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Graustark #1
Graustark: The Story of a Love Behind a Throne
The author's first book, a romance set in the imaginary Kingdom of Graustark, somewhere in the mountainous country of Eastern Europe. Court romance and intrigue. Vastly popular, the mythical Balkan Kingdom of Graustark and the "Graustarkian Romance" remain as household names today.
The fiction of George Barr McCutcheon (1866-1928) proved so popular in his day that he, along with Anthony Hope, the author of "The Prisoner of Zenda," invented a whole new genre, now called the "Graustarkian novel," a charming product of a more innocent time when the Balkans could be the scene of adventurous romances set in imaginary countries. McCutcheon's Graustark no doubt borders Hope's Ruritania and Avram Davidson's more recent Scythia-Pannonia-Transbalkania. It was a place where an American adventurer could find himself or herself adrift, but rapidly caught up in intrigues, captures and escapes, and the perilously-hinged destiny of (at the very least) a royal throne or two. "Graustark" is one entry in this best-selling series, which also includes "The Prince of Graustark," "Truxton King," and "Beverly of Graustark."
The fiction of George Barr McCutcheon (1866-1928) proved so popular in his day that he, along with Anthony Hope, the author of "The Prisoner of Zenda," invented a whole new genre, now called the "Graustarkian novel," a charming product of a more innocent time when the Balkans could be the scene of adventurous romances set in imaginary countries. McCutcheon's Graustark no doubt borders Hope's Ruritania and Avram Davidson's more recent Scythia-Pannonia-Transbalkania. It was a place where an American adventurer could find himself or herself adrift, but rapidly caught up in intrigues, captures and escapes, and the perilously-hinged destiny of (at the very least) a royal throne or two. "Graustark" is one entry in this best-selling series, which also includes "The Prince of Graustark," "Truxton King," and "Beverly of Graustark."
459 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1901
8 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
George Barr McCutcheon
295 books19 followersGeorge Barr McCutcheon was an American popular novelist and playwright. His best known works include the series of novels set in Graustark, a fictional East European country, and the novel Brewster's Millions, which was adapted into a play and several films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 19, 2024
This is a highly entertaining fantasy/romance. I say 'fantasy' but the only fantasy element is the titular fictional European country, which seems frozen in time to an earlier century... but this could just be the American perception of Europe not having modernised past the eighteenth century. (You see it all the time in American films and t.v. shows; the cast go to a European country and it's like they've also stepped back in time several decades or a couple of centuries.)
This is a witty little book, as you'd expect from the author of Brewster's Millions and it makes for an easy, enjoyable read. The climax manages to be both exciting and hilarious; no mean feat.
This is a witty little book, as you'd expect from the author of Brewster's Millions and it makes for an easy, enjoyable read. The climax manages to be both exciting and hilarious; no mean feat.
December 23, 2014
I can't believe I even read this, but my grandmother loaned it to me, so I thought I ought to give it a fair shot. It's a romantic tale of a manly American who falls in love with a mysterious European girl, who turns out to be the ruler of the tiny country of Graustark. I enjoyed it, but perhaps not in the way she intended: I laughed all the way through. I mean, who could not laugh at prose like this?
"She greeted this glowing remark with a smile so intoxicating that he felt himself the most favored of men. He saw that smile in his mind's eye for months afterward, that maddening sparkle of joy, which flashed from her eyes to the very bottom of his heart, there to snuggle forever with Memory's most priceless treasures."
I think it's the snuggling part that really makes that paragraph.
Along with his overblown language, McCutcheon also had a tin ear for names -- witness these gems: Grenfall Lorry (the hero), Harry Anguish (the hero's best friend -- this one is even better when you say it out loud), and various Graustarkian and other foreign names, such as Quinnox, Mizrox, Bolaroz, and last but not least, Ogbot.
"She greeted this glowing remark with a smile so intoxicating that he felt himself the most favored of men. He saw that smile in his mind's eye for months afterward, that maddening sparkle of joy, which flashed from her eyes to the very bottom of his heart, there to snuggle forever with Memory's most priceless treasures."
I think it's the snuggling part that really makes that paragraph.
Along with his overblown language, McCutcheon also had a tin ear for names -- witness these gems: Grenfall Lorry (the hero), Harry Anguish (the hero's best friend -- this one is even better when you say it out loud), and various Graustarkian and other foreign names, such as Quinnox, Mizrox, Bolaroz, and last but not least, Ogbot.
