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Kings and rulers -- Fiction Books
Best books
Mark Twain
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain is a novel published in 1889. When Hank Morgan, a Connecticut engineer, receives a blow to the head, he awakens in medieval England during King Arthur's reign. Using his modern knowledge, he poses as a powerful magician and becomes the king's chief adviser. Hank attempts to modernize the past and implement democratic reforms, but faces opposition from Merlin, the nobility, and the Church in this satirical tale about progress, power, and conflicting eras.
Rudyard Kipling
The Man Who Would Be King
"The Man Who Would Be King" by Rudyard Kipling is a short story published in 1888 about two British adventurers who embark on an audacious plan to become kings of Kafiristan, a remote region of Afghanistan. Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan leave British India armed with rifles and military knowledge, determined to conquer and rule. Their journey leads them through treacherous mountains to encounter the Kafirs, who begin to worship Dravot as a god. But ambition and hubris threaten to unravel everything they've achieved in this tale of empire and excess.
Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard
Kings of the night
No description available.
Anthony Hope
The prisoner of Zenda
"The Prisoner of Zenda" by Anthony Hope is an adventure novel published in 1894. When the King of Ruritania is drugged before his coronation, an English tourist who happens to be his lookalike is persuaded to impersonate him. What begins as a temporary political solution becomes dangerous when the king is kidnapped. The Englishman must maintain his royal disguise while navigating palace intrigue, assassination attempts, and forbidden love with Princess Flavia—all while trying to rescue the real king from his captors.
George Barr McCutcheon
Graustark
"Graustark" by George Barr McCutcheon is a novel published in 1901. Set in a fictional Eastern European principality nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, the story follows Princess Yetive as her kingdom faces crushing war debts. With her nation on the brink of financial ruin, she must navigate court intrigue, political pressure, and a murder mystery while torn between duty and her heart's desire for an American she met abroad. This tale of romance and royal intrigue launched a popular series of novels.
Anthony Hope
Rupert of Hentzau: From The Memoirs of Fritz Von Tarlenheim Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda
"Rupert of Hentzau: From The Memoirs of Fritz Von Tarlenheim" by Anthony Hope is a novel written in 1895 and published in 1898. Three years after the events of "The Prisoner of Zenda," Queen Flavia's love letter to Rudolf Rassendyll falls into the hands of the exiled villain Rupert of Hentzau. When Rassendyll returns to Ruritania to protect the Queen, he's forced once again to impersonate the King after a deadly encounter. Epic duels, royal deception, and impossible choices follow in this tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Mad King
"The Mad King" by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a Ruritanian romance originally published in 1914-1915. Young American Barney Custer travels to the fictional European kingdom of Lutha, unaware he's the exact double of the newly escaped King Leopold. Mistaken for royalty, Barney becomes entangled in royal intrigue, falls for the king's promised bride Princess Emma, and must impersonate the monarch to save the throne from a scheming prince. Set against the outbreak of World War I, this adventure follows Barney through diplomatic danger, narrow escapes, and battles that will determine Lutha's fate.
Harold MacGrath
The Puppet Crown
"The Puppet Crown" by Harold MacGrath is a fictional novel written during the early 20th century. The story revolves around a reluctant king, Leopold, who is described as a dreamer thrust into a role he feels ill-suited for, as he navigates a fraught political landscape filled with intrigue, ambition, and the burdens of a royal existence. The novel explores the dynamics of power within a small kingdom under threat from both internal and external forces, highlighting themes of duty, disillusionment, and the complexities of leadership. The opening of the novel introduces King Leopold, who reflects on the emptiness of his royal position while sitting in his garden. He is aware of his effectiveness as a ruler but longs for his former life away from power. His ministers appear to manipulate him as a figurehead, while his cousin Josef, a contender for the throne, plots against him. The arrival of the British diplomat brings further tension to the political precariousness of Leopold's rule. The young Princess Alexia, daughter of Leopold, adds emotional depth to the narrative, hinting at the personal stakes intertwined with the political drama. Overall, the beginning sets the stage for a rich tale of royal dilemmas and impending conflict.
Laurence Housman
King John of Jingalo: The Story of a Monarch in Difficulties
"King John of Jingalo: The Story of a Monarch in Difficulties" by Laurence Housman is a satirical novel written in the early 20th century. The book explores the life of King John of Jingalo, a monarch portrayed as well-meaning yet ineffectual, grappling with the burdens of a constitutional crisis and the pressures of modern governance. It highlights his relationships, particularly with his wife and son, while exposing the disconnect between his royal duties and the realities faced by his subjects. The opening of the story provides a glimpse into the domestic life of King John and Queen Alicia, detailing their morning routine and the contrast between their personalities. The King is depicted as anxious and overburdened by his role, struggling to connect with the political realities of his kingdom, while the Queen is portrayed as more grounded and content in her social responsibilities. The narrative hints at a brewing constitutional crisis that challenges John's understanding of his position and governance. As he prepares for a Council meeting, he wrestles with feelings of incompetence and isolation, setting the stage for the unfolding political drama and the exploration of his character's development throughout the novel.
John Buchan
The Path of the King
"The Path of the King" by John Buchan is a novel published in 1921. Through a series of loosely-connected historical episodes spanning from Viking times to nineteenth-century America, the book traces how a spark of greatness passes through generations across Norman, French, Flemish, English, and Scottish bloodlines. A golden torque becomes a ring that travels through centuries, symbolizing royal spirit that endures even when hidden among common people, ultimately revealing its destination in an unexpected American hero.
Robert E. (Robert Ervin) Howard
The shadow kingdom
"The Shadow Kingdom" by Robert E. Howard is a fantasy novelette first published in August 1929. When Kull, a barbarian from Atlantis, conquers the ancient kingdom of Valusia and claims its throne, he discovers something far more dangerous than rival warriors. An alliance with the mysterious Brule the Spear-Slayer reveals a terrifying conspiracy: serpent-like beings lurk in the shadows, using magic to steal identities and rule from behind masks of deception. Kull must question everything—including his own reality.
Herbert M. (Herbert Millingchamp) Vaughan
Meleager : $b A fantasy
"Meleager: A Fantasy" by Herbert M. Vaughan is a fantasy novel written in the early 20th century. The work tells the story of an unnamed protagonist who, feeling a deep sense of failure and melancholy in his life, is approached by an enigmatic stranger named Signor Arrigo d'Aragno. This stranger reveals a world beyond Earth, where the protagonist is offered the chance to become the king of a distant planet called Meleager. The opening of the narrative introduces the reader to the protagonist's troubled introspection and dissatisfaction with his life. Amidst his existential crisis, he meets d'Aragno, who dramatically propositions him with a promise of a new life filled with purpose and power on the planet Meleager. The protagonist learns that he has been chosen to rule this new world and is subjected to a transformation that includes a mysterious ceremonial arrangement involving his transfer from Earth to Meleager. The stage is set for a tale of adventure and exploration as he embarks on this unprecedented journey into an unfamiliar realm where he is expected to take up a throne and govern a society waiting for their new ruler.
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