The Heart of Princess Osra

The Ruritania Trilogy #1

by Anthony Hope

This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1896 edition by Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York and London.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Classic Literature

337 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1896

About the author

Prolific English novelist and playwright Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins especially composed adventure. People remember him best only for the book The Prisoner of Zenda (1894) and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau (1898). These works, "minor classics" of English literature, set in the contemporaneous fictional country of Ruritania, spawned the genre, known as Ruritanian romance. Zenda inspired many adaptations, most notably the Hollywood movie of 1937 of the same name.

Reviews

[Priyadarshni Palanikumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read many very bad reviews of this one before trying it. And I have to say that they've all been true. Fictional 1800's Europe has never disappointed me more. I will recommend this book only for people who want to read the Prisoner of Zenda, the second book in this series. But, please, please, PLEASE read it only if you have the slightly crazy OCD of reading a whole series properly so that your brain doesn't scream at you. If you don't, thank the lords and read book two right away and leave this one out!

PS : Princess Osra, I hate your guts! And Mr Hope, I'm sorry you didn't even give me a lovable hero so that I give you the extra star.

Read 2 : Eh well, I could eat my words. I had a bit of fun during this read, mainly because Osra seemed as flabbergasted as I was that men fall for her left and right. Hadn't noticed it before. But, the rating remains the same.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so depressing that it's actually funny! In every chapter, another poor man is dying, being murdered, committing suicide, going insane, about to be hanged as a criminal, or dying of some horrific illness because his heart is breaking for love of the beautiful Princess Osra. All these poor stupid men, dying because the Princess is beautiful. It's tragic and funny in its ridiculousness. (I mean, how beautiful could she be? She's Helen of Troy, apparently.)

I love how chivalrous the noblemen are, and even the common men without riches or titles are full of chivalry and high feelings. The villains are calculating and malicious, and the heroes are completely unselfish and generous and kind. All of them are ready to dare anything, risk bodily harm, fight to the death in impossible duels, and risk their fortunes for the sake of the Princess and their own honor.

Each chapter follows some different escapade of the Princess and her would-be suitors, and I love the high adventure plots. It reminds me of Dumas' Three Musketeers.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Zenda prequel is written well enough but still fairly unlikeable. Osra is young, a little vain, and constantly besieged by men who've been literally driven insane by her beauty. There's only one case where she directly participates in something unkind, but the whole set of stories are treated as some kind of moral lesson about her love life, as if it's Osra's fault men keep kidnapping, menacing, or threatening to kill themselves over her.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit on the misogynistic side, with the Princess paying emotionally for not understanding love. But also quite violent, as many of the men pay for the Princess's mistakes with their lives. Also lacks the wit of Prisoner of Zenda, with few of the characters being likable. Osra's brother Rudolf is particularly crudely drawn.

[Mohammad Aboomar · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amazing companion to the Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel, this book contains short stories about a princess who lives about a century before the famous events of Zenda. I only wish I read this while I was still at school, when I studied the Zenda novel!

[Sherwood Smith]

Anthony Hope had mastered his inimitable style by the time he wrote this series of short stories. There's still a lot of rather blithe blood and guts (in the swashbuckling sense) but his wit and heart shine. And we even get to see a heroic Hentzau--a priest, yet!

It is set during an earlier time in Ruritania's history, as the beautiful Princess Osra is courted, and trifles with men's hearts, then learns the consequences. By the time she finally falls in love, she's been dealt some sharp lessons.

It's a bit more dour (see above about blood and guts) than light-hearted, and it isn't as all as stylish and witty as Dolly Dialogues which I think shows him at the top of his form, but it's really lovely in places, painfully poignant in others.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of short stories, revolving around the central character of Princess Osra, that are combined together into a novel. Each story is full of passion and adventure, and the reader will be glued to each and every page.