May 27, 2016
I'm only sorry I didn't read this in my teens. I have fond memories of "The Prisoner of Zenda" and "Rupert of Henzau", though if I read them again now I might find them as clunky as I found this book. Back in my distant youth, I would have enjoyed the swashbuckling and not worried about the rather leaden writing style.
Still, I gave it one star more than I would have done otherwise, as I'm sure I would have liked it back in the day.
Still, I gave it one star more than I would have done otherwise, as I'm sure I would have liked it back in the day.
March 13, 2025
I could anticipate what was coming, but it kept me interested all the same.
January 4, 2013
The Graustark story is the simple/classic formula: 1) boy meets girl; 2) boy looses girl; 3) boy gets girl back. It's told with an overwhelmingly American gingoism, and some dialect portrayals that are not politically acceptable today. The book gives insight into the still-strong American pride in the republic versus monarchies that existed a century ago. I thought the plot devices were usually pretty transparent, but one or two did surprise me - in part because they were so out-of-left field. The book foretells a couple of significant political events unintentially -- the demand of reparations by a nation that wins a war, and the overwhelming burden it imposes on the loser -- as in WWI; and the expectation that a royal ruler who married a commoner would have to abdicate the throne -- as in 1930's England. I plan to read at least the first sequel to see where the story goes next. If this were a modern book, I'd give it 2 stars, but for what it reveals, it gets an additional 2 star rating score.
April 3, 2025
This was pretty much just fun to read.
I got here via "The Prisoner of Zenda." When I read that and it turned out to be quite a bit of fun, I learned a little about this whole genre, now called Ruritanian romance. That's an adventure/romance (romance in both senses--action novel and love story) that takes place in an invented country or principality in Europe, often with an American MC. Graustark was the next series that sounded likely after Zenda. Turned out to be a good choice.
This is clearly the a product of late 1890's, early 1900's popular literature, something I never had the LEAST interest in growing up in the 60's and 70's. I skipped even touching books that looked like this. But now, older me kinda likes it. It's no longer old in a dusty way, but is quaintly old. We might smile at the somewhat silly "manly American in Europe" trope, but it feels reasonable in this context. The occasional bit of melodramatic dialogue--well, maybe more than just a bit--reads like a charming relic of the time. It's like watching an old B&W movie where characters make long, improbable speeches, all with a mid-Atlantic accent, and you consider being critical of it all, maybe a little cynical and superior, but the characters are compelling, the story is entertaining, and you have to admit to yourself that you want to see what happens.
That's this book.
A handsome, rich, impulsive young American befriends a young foreign traveler on the train and does her a bit of service when she almost gets left behind at a station. They become friends, though he learns little about her. He does learn enough, though, to later try to visit her in her (invented for the novel) little nation of Graustark. Eventually, he learns she's a princess, and they're very old-fashioned there, even for the late 1890's. He disrupts a plot against her, gets framed for a murder, and sneaks a kiss from her even though he's reminded again and again that they have no future. He has to decide if he'll let her sacrifice half her nation to a neighboring principality or allow himself to be convicted of a crime he didn't commit...
It's another surprisingly entertaining book hiding in the memory hole of history. It's probably too dated for regular readers of, say, historical romance, but I found it charming, and I think others might, too. Recommended for the right kind of readers.
I got here via "The Prisoner of Zenda." When I read that and it turned out to be quite a bit of fun, I learned a little about this whole genre, now called Ruritanian romance. That's an adventure/romance (romance in both senses--action novel and love story) that takes place in an invented country or principality in Europe, often with an American MC. Graustark was the next series that sounded likely after Zenda. Turned out to be a good choice.
This is clearly the a product of late 1890's, early 1900's popular literature, something I never had the LEAST interest in growing up in the 60's and 70's. I skipped even touching books that looked like this. But now, older me kinda likes it. It's no longer old in a dusty way, but is quaintly old. We might smile at the somewhat silly "manly American in Europe" trope, but it feels reasonable in this context. The occasional bit of melodramatic dialogue--well, maybe more than just a bit--reads like a charming relic of the time. It's like watching an old B&W movie where characters make long, improbable speeches, all with a mid-Atlantic accent, and you consider being critical of it all, maybe a little cynical and superior, but the characters are compelling, the story is entertaining, and you have to admit to yourself that you want to see what happens.
