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About this book
Rudolf Elphberg, the future King of Ruritania, is drugged and kidnapped by his treacherous half-brother, on the eve of his coronation. To prevent the throne from falling into the wrong hands, Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman who looks just like the Prince, is recruited to impersonate the monarch. As Rassendyll tries to navigate the dangerous political games of the court, his mission gets more complicated when he falls for the beautiful Princess Flavia. Torn between love and duty, our hero must summon all his courage to protect the kingdom from ruin. This thrilling adventure novel is fast-paced and action-packed. So if you like intrigues, swords, and castles, be sure to read this timeless story!
Author
Anthony Hope
Read by
Andy Minter
Story
CHAPTER 1 The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
by Anthony Hope
CHAPTER 1 The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs
“I wonder when in the world you’re going to do anything, Rudolf?” said my brother’s wife.
“My dear Rose,” I answered, laying down my egg-spoon, “why in the world should I do anything? My position is a comfortable one. I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one’s income is ever quite sufficient, you know), I enjoy an enviable social position: I am brother to Lord Burlesdon, and brother-in-law to that charming lady, his countess. Behold, it is enough!”
“You are nine-and-twenty,” she observed, “and you’ve done nothing but—”
“Knock about? It is true. Our family doesn’t need to do things.”
This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for everybody knows (and therefore there can be no harm in referring to the fact) that, pretty and accomplished as she herself is, her family is hardly of the same standing as the Rassendylls. Besides her attractions, she possessed a large fortune, and my brother Robert was wise enough not to mind about her ancestry. Ancestry is, in fact, a matter concerning which the next observation of Rose’s has some truth.
“Good families are generally worse than any others,” she said.
Upon this I stroked my hair: I knew quite well what she meant.
“I’m so glad Robert’s is black!” she cried.
At this moment Robert (who rises at seven and works before breakfast) came in. He glanced at his wife: her cheek was slightly flushed; he patted it caressingly.
“What’s the matter, my dear?” he asked.
“She objects to my doing nothing and having red hair,” said I, in an injured tone.
“Oh! of course he can’t help his hair,” admitted Rose.
“It generally crops out once in a generation,” said my brother. “So does the nose. Rudolf has got them both.”
“I wish they didn’t crop out,” said Rose, still flushed.
“I rather like them myself,” said I, and, rising, I bowed to the portrait of Countess Amelia.
My brother’s wife utt...
Section 1 of 22 sections
🎧
Audiobook Available
Listen to The Prisoner of Zenda in the app. It's free and ad-free.
About this book
Rudolf Elphberg, the future King of Ruritania, is drugged and kidnapped by his treacherous half-brother, on the eve of his coronation. To prevent the throne from falling into the wrong hands, Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishman who looks just like the Prince, is recruited to impersonate the monarch. As Rassendyll tries to navigate the dangerous political games of the court, his mission gets more complicated when he falls for the beautiful Princess Flavia. Torn between love and duty, our hero must summon all his courage to protect the kingdom from ruin. This thrilling adventure novel is fast-paced and action-packed. So if you like intrigues, swords, and castles, be sure to read this timeless story!
Author
Anthony Hope
Read by
Andy Minter
Story
CHAPTER 1 The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
by Anthony Hope
CHAPTER 1 The Rassendylls—With a Word on the Elphbergs
“I wonder when in the world you’re going to do anything, Rudolf?” said my brother’s wife.
“My dear Rose,” I answered, laying down my egg-spoon, “why in the world should I do anything? My position is a comfortable one. I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one’s income is ever quite sufficient, you know), I enjoy an enviable social position: I am brother to Lord Burlesdon, and brother-in-law to that charming lady, his countess. Behold, it is enough!”
“You are nine-and-twenty,” she observed, “and you’ve done nothing but—”
“Knock about? It is true. Our family doesn’t need to do things.”
This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for everybody knows (and therefore there can be no harm in referring to the fact) that, pretty and accomplished as she herself is, her family is hardly of the same standing as the Rassendylls. Besides her attractions, she possessed a large fortune, and my brother Robert was wise enough not to mind about her ancestry. Ancestry is, in fact, a matter concerning which the next observation of Rose’s has some truth.
“Good families are generally worse than any others,” she said.
Upon this I stroked my hair: I knew quite well what she meant.
“I’m so glad Robert’s is black!” she cried.
At this moment Robert (who rises at seven and works before breakfast) came in. He glanced at his wife: her cheek was slightly flushed; he patted it caressingly.
“What’s the matter, my dear?” he asked.
“She objects to my doing nothing and having red hair,” said I, in an injured tone.
“Oh! of course he can’t help his hair,” admitted Rose.
“It generally crops out once in a generation,” said my brother. “So does the nose. Rudolf has got them both.”
“I wish they didn’t crop out,” said Rose, still flushed.
“I rather like them myself,” said I, and, rising, I bowed to the portrait of Countess Amelia.
My brother’s wife utt...
Section 1 of 22 sections
