Rupert of Hentzau

This sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda returns to the imaginary kingdom of Ruritania three years on, and it is darker and more tragic than its predecessor. Queen Flavia, trapped in a loveless royal marriage, sends a letter of devotion to the Englishman Rudolf Rassendyll, the commoner who once impersonated her husband the king. When the exiled schemer Rupert of Hentzau intercepts it, the letter becomes a weapon that could bring down the throne, and Rassendyll must slip back into Ruritania to save the queen’s honor. Narrated by the loyal Fritz von Tarlenheim, Hope’s tale of intrigue, swordplay, and doomed love brings the Ruritanian romance to a stirring close. A free PDF and EPUB edition is available here.