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The Scarlet Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel #1)

4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 · rating details · 55,483 ratings · 3,221 reviews

During the French Revolution's reign of terror, the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel rescues helpless men, women, and children from their doom in this unique, wonderfully colorful adventure classic.

Hardcover, 273 pages

Published February 1st 2004 by Dalmatian Press (first published 1905)

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Dec 20, 2011 Chiara Pagliochini rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classici-inglesi

“La cercan qui, la cercan là,
dove si trovi nessuno lo sa.
Che catturare mai non si possa,
quella dannata Primula Rossa?”

Quand’ero bambina, possedevo un libro geniale, pirotecnico, intrigante che credo non abbia mai smesso di esercitare la sua influenza su di me. Si chiamava “366 storie della buonanotte” e ancora lo conservo e lo sfoglio con piacere, sebbene le pagine si siano tutte sfaldate lungo il dorso. Non sono mai riuscita a leggere quelle 366 storie in sequenza, ma son certa di averle alme...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, historical-fiction, 2009, historical-romance

If, like me, you watched the movie more times than you'd care to admit when you were growing up; or if, like me, you've read all of Georgette Heyer's Regency romances and then some, you'll love this book. It doesn't pretend to be anything extraordinary, it doesn't even offer a social commentary on the period in which it's set - written by an aristocrat who is clearly on the side of the aristocrats, it's easy to see where her sympathies lie. But it is a rollicking good ride, a fun adventure story...more If, like me, you watched the movie more times than you'd care to admit when you were growing up; or if, like me, you've read all of Georgette Heyer's Regency romances and then some, you'll love this book. It doesn't pretend to be anything extraordinary, it doesn't even offer a social commentary on the period in which it's set - written by an aristocrat who is clearly on the side of the aristocrats, it's easy to see where her sympathies lie. But it is a rollicking good ride, a fun adventure story, a very sweet and at times intense love story, and a daring, cunning dash into danger. For sheer entertainment's sake, I loved it.

Set in 1792 during the French Revolution when, if your history is a bit hazy, the French people rose up in revolt and began executing their wealthy aristocracy on "Madame Guillotine" - including the King and Marie Antoinette (their young son was famously unaccounted for, if I remember correctly) - stories of "innocent" aristocrats (especially women and children, who were beheaded alongside the men) being rescued and taken to England are perfect for a romantic adventure story.

When I was a little girl, my mother's best friend returned from a trip to Russia, where her family was from, with a birthday gift for me - a book printed in Yugoslavia called Girls' Adventure Stories of Long Ago. The very first story, and my favourite, was about a young girl fleeing France who is rescued by a Englishman with a secret identity, going by the name of Red Hawk. Adventure and romance ensued. So between that story and watching my sister's copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I was an early fan.

Lady Marguerite Blakeney is a beautiful, clever young French woman, once an actress, now wife to Sir Percy Blakeney, one of the richest and most well-dressed men in England - and also, so everyone thinks, one of the most inane and stupid. When her brother Armand, who is working on the side of the Revolution in France, is found out to be in league with the Scarlet Pimpernel, the man in charge of hunting down the Pimpernel, Chauvelin, uses the damning knowledge to blackmail Marguerite into helping him discover the Scarlet Pimpernel's true identity. When she realises who the Scarlet Pimpernel really is, though, it's too late to save him or her brother - she must to France to warn them, but Chauvelin's trap is closing in fast.

Originally written for the stage in 1902 by Baroness Orczy, it became so popular that she novelised it a few years later. In the 1982 film, Anthony Andrews - while lacking the impressive height and shoulder breadth described of Sir Percy in the book - did a fantastic job of portraying the urbane fop who hides his cunning and resourceful mind behind a mask of stupidity. I can think of a couple of heroes Georgette Heyer wrote who were likely inspired by Sir Percy. He is wonderfully charismatic, and the love he suppresses for his wife ever since he found out her role in the execution of an aristocrat, makes for a truly bittersweet romance. They both must learn to trust one another and work through misunderstandings in order to be happy again.