That's this book.
A handsome, rich, impulsive young American befriends a young foreign traveler on the train and does her a bit of service when she almost gets left behind at a station. They become friends, though he learns little about her. He does learn enough, though, to later try to visit her in her (invented for the novel) little nation of Graustark. Eventually, he learns she's a princess, and they're very old-fashioned there, even for the late 1890's. He disrupts a plot against her, gets framed for a murder, and sneaks a kiss from her even though he's reminded again and again that they have no future. He has to decide if he'll let her sacrifice half her nation to a neighboring principality or allow himself to be convicted of a crime he didn't commit...
It's another surprisingly entertaining book hiding in the memory hole of history. It's probably too dated for regular readers of, say, historical romance, but I found it charming, and I think others might, too. Recommended for the right kind of readers.
January 21, 2014
I don't normally read romances; this was for a class. However, this was a quick and enjoyable read. It does suffer from the tropes of romance: it is almost utterly predictable in its happy ending. Nonetheless, the foreknowledge of the end does not detract too heavily from the story. It is an older romance, so you don't get all the quiverring body parts. Instead, you are treated to florid language on the love the two parties treat for each other, how it renders them mooncalves and makes them act against their better judgment just for the sake of each other. In short, it is a pure love that makes you almost jealous, because you know that real love can never be so simple, so easily requited, and so world-shattering.
October 12, 2012
I've been on a Ruritanian fiction kick lately. You know — monarchies! Imaginary countries! Travel, ideally by train! Am I not selling you on the concept? Oh well. That's all right.
McCutcheon is one of the imitators of Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda. All I have to say is that Grenfall Lorry (what a name!) is no Rudolf Rassendyll. Also that this was too spoofy to be enjoyable as a serious book, and not really funny enough to be enjoyed as a comic one.
McCutcheon is one of the imitators of Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda. All I have to say is that Grenfall Lorry (what a name!) is no Rudolf Rassendyll. Also that this was too spoofy to be enjoyable as a serious book, and not really funny enough to be enjoyed as a comic one.
June 6, 2011
Even if it was a bit predictable, it was certainly a fun, quick read. The prose is mostly unremarkable (and maybe a little florid), but the way the characters talk left me wishing I lived in a time where people wouldn't look at you strangely for talking that way. I could usually guess which way the plot was going to twist, but somehow the audacity with which the characters acted still took my breath away. I read it in a day, and it left me feeling ten feet tall. Definitely worth it.
July 5, 2008
Classic adventure/romance in the model of Prisoner of Zenda.
June 3, 2009
A wonderful Princess story, worthy of a Disney movie.
January 2, 2016
Loved this very unrealistic romance. Indiana author from early 1900's makes it even better!
January 25, 2017
Quaint, but a fun read. What a difference a hundred+ years make. The style of writing is dated, but that is the most interesting part.
June 19, 2017
A gripping and enticing book, it kept me reading till the very end. Good book, great defining of characters.
October 27, 2017
After reading Prince of Graustark first, I kind of knew where the story would end up, but it was still a fun read - lots of adventure, excitement, and romance.
January 12, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised to find that all these years later, Graustark: The Story of a Love Behind a Throne's is a fun, albeit obviously antiquated, read.
Structurally, Grustark's greatest strength is the same of its greatest weakness — the pacing. The story proceeds at a breakneck speed; this along with the small wordcount makes for a breezy read despite the antiquated diction. There's an infectious quality to reading, with McCutcheon knowing the perfect way to end chapters to make you go "reading one more can't hurt." It's the type of story where even if you know what's going to happen a mile away, you still want to see how it's going to happen (that said, McCutcheon does throw a few genuine curveballs). But with this comes the weakness, as the how isn't very compelling. The breakneck pacing means that the story seldom moves at the pace necessary to appreciate things. Small moments are in short supply here and even the big moments tend to be robbed of any weight since, more often than not, they're gone in a flash.
Beyond that, minor annoyances pepper the book: the biggest one perhaps being the main character who is obnoxiously loud and rambunctious, barely going a few chapters without threatening to shoot someone. While I would attribute this to parody, every Graustarkian nigh-immediately falls in love with him and we constantly hear about how brave and noble Americans are, which feels datedly jingoistic to this reader. There's also a thinly-veiled horrifyingly racist accent or two.
