Rudolf Rassendyll is the hero of Anthony Hope's fantastic novel The Prisoner of Zenda. After leaving his lofty life in London Rassendyll discovers adventure in Ruritania where he happens to bear a remarkable resemblance to the local king Rudolf Elphberg. However on the eve of his coronation Elphberg is abducted and Rassendyll is called upon to pose as a political decoy. Along the way Rassendyll finds courage love and duty as he negotiates the many twisting plots of Elphberg's abductors.