The pacing might be too slow for some readers, but I found the details engrossing and the build-up of tension and anticipation gut-tightening. While the first half of the book was recreated closely in the movie, the second half is quite different. It was a pleasurable surprise, and made the book less predictable than I was expecting. It might not have the cinematic build-up of the movie, or that final classic sword-fight between Percy and Chauvelin, but I found the original ending to be just as satisfying and far less clichéd. The characters are well-drawn and feel very real; we mostly get Marguerite's perspective (never Percy's), and while she doesn't always make the best decisions, she is at least understandable and even sympathetic. The true hero is, of course, the Scarlet Pimpernel, whose modern equivalent would be Batman - a superhero without superpowers, unless you count enormous wealth and a sharp mind.
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Jun 07, 2011 Valerie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Valerie by: Ginny

Shelves: historical-fiction, classic

Couldn't really pass on a book about the French Revolution. After talking to my brother and him practically giving me a history lesson about it I thought it was high time I get to reading it. I would have read a Tale of Two Cities but I'm not sure if I'm up for Dickens now.

Here we have aristocrats being killed at the guillotine left and right without more cause than being an aristocrat. They need to escape but how, when the gates of Paris are impossible to pass? Dum-de-de-daaaaa in comes the Sc...more Couldn't really pass on a book about the French Revolution. After talking to my brother and him practically giving me a history lesson about it I thought it was high time I get to reading it. I would have read a Tale of Two Cities but I'm not sure if I'm up for Dickens now.

Here we have aristocrats being killed at the guillotine left and right without more cause than being an aristocrat. They need to escape but how, when the gates of Paris are impossible to pass? Dum-de-de-daaaaa in comes the Scarlet Pimpernel, an Englishman set out to save these frightened peopled. But who is this man? You'll find out if you read the story. Now this isn't the whole book. This is also a love story. As a matter of fact I might put that above the adventure in the book.

The hero is of course alluring in that mysterious way. I mean who wouldn't love the man that lurks around, anonymous, in hiding, nobly devoting himself to a cause that saves lives. You see, I am a sucker for disguise stories. Though I don't read a lot of them, when I hear of one I gravitate towards it like the other end of a magnet. Which is why I was kind of disappointed when the story was not in the Scarlet Pimpernel's point of view.

Marguite's view was fine but she has an element about her that just didn't do it for me. Maybe it was the fact that she married a fool because she wanted to be worshipped and I thought that was pretty narcissistic of her. Or maybe it was because she couldn't do anything but go through the motions most of the time. Something was always stopping her from breaking through and doing something really heroic. (view spoiler)

The only other problem I had with the book was that it kept mentioning how much suffering the two went through for each other. When your feet are blistered and tattered but you keep moving because you are trying to save the man you love I understand. However, I felt it unnecessary to mention it 3 more times. Except for that I thought the romance was done well, surprisingly refreshing. I had to smile at some parts.(less)

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Apr 04, 2008 Rachelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. It is so much better than the movie. I love the movie too....but the book is so much richer in detail. The only reason I didn't go for a 5 is that I am a sentimental fool and I wanted to see more of the reconciliation of Percy and Marguerite. It ended so quickly. There was so much build up as Marguerite realizes her errors - and her love...that I wanted some more resolution there. There were some good thoughts that I really related to...it says of Marguerite "..she, too, had w...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Lightreads rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical, romance

So boring. So boring.