The story is, in a word: simple. Everyone hates the bad guys, everyone rallies behind the heroes, nothing truly bad befalls our heroes, and coincidences drive the plot forward. Whether or not you like Graustark>/i> hinges on how much you enjoy romantic fairy tales. Graustark is cute, but little more than that. It'll leave a sweet taste in your mouth but it won't even begin to fill you. Maybe it will after you've chewed through the entire series, but that's a review for another day.
Structurally, Grustark's greatest strength is the same of its greatest weakness — the pacing. The story proceeds at a breakneck speed; this along with the small wordcount makes for a breezy read despite the antiquated diction. There's an infectious quality to reading, with McCutcheon knowing the perfect way to end chapters to make you go "reading one more can't hurt." It's the type of story where even if you know what's going to happen a mile away, you still want to see how it's going to happen (that said, McCutcheon does throw a few genuine curveballs). But with this comes the weakness, as the how isn't very compelling. The breakneck pacing means that the story seldom moves at the pace necessary to appreciate things. Small moments are in short supply here and even the big moments tend to be robbed of any weight since, more often than not, they're gone in a flash.
Beyond that, minor annoyances pepper the book: the biggest one perhaps being the main character who is obnoxiously loud and rambunctious, barely going a few chapters without threatening to shoot someone. While I would attribute this to parody, every Graustarkian nigh-immediately falls in love with him and we constantly hear about how brave and noble Americans are, which feels datedly jingoistic to this reader. There's also a thinly-veiled horrifyingly racist accent or two.
The story is, in a word: simple. Everyone hates the bad guys, everyone rallies behind the heroes, nothing truly bad befalls our heroes, and coincidences drive the plot forward. Whether or not you like Graustark>/i> hinges on how much you enjoy romantic fairy tales. Graustark is cute, but little more than that. It'll leave a sweet taste in your mouth but it won't even begin to fill you. Maybe it will after you've chewed through the entire series, but that's a review for another day.
June 7, 2023
I have a hard time rating books as every genre deserves ratings accordingly. But, there is one rating system for all books all lumped together. So this book gets a 4, yet, not in the same sense that say, a C.S. Lewis non- fiction deserves a 4 or 5.
Graustark was published first in 1901 and became quite popular. The author wrote other books dealing with the fictional kingdom of Graustark, following this one.
The story is full of adventure, intrigue, political alliances, romance, honor, aristocracy, in effect, its a swashbuckling tale. The difference is, two Americans are the swashbucklers in this tiny European land. A princess, Yetive, now orphaned and ruling as sole heir, must be rescued.
Maybe the message is Love Prevails? But probably the story is foremost meant to be an enjoyable experience. Apparently, this was made into a movie in the early 1900's. I think it should be made into one today, somewhat along the lines of "Pirates of the Caribbean. "
This review began with a comment on genres and ratings. Graustark was so well received that it created a new genre, "Graustarkian". These books were usually pre WWI and were tales of small fictional European countries, their rulers, political intrigues, adventurous romances, duels, and the like.
This was probably the first book I have read even similar to its genre. I hope it is not my last. I want to read the other Graustark books and books along these lines by other authors.
Graustark was published first in 1901 and became quite popular. The author wrote other books dealing with the fictional kingdom of Graustark, following this one.
The story is full of adventure, intrigue, political alliances, romance, honor, aristocracy, in effect, its a swashbuckling tale. The difference is, two Americans are the swashbucklers in this tiny European land. A princess, Yetive, now orphaned and ruling as sole heir, must be rescued.
Maybe the message is Love Prevails? But probably the story is foremost meant to be an enjoyable experience. Apparently, this was made into a movie in the early 1900's. I think it should be made into one today, somewhat along the lines of "Pirates of the Caribbean. "
This review began with a comment on genres and ratings. Graustark was so well received that it created a new genre, "Graustarkian". These books were usually pre WWI and were tales of small fictional European countries, their rulers, political intrigues, adventurous romances, duels, and the like.
This was probably the first book I have read even similar to its genre. I hope it is not my last. I want to read the other Graustark books and books along these lines by other authors.
October 20, 2019
I was completely ignorant of this series of Ruritanian romances, until seeing Marion Davies in Beverley Of Gaustark, and having a wee thing for Zendaesque nonsense, have this a spin. If you can get past the lead character being called Lofty (and his best mate Anguish) there is much mindless fake Balkan fun to be had. Lorry is a bit of a rubbish hero, very much the impulsive American, but it all unspoilt with brio and adventure and possible subtext that the Bank isn't quite as brilliant unimportant as he think. The denouement is mindlessly obvious AND irresponsible though .
