Anthony Hope 
Prisoner of Zenda 

Anthony Hope’s classic novel established the new genre of ‘Ruritanian Romance’, romantic tales set in the upper classes, aristocracy and royalty of a fictional country. In the fictional country of Ruritania, the new king is abducted on the eve of his coronation. A visiting English tourist who happens to resemble the king is persuaded to act as a political decoy in an attempt to save the situation.