I read this weeks ago, and I've been waiting ever since for someone else in the group to come out with a great review. Something transformative. It would compare this to Radcliff and nineteenth-century opera and talk about modes of romanticism. Or it'd be one of those intensely personal reviews about a grimey, sweaty summer spent singing in the chorus line for a production of Pimpernel, and the backstage affair whose passions ebbed in counterpoint to the story. Or, I don't k...more

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view all 5 comments

Robin And I would point out --

"that people are interesting and worthy of respect"

Period.
Jan 08, 2013 08:40am

Chelsea "This is a book convinced that people are interesting and worthy of respect by virtue of being very wealthy"

Might I point out that they were being kil...more
May 19, 2013 01:11pm

Jun 29, 2009 Uniquely Tahira Namreen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this book is one of those which are hard to find but very interesting to read and to learn.

this book is about the early period of the french revolution and a group of wealthy men from good and wealthy families who risk their lives to save the french royalties or used-to be royalties even aristrocrats from the blood-thirsty guillotine.

in the story Marguerite Blakeney,a french actress is married to Sir Percy Blakeney,a seemingly vain and smple yet wealthy man.the french ambassador to England,Citi...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: personal-favourites, classic-literature

They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That damned elusive Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a brilliant novel and fully deserves five stars pinned to its jacket for valour. I first read this astounding novel as part of a holiday classics read and helped inspire me to read more classic novels so brilliant is this novel.

Few other novels contain the same mix of drama, action, romance and sheer character conflict as the Scarlet Pi...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Mimi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, adult, book-club

I had an interesting journey with this book. The book begins in France during the French Revolution, and because of that, I almost couldn't keep reading. I read the first few chapters but felt so sick about all of that death and suffering that it took me three or so days before I was willing to pick the book back up and continue. The book is not overly graphic in the details, but it is just so sad to think about all of the poor masses who had been so abused for so long but then also all the poor...more I had an interesting journey with this book. The book begins in France during the French Revolution, and because of that, I almost couldn't keep reading. I read the first few chapters but felt so sick about all of that death and suffering that it took me three or so days before I was willing to pick the book back up and continue. The book is not overly graphic in the details, but it is just so sad to think about all of the poor masses who had been so abused for so long but then also all the poor nobles (even the children!) who were publicly beheaded. Tragic all around. With both sides committing heinous deeds.

That aside, this was a delightful novel. The French Revolution is used as the backdrop for the novel. The story revolves two things: the mystery of the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel (an Englishman who smuggles French nobles out of France before they are killed) and Marguerite's love for her husband and her brother. So it is a mystery, an action novel, and a love story.

I found it interesting that this popular novel, still being read over a century after its original publication, was actually rejected by twelve publishers. It was then produced as a play and had a lot of success, and that success convinced a publisher to go ahead and print the book. It is a really good book, but as I read it, I kept thinking about how much I would enjoy to see it as a play. Perhaps I'll be able to get my hands on a good movie version of it. It really would be exciting to see it all play out.

I guessed who The Scarlet Pimpernel was before Marguerite did, but that may have been due to reading too many clues in the scholarly article prefacing the book. I'll never know if I would have figured it out if I hadn't read that first. Even knowing though, I still really enjoyed following Marguerite's journey.

Percy Blakeney was really funny. His attention to fashion was just spot on.

"A woman's heart is such a complex problem—the owner thereof is often most incompetent to find the solution of this puzzle."

"Thus human beings judge of one another, superficially, casually, throwing contempt on one another, with but little reason, and no charity."

"Odd's fish, m'dear! The man can't even tie his own cravat!"(less)

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Feb 03, 2012 Hazel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childhood-favourite, historical-fiction

Childhood favourite.

I was stuck on a train in Cambridge yesterday and opened this e-book to distract myself from sub-zero temperatures. (Muscovites, I know, you've had -25C, and -2C is nothing to complain about. None the less, I was freezing and pretty miserable for much of the day.)

The book is still fun, and I think it might be an interesting read for the Bodice Rippers. Real romance, with a remarkably foolish heroine, (and this one's meant to be the cleverest woman in Europe); a mysterious an...more

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Dec 22, 2008 Marian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great novel. Basically, it's the story of a clever woman tricked by a weasel-face French guy into betraying her husband. Once she learns her mistake she becomes the brave heroine trying to save her equally brave husband. The author included a bit of everything--history, suspense, romance, intrigue, super heroes, and a guillotine. Not bad.