[Mohamed samy · Rating 1 out of 5]

bad
no mercy

[Bo Manson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of linked short stories to a prequel. Although it was written immediately after the success of The Prisoner of Zenda, the story set in the 1730s, well over a century before the events of the first novel and its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau. This is a story of love life of Princess Osra. She is the younger sister of King Rudolf III, shared ancestor lineage of Rudolf Rassendyll, the English gentleman who acts as political decoy in The Prisoner of Zenda. From the beginning of the stories, it is not a happily-ever-after type of royal story but in the end, the heart of Princess Osra found its haven and its rest. Gladly finished this book, you are pain the ass, Osra. Huge one!

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would advise those new to Ruritania not to start with this book. It seems obvious to me, as a fellow writer of Ruritanian romance, that Hope was still world-building when he wrote it. Start with The Prisoner of Zenda, double back to read this, then go on to Rupert of Hentzau, if you dare.

The stories are of uneven quality, and the short-story form constrained Hope to wrapping up the narratives of each a little too fast for my satisfaction. He did manage to keep related threads going, but it’s just not the masterpiece that The Prisoner of Zenda was.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Victorian story based heavily on medieval romance but with touches of adventure. Out of fashion now, but I rather enjoyed it. Almost all men fall in love with Princess Ozra but it takes until the last story for her to return their favour. Of course, since this book was written by a Victorian, they marry.

[nx74defiant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Osra is the most beautiful princess in the world. Men fall madly in love with her. They will die for her, go mad over her, kill for her. It is over the top and ridiculous. But I just went with it and enjoyed it. I loved when she got knocked down a peg. The end was very predictable.

[Al Capwned · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is so dated that it could have been dated by the time it was published.

[Η Cultσα · Rating 2 out of 5]

Αδύναμη και χωρίς ενδιαφέρον πλοκή και στιλ γραφής τελείως ξεπερασμένου. Δεν πιστεύω το συγκεκριμένο να θεωρείται από τα κλασικά έργα του συγγραφέα.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

1896. Prequel to The Prisoner of Zenda. Light, humorous, but not without a deeper meaning, too. Hope does it all.

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best. Not nearly as charming and well written as The Prisoner of Zenda. It has its moments, but overall just so-so.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

a series of short romances, revolving around the pulchritudinous Princess Osra of Ruritania and the many, many people who fall in love with her, that she falls in love with, or who try to sneak a kiss to win a bet. the writing is of the standard you'd expect from Hope, but the plots are a little uninspiring and most of the characters are both boring and mildly dislikeable. except the Bishop of Modenstein, a wonderful Aramis-like figure who appears to save the day or offer advice. he hints at a mysterious and tragic past, and really deserves a more prominent role.

in short, not a patch on "Zenda".

(finish date has been tweaked so it can count towards last year's reading goal -- i actually finished this on the 4th of Jan or something. but shhhhh :shiftyeyes: it's only a little lie, since i was on track to complete it in time and halfway through the last story when Real Life got in the way.)

[Greg Kerestan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel, a prequel to "The Prisoner of Zenda" which establishes some of the kingdom of Ruritania's history, is the weakest (and most politically incorrect) of the Ruritania trilogy. Osra is beautiful and intelligent, but knows nothing of love. Despite this, every man she meets falls madly for her, and most of them end up dying by their own hand for it- a fact which would feel like a running joke if it were not treated with such solemn, respectful dignity. Will she ever learn humanity to go with her royalty? Obviously yes, but only after the body count of her admirers has risen to an almost absurd level. Mix in some casual Victorian-era prejudice, and you have a fairly flawed middle volume in an otherwise enjoyable trilogy.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Clare:

This was great! Really, it didn't hold a candle to "Prisoner" and "Rupert" but it was still a fun read with a perfectly applicable modern message and plenty of fun & adventure thrown in. I read it on my phone, free from google books (and they also have many, many other nigh on unobtainable Anthony Hope's that I plan on getting into).

Thanks for helping me remember Hope & find this one!

[Liz Stanton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a novel, just a series of linked short stories about the different men who fell in love with Princess Osra. Mildly entertaining, but no match for the Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau.

[ADD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, but repetitive. Clear Victorian era writing with the scanned illustrations showing late 1800's attire while the story setting was supposed to be 1730s or earlier. Interesting and little twists in the story endings made it delightful to read.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Booooring!!