Candide in the land of Holy Roman Empire

Published between Treasure Island and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 'Prince Otto' (1885) impresses with its freshness and lightness - which is not the result of a simple but inspirational happiness of hard labor because Stevenson was later to admit that it was his work "the most difficult".
Either a small alpine principality somewhere between Prague and Vienna. One can assume that the time unspecified, corresponds to the end of the era Metternich and early movement of nationalities that was to lead to the 1848 crisis Prince title, Otho, does not reign: he delegated the task to his wife Seraphine princess and a Prussian Prime Minister, Baron Grondemark. When it threatens to invade the peaceful neighboring principality, Otho, who suspects his minister in addition to share the layer of the princess, decides to take the reins of power. But to do what? Our candid is indeed better at hunting and pleasures for the exercise of responsibilities ...
The novel works beautifully under its triple aspect: the endearing portrait of wavering, who knows, despite his willingness to give meaning to its existence; Ruritanian romance, which sees Othon try in vain to win back his wife (excellent domestic scene right in the Council of Ministers); political satire of the Prussian expansionism and the revolutionary phenomenon. And, like any novel by Stevenson, it is written in a beautifully clean and simple language, to which nothing can be added or subtracted without breaking the perfect balance which underpins. The novel is light and attractive at first; it is subtle and profound if one takes the trouble to pass the first reading level.
This 'Prince Otto' is what is closest to what might have been producing Hergé had he writes novels. Recommended, according to the felicitous phrase, "from 7 to 77 years."