I had one obstacle to overcome when I started reading this book--the movie version. Not that I disliked the movie, but trying to reconcile the different charac...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Laurel Garver added it · review of another edition

It took a while to get accustomed to the omniscient narration, but I could mostly look past that and enjoy the adventure and intrigue. I think what has made this an enduring story is the transformation of the protagonist Marguerite and her marriage in the midst of a high-stakes aristocrat-smuggling operation during the French revolution.

On the negative side, the author clearly had no sympathy whatsoever for the plight of the poor in France in the 1700s that would have led them to such bloody me...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Gwen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love the story of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I've seen both movies -- the one starring Leslie Howard, and the one starring Anthony Andrews, and I'll admit that the latter is my favorite. Naturally, I had to read the orginal book that inspired these great movies, and I'm surprised it took me this long to do it.

The Scarlet Pimpernel was written by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, and was published in 1905. The writing style and narritive language is late nineteeth century, and the author uses third...more I love the story of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I've seen both movies -- the one starring Leslie Howard, and the one starring Anthony Andrews, and I'll admit that the latter is my favorite. Naturally, I had to read the orginal book that inspired these great movies, and I'm surprised it took me this long to do it.

The Scarlet Pimpernel was written by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, and was published in 1905. The writing style and narritive language is late nineteeth century, and the author uses third-person omniscient POV as was popular at that time. As a teenager, I was reading Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare for fun as well as school, so the different culture of the novel didn't keep me from enjoying it.

During the dark bloody days of the French Revolution, French aristocrats place their hope for survival in the smuggling escapades of an brave Englishman known simply as "the Scarlet Pimpernel" due to the red, star-shaped flower always found on his correspondence.

Lady Marguerite Blakney is unhappy in her marriage to Sir Percy, the richest man in England. She married Sir Percy because he seemed to love her during their courtship, and is bitterly disappointed to discover that not only is he a dull, slow-witted fop, but he's ceased to love her. Agent Chauvelin, representing the new French Republic, seeks out Marguerite in England and gives her an ultimatium: help him learn the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, or he will send her beloved brother to the guillotine for evidence of his involvement with the Republic's elusive enemy.

I loved getting into Marguerite's head. In the movies, you know she and Sir Percy are unhappy due to their misunderstandings, but its hard to get the full effect of the characters' thoughts and feelings through their expressions and dialouge. The book brings you into Marguerite's mind and lets you experience her disappointment and loneliness, and then her desperation to save her husband and atone for her betrayal. I really, really loved that.

There is a little anti-semitism in the last couple of chapters. I assume the author was simply showing the mind of a Frenchman in the late 18th century and wasn't hinting at her own sentiments. I was also disappointed that the Scarlet Pimpernel and his men weren't shown to have any other reason to smuggle the French aristocrats into England but for the sport of it. Really? The book could have done without these details. I'll also mention that the word "d***" is used, but spelled differently.

The scene where Sir Percy and Marguerite are talking on the steps of their mansion was awesome! I could feel the romantic tension. Their pride keeping them apart. :-) Definately my favorite scene, although the ending was great too. Can you believe I actually fell for the Scarlet Pimpernel's disguise right along with Chauvelin?

I'll give it 4 stars. If you can enjoy a novel written in the style of the late nineteenth century, and like a good humor-filled adventure, you'll enjoy this forerunner of the disguised superhero. The kindle version is currently free at Amazon here. (less)

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Feb 13, 2011 Huma Rashid rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 20th-century, england, fiction, favorites, romance, war, women, france

This. Book. Is. Legendary.

