British novelist Anthony Hope -- actually a pseudunym for Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins -- was best-known for The Prisoner of Zenda, the collection of short stories that serce as its prequel, The Heart of Princess Osra, and a sequel entitled Rupert of Hentzau. These works were all set in the fictional kingdom of Ruritania. His first novel was A Man of Mark, and one of his most well-known works during his lifetime was The Dolly Dialogues, published in the Westminster Gazette. Trained as a lawyer, he practiced as a barrister, turning to fill-time writeg after the success of Zenda. He was knighted in recognition of his contribution to British propaganda efforts during World War I.

Tristram of Blent is a departure from Hope's normal adventure story. Subtitled "An Episode in the Story of an Ancient House", the protagonist is a man who throughout boyhood thinks of nothing but owning the House of Blent.

This desire is beset on every side by family entanglements and complications, and provides Hope with the opportinity for a lively character study.