Anthony Hope was an English novelist and playwright best known for The Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel, Rupert of Hentzau. His adventures in the imaginary kingdom of Ruritania combine royal intrigue, mistaken identity, romance, and divided loyalties. Their success helped establish a distinctive tradition of stories set in invented European kingdoms.

Born Anthony Hope Hawkins in London, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford, and trained as a barrister. He began publishing fiction while practicing law, gradually finding an audience for both novels and shorter pieces. The Dolly Dialogues displayed his gift for witty conversation, while the popularity of The Prisoner of Zenda enabled him to concentrate on writing.

Hope's wider output included historical fiction, social novels, and plays. Books such as Phroso and The King's Mirror explored further variations on adventure and political life. Although his career ranged across many subjects, the courageous Rudolf Rassendyll and the rivalries of Ruritania remained his most memorable creations. Repeated adaptations for stage and screen carried those stories to audiences far beyond their original readers.