There aren't enough words to do it justice. It's a fast-paced, swash-buckling tale of a young English nobleman and his gang of daring friends that rescue French aristocrats and their families that have been doomed to the guillotine by the revolutionaries during the storm of the Bastille. It's a tough sell - getting us to be sympathetic to the aristocrats after the horrors the French commoners lived through before the Revolution, but the author somehow manages.

What I par...more This. Book. Is. Legendary.

There aren't enough words to do it justice. It's a fast-paced, swash-buckling tale of a young English nobleman and his gang of daring friends that rescue French aristocrats and their families that have been doomed to the guillotine by the revolutionaries during the storm of the Bastille. It's a tough sell - getting us to be sympathetic to the aristocrats after the horrors the French commoners lived through before the Revolution, but the author somehow manages.

What I particularly liked was the irreverence with which the hero's motives were explained: the Scarlet Pimpernel does this mainly because he is young, rich, and bored. Simple enough, no? Why trouble ourselves with notions of gallantry and justice and mercy? Rich boy needs something to do. ;)

The only reason I'm not writing a lengthy review of this book is because I really don't want to spoil the surprise. No, I'll save those thoughts and reflections for my book journal. (Yes. I have a book journal. This is because I am a nerd extraordinaire.) This is one of the best love stories I've ever read, in an odd way. Sure, it's overly dramatic at times, and there's quite a lot packed in such few pages, so the love that grows between the hard covers here doesn't burn slowly and steadily like the love in Pride and Prejudice or Jane Eyre, for example, but it's still a love story through and through: passionate and ardent and desperate and fraught with angst and misunderstanding and pride.

This was nearly impossible to put down, and I'd read it a thousand times more. I often do that with books I love: I start rereading no sooner than having turned the last page. This book will be no exception, I'm sure. I think it will also be one of those books where I will absolutely never be able to watch a film adaptation, because I just know it will ruin the grand imagery I've built up in my head. Besides, the one man that could have and should have played the Scarlet Pimpernel has long since passed on. That man is Errol Flynn, of course. And his frequent on-screen love interest, Olivia de Havilland, would have made an amazing Margot. (As would her sister, Vivian Leigh, but I much prefer Livvie.)

Come on. Just try and tell me these two beautiful people aren't PERFECT for the roles of the Scarlet Pimpernel and Marguerite Blakeney.

I recommend this to anyone that loves intrigue, history, and a tale of a swash-buckling hero with a dual identity. The Scarlet Pimpernel truly is the Silver Age's Superman, and it's a pity so few have read his tale. Demmed pitiful, at that! Sink me!

In related news, Errol Flynn is perhaps the most gorgeous man that ever lived. But then again, we all know my thing for Irish boys. So this should come as no surprise to ANYONE.

:-|
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Mar 31, 2010 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, favorites-all-time, fiction, hist-fiction, literary

Fun book! I couldn't help feeling as I read The Scarlet Pimpernel, that I've been here before. I realized quick enough- I have.

I've been in exactly the same place in all those regency romance novels I've read in the past where the hero pretends to be something he's not and in every secret identity superhero story ever told.

It's said of TSP that it's a precursor to the masked avenger novels such as Zorro in addition to comic book characters such as Batman and Superman and any other dual identity...more

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Aug 28, 2008 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Amanda by: Lisa

I read this book in preparation for my role in an independent film in which I played Marguerite St. Just (the main character's wife) and I really enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of the Anthony Andrews/Jane Seymour movie, so I was very enthusiastic about finally reading the book. It's actually quite romantic and a very entertaining adventure book. There are several other Scarlet Pimpernel books in the series but I have yet to read them. The Scarlet Pimpernel is an English gentleman named Sir Percy Blak...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Sparrow rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: needs-a-sassy-gay-friend-real-bad, morally-superior, audio, reviewed

