Here is a tile set for NELS ANDERSON'S MAHJONGG game in praise of one the all time fine old romantic novels. THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1894) and its sequel RUPERT OF HENTZAU (1898) has been the source of some five films from 1914 to 1979 featuring Ramon Navarro, Ronald Colman. Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Madeline Carroll, Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger, James Mason, Lewis Stone, and Peter Sellers. It was translated to the stage early in its life. Of all the films, the Colman film is truest to the novel - many of them drawing on the sequel also for their film script. I have done the same. For those with some knowledge, let me identify a few of the tiles. Fritz is Fritz von Tarlenheim, Elfberg is the family name of the royal family of Ruritania, Rudolf Ras. is Rudolf Rassendyll our hero, Boris is Boris the Hound who has a small part in the story, and B M is Black Michael (boo!) Anthony Hope, the author, achieved some small fame lasting even today. For those who would like to read the novels and have trouble finding them in your library, the two titles are published under one cover by DOVER PUBLICTIONS, New York. I am sure your local book seller would be glad to order it for you. Incidentally, the above publication has some of the original Charles Dana Gibson illustrations. Let's hear it for Romance and Derring-Do!!!!
