The Ruritanian Novel

by Karyn Silverman

Ruritania, a small imaginary kingdom somewhere near (and very like) Germany, was created in the 1890's by Anthony Hope. Despite being fictional, Ruritania has become a popular place. Some novels which follow the Ruritanian traditions of intrigue and adventure name Ruritania directly (e.g., Trojan Gold and College of Magics), while others feature countries that bear a remarkable resemblance to Ruritania, although the connection is never explicit (e.g., The Tin Princess and Westmark). And then of course there are the looser connections, novels that feature sword-fights, intrigue, and romance, but exist in worlds that are very distinct from our or Anthony Hope's (e.g., Feet of Clay).

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