I’ve watched quite a few episodes of Scooby Doo, The Road Runner, and Looney Tunes in my time, so a lot of the twists and turns in this story were spoilered for me long before I started listening to this book. Also, for many years, after I first heard the title of this book in high school, I thought it was called The Scarlet Pumpernickel, which always sounded rather disgusting to me. Who wants their bread to be the color of blood? Not this girl. And I don’t even particularly care for normal-colo...more I’ve watched quite a few episodes of Scooby Doo, The Road Runner, and Looney Tunes in my time, so a lot of the twists and turns in this story were spoilered for me long before I started listening to this book. Also, for many years, after I first heard the title of this book in high school, I thought it was called The Scarlet Pumpernickel, which always sounded rather disgusting to me. Who wants their bread to be the color of blood? Not this girl. And I don’t even particularly care for normal-colored pumpernickel. Instead, it turns out to be a pretty red flower like on the cover of this version of the book:

cover with drawn images of a scarlet pimpernel

cover with drawn images of a scarlet pimpernel

So, that’s a mercy. I don’t really want to read about a hero whose signature is a red loaf of bread. YOU GUYS!! This is why I thought it was the Scarlet Pumpernickel!!! My relationship with this book was doomed from childhood.

You’re a book!

I can’t even remember who does this, but I know I used to be around someone a lot who, when she would meet an animal or a baby, she would tell it what it was. “You’re a dog!!” “You’re a girl!!” Like, if there were a lull in the conversation she was having with that particular person or animal. “You’re a boy!!” I do this now. That was kind of how I felt about this book. When I was listening to it, the only real thought I had was, “You’re a book!” That’s for dang certain. This story was a book.

There were a lot of boring parts in this story, like when it’s going onnnn and onnnn about how charming and noble English people are and how fucked up bloody revolution is, but especially because the French are fucked up. Or how, remember now kids, wimmins is just intuitive and mens is just gallant. So boring. In general, there is a lot of boring nationalism, sexism, and anti-Semitism in the story. And there’s not a lot to make up for it. Also, there was a lot of telling about how freaking smart Marguerite St. Just was, but she fell for traps and mistaken identity bullshit that the road runner never would have fallen for. So, I had to doubt the scale on which we were measuring her intelligence. It seemed like it was probably the “intuitive woman” scale, and everybody knows that’s rigged.

There was one part, though, that I really loved. Marguerite and Percy get home from the ball, and it’s the part where she confronts him about the rift in their marriage. I thought it was beautiful. I think that, no, if a man acts like he doesn’t like you, he probably actually doesn’t like you and is probably not hiding his secret passion for you, but still, their conversation and their tension caught me all up. More of that! His denial of all coldness and his evasiveness, even while the coldness was obvious, but his underlying passion and her perception of it, was nicely done. Nevertheless, it seems like a few good, honest talks the year before could have at least spared everyone, including the loving couple, some strenuous eye-rolling. And two people living together who despise each other: brrrr. Maybe it is usually because of serious misunderstandings, but in my opinion, sometimes people just don’t like each other. The Blakeneys dodged more than one bullet in this story.

I wish I could tell you exactly what Percy said that seemed so smart, but I listened to this on audio, so it is all a vague impression to me. I think that was a good choice because I could tune out for a little while and still be chapters and chapters ahead of the obvious revelations the book was prepping me for. If I had read this when I was twelve, I think it would have been a favorite, but really, too much Loony Tunes or Agatha Christie, or something, has ruined me. Anyway, it was a lovely audio, though. I’m glad I decided to listen rather than read this one. (less)

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Jul 23, 2008 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone in search of escape

Recommended to Patricia by: Alisa

Shelves: romance, historical-fiction, classics

This book is a fun and easy read. It was suspensful and romantic. It is the makings of a great beach read. There were a few words in the author's lexicon that I hadn't seen in a while. I had to dig in the the crevaces of my vocabulary to remember the definitions of words like jogtrot and hors de combat. I don't want to lead anyone astray... this is a pretty easy book to read. I just really enjoyed encountering these long forgotten words.
I thought that the book was pretty predictable, but I stil...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites, classic

I would love to re-read this, but sadly, I think the evil book gnomes might steal some of my stars if I attempted it. I read this when I was a kid, and thereafter saw the movie (the 1982 version with Jane Seymour.) By that time, I'd already learned my snobbish book ways, and thought the movie was atrocious and could never compare to the book. (The book I had read when I was only 9 or so. I wonder how much of it I just didn't get, being a child and all. Ha!)