December 28, 2018
An interesting story about an impetuous American, the unlikely adventures he meets, and the woman who mysteriously loves him. I often found him annoying but at least he was honest, and he made the other characters more appealing by comparison.
Listed as fantasy because it approaches old fantasy traits.
Listed as fantasy because it approaches old fantasy traits.
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January 28, 2023This is a very silly book and I enjoyed it. I read it the first time many years ago and though it hasn't improved from my memory it's a window into the way some authors liked to pretend they were. The dialogue is stilted and flowery. Grenfell Lorry doesn't do anything anyone asks him to do, particularly his lady love. I was frustrated by all the ridiculous shenanigans and still loved it.
February 26, 2022
Similar to ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ minus the doppelgänger element and with a happier ending. Plus, the lead character is a lazy, daydreaming DC lawyer who meets the love of his life on a train. How could I resist!
November 12, 2020
A slight, but fun, romantic adventure story. This was recommended to me after "Prisoner of Zenda", which is an all-around better read. But I enjoyed this one.
April 3, 2022
A point of view from another time. Cute. Funny. Sweet.
December 10, 2022
Not in the same league as The Prisoner of Zenda im afraid; but a fun read.
July 11, 2024
Even judged in comparison to other Ruritania tales of the period, this one is a dud. The Ruritanian Divergent to Zenda’s Hunger Games, if you will.
July 31, 2008
It's summer, so I'm searching for leisurely read in my McCutcheon pile. Back in the beginning of the 20th century these books launched a genre called "Graustrakian romances." Basically, a Graustarkian story is a romantic tale where a nice American bloke or gal stumbles into royal intrigue in a mid-European country that never existed. Think operetta made novel. Everybody used to write these tales. Even Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan) turned out a classic GR in "The Mad King."
There's still an old-fashioned charm to these books, especially if you find a good illustrated edition. My "Graustark" is the photoplay book with b/w pictures of Norma Talmadge as the Princess wooed and won by an American.
There's still an old-fashioned charm to these books, especially if you find a good illustrated edition. My "Graustark" is the photoplay book with b/w pictures of Norma Talmadge as the Princess wooed and won by an American.
February 2, 2014
"Graustark" was first published in 1901. The story takes place during the 1890s, opening on a train ride through America, during which Grenfall Lorry - the hero - meets the mysterious and enchanting Miss Guggenslocker.
This lady, travelling with her aunt and uncle, are natives of Graustark; a little-known country in Eastern Europe. The bulk of the novel takes place in this fictitious country, as once the beautiful Miss Guggenslocker returns to her homeland, Grenfall and his friend decide to head over to this unknown place. Once there, confusion sets in, for nobody has heard of anyone by the name of Guggenslocker.
This lady, travelling with her aunt and uncle, are natives of Graustark; a little-known country in Eastern Europe. The bulk of the novel takes place in this fictitious country, as once the beautiful Miss Guggenslocker returns to her homeland, Grenfall and his friend decide to head over to this unknown place. Once there, confusion sets in, for nobody has heard of anyone by the name of Guggenslocker.
October 7, 2010
Found in the trash on Prospect Hill last year and finally got around to reading. I assumed it was obscure, now that I realize it is part of a somewhat famous (infamous?) series, I am a bit put off. However I am already on page 50 or 60; it would take more than the revelation that the goofy vintage romance I expected might be placed in a vintage contemporary historical fantasy setting to ruin it for me.
April 24, 2016
Three-and-a-half stars.
Ruritanian romance/adventure at its _almost_ best. It doesn't have quite the same swash in its buckle as the Prisoner of Zenda, but it's still quite fun. May try the later installments ... later.
Ruritanian romance/adventure at its _almost_ best. It doesn't have quite the same swash in its buckle as the Prisoner of Zenda, but it's still quite fun. May try the later installments ... later.
July 4, 2020
A so-so copy of Anthony Hope's Prisoner of Zenda, notable for the ridiculous alias of the Princess Yetive, AKA Miss Guggenslocker, and bodice-ripping lines like this: "You traitor!" he shrieked. "I wlll drink your heart's blood!"
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