Anthony HopeRupert of Hentzau: From the Memoirs of Fritz Von Tarlenheim
Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known by his pen name Anthony Hope, was an English novelist and playwright, born on February 9, 1863, in London, England. He is most renowned for his adventure novels set in the fictional European kingdom of Ruritania, a term that has come to denote any small, imaginary, quintessential European country used as the setting for romance and intrigue. His most famous works are 'The Prisoner of Zenda' (1894) and its sequel, 'Rupert of Hentzau: From The Memoirs of Fritz Von Tarlenheim' (1898), which further explores the complex political and romantic turmoil within Ruritania. Hope's literary style was characterized by swift-moving plots, engaging dialogue, and a knack for sustaining suspense. The Ruritanian romances, with their blend of adventurous escapades and aristocratic dalliances, struck a chord with the Victorian public, both in Great Britain and abroad. Outside of the Ruritanian genre, Hope also wrote other novels, short stories, and plays. He balanced his literary pursuits with a legal career, but after the success of his novels, he devoted himself to writing full-time. Hope's contributions to the adventure and romance genres have been widely acknowledged, and his works have been adapted into plays, films, and television series, attesting to the enduring appeal of his storytelling. He passed away on July 8, 1933, and his legacy as a pioneer in the genre of romantic adventure endures to this day.
