The Prisoner of Zenda

by Anthony Hope · audio summary, about 13 min

An idle English gentleman traveling in Ruritania discovers he is a perfect double for the country's soon-to-be-crowned King. When the monarch is drugged and kidnapped, the traveler must impersonate him to save the throne.

Key ideas

• The conflict between personal desires and public duty, as both Rudolf and Flavia sacrifice their love for the stability of the kingdom.
• The power of physical appearance and deception, showing how easily a nation can be led by a double when honor dictates the play.
• Loyalty and sacrifice as the ultimate virtues, demonstrated by the faithful servants who risk their lives to protect the true sovereign.

This summary and its voice are made with AI from the public-domain book. They can be wrong.

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