A very readable and charming Ruritanian tale. The story takes place in the small fictional kingdom of Livonia. The king is very old and ill, and since his son was killed years ago in a terrorist attack, the next in line for the throne is his grandson, Crown Prince Ferdinand William Otto, a 9-year-old boy.

Livonia is brimming with political instability and conspiracy. There are those who want to do away with the monarchy when the current king dies, and the only thing in their way is the young prince. The prince's older cousin, Princess Hedwig is to be married to the king of neighbouring Karnia, the traditional enemy of Livonia, in the hopes of securing a commercial treaty and peaceful coexistence, but she is in love with a young lieutenant who is attached to the Crown Prince’s suite.

Prince Otto is a nice kid, but he has a rather joyless life, filled with safety measures, serious governesses, tutors and aunts, and lacking any friends of his same age. We follow these and other characters, both in the palace and among the common people, as the king's health deteriorates and the future of the kingdom comes to a head.

When one thinks of Ruritanian romances one thinks of love affairs and swashbuckling adventures, and there is a fair amount of that. No sword fights, though. The book was written in 1917 and there are automobiles and guns. Even though the young prince is one of the viewpoint characters, and there's also another child character, an American boy whose father manages the newly-built scenic railroad in the main park of the capital city, this is written for adults, and the characters have their own complex psychology and motivations. Some of the villains, at least the ones we get to know, are not completely evil, but their actions are a result of their own history and feelings.

I thought the book might have been shortened a little bit without being the worse for it, but I was always entertained by this old-fashioned story. I cared for the fate of the characters and even shed a tear or two. It is quite well-written, in the style of other Ruritanian romances like The Prisoner of Zenda, but perhaps this one is more thoughtful and less action-oriented.

4.5 stars, rounded up. ( )

Young crown prince Ferdinand William Otto is thrust into the role for which he was prepared, despite the intrigues of terrorists and treasonists. ( )

Well worth the effort to find and read. it's free as well. A Ruritanian Romance that was recommended to me. I am on a writing kick to create some Ruritanian fiction.

The book opens with the tale through the eyes of a near ten year old boy so we at first think that this will be a childrens tale. It has many elements of such, but then there are adventure elements as well for an adult to appreciate also.

As with some Ruritania tales, the rest of true Europe is obscured, but we have a neighboring enemy that has grown weary of war and wants to see diplomacy prevail. That does not mean that the suspicions of centuries has disappeared.

Along with these external forces on our happy little kingdom, all is not happy as the age of Lenin in the world outside has become reflected in this country as well. Radicals who wish to be ruled by themselves rather than by educated and dedicated professionals. We clearly see in retrospect that many who have taken to revolutionary tactics were not dedicated to helping all the people, but using the people as a means to helping themselves. That lesson can be seen in this story as well.

All in all, the elements are here, and though written with young people in mind, with a little more effort, if it had been written for adults it might indeed have received perfection from me. A younger person will find this rereadable and enjoyable all their lives. ( )