version to watch now.
1. What a dreamy, swashbuckling, silly and wonderful ride!
2. The premise is that a Englishman on holiday in a little German state comes to find that he bears an uncanny resemblance to the soon to be coronated king of that state mere hours before the need arises for him to impersonate that king for the public.
3. This story has everything. Political intrigue, romance, action, humor, melodrama…honestly, it was a joyfully rollicking read from beginning to end.
4. At just about 150 pages it would make a very fun read aloud.
5. Apparently, according to the introduction (that I read after I finished it as per the warning the introduction begins with) this little book was incredibly popular upon publication. It was released by the same publishers and in the same line as Three Men In a Boat and was met with instant acclaim both from the public and reviewers. It inspired a deluge of similar action adventure stories taking place in fictional Baltic and German monarchies. Hope was compared to Alexandre Dumas pere (the father…the elder…Sr.) and Zenda to Arthurian Tales. It was adapted successfully for both stage and screen. I’m going to try to track down a version to watch now.
bookishwendy's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable classic swashbuckler, though it feels overdone now. The protagonist is fun as the bored, entitled young aristocrat who heads off to the continent just for grins and gets tangled up in all manner of political machinations outside his interests and abilities (or are they!?). The doppelganger plot device is amusingly quaint, but since it results in some of the best scenes (that one with the table) I'm not complaining. I'm just going to blame British Victorian classicism/moralizing for that unfulfilling ending.
numerous_bees's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A classic adventure stroy full of swordfights, betrayal, plots, forbidden love, and - throughout it all -the constraints of duty and honour.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Misogyny, and Death
Minor: Rape
scrow1022's review
4.0
A romp. Outrageously over the top. Annoying late 19thC attitudes towards women aside, hugely entertaining.
Read this in preparation for KJ Charles' "The Henchmen of Zenda".
Read this in preparation for KJ Charles' "The Henchmen of Zenda".