But... some 18 years later I met and m...more

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Oct 31, 2007 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, mystery

On the whole, I quite enjoyed this book! The first 1/3 is a bit slow; it takes awhile to really get a sense for the characters and where their lives are going--which means it takes awhile to really CARE what is happening. However, once Margurite, our lovely heroine, is faced with a terrible either-or decision (to save her beloved brother or help bring about the downfall of the brave and good Scarlet Pimpernell), things start to get interesting! The backdrop of the French Revolution, and the alte...more

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Jul 07, 2008 Megan Evans rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Megan by: Katie Eckerson

Absolutley love the movie and musical, so far i love the book. But sink me...who wouldnt?

Okay i finally finished it. I walked by it everyday for the past...oh i dont know, when did you loan it to me Katie? we will say a year ago just to put a date on it. Anyway, I would pick it up and read a sentance or 2 and then put it back down and it took me most of that time to read the first 2 chapters. *sigh* it wasnt that i didnt like it or couldnt get into it, i just didnt want to read it because i knew...more

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Jul 04, 2012 C.P. Lesley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I love this book so much that I wrote my own version, so that pretty much tells you what I think of it. Orczy's novel is typical of its time (1905) in having far more description and "telling" than a twenty-first-century reader expects. But once that reader adjusts his/her focus, s/he will find this story of a swashbuckling hero who hides behind the persona of a foppish aristocrat riveting. Batman, Superman, Zorro: all the dual-identity superheroes get their start here, with Orczy's vision. And...more

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Mar 21, 2009 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a little challenging at first. the Language is a little hard to get used to in the beginning but once you get into the story it is exciting and compelling and romantic. It takes place during the French Revolution. It is a story based on this brave man called the scarlett Pimpernell who's identity is uncertain to those who don't work directly with him. He risks his life to Save the innocent royalists and helps them escape. It is truly exciting when the story unfolds and you find out...more

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Jun 28, 2007 Caitlyn added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: the effette

I'll just start this by saying, Man, did this book suck.

I decided to read it for two reasons: 1) I love Terrence Mann. He played Chauvelin in the Broadway version and his final note from 'Falcon in the Dive' makes me swoon. 2) Seeing as how I'm going to be a Librarian... I figured I should at least pretend to take an interest in so called 'literature.'

But man. I actually threw the book and said 'what the hell is this shit?' when I finished. There was nothing to it. The only part even remotely en...more

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Jun 22, 2008 Shauna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this classic tale of danger and intrigue during the french revolution,pans out to be pure vintage fun. The first 1/3 is a bit slow; it takes a while to really get a sense for the characters and where their lives are going, However, once Margurite, our lovely heroine, is faced with a terrible either-or decision (to save her beloved brother or help bring about the downfall of the brave and good Scarlet Pimpernell), things start to get interesting! armed only with his wits and his cunning, the Sca...more

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Jan 09, 2008 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've read all the Scarlet Pimpernel books, not difficult because they are all variations on one theme. I loved these books when I was a young girl and still have fond memories of them. They are so romantic, in the classical sense. They have everything: The foppish and languid English lord, his beautiful French wife, the dashing Spy Extraordinnaire The Scarlet Pimpernel, evil Frenchmen (are there any other kind?), disguises of all sorts and a happy ending for all. Poking through this as an adult...more

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Mar 24, 2008 Noran Miss Pumkin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone--even teens

Recommended to Noran by: my father william

Shelves: percy

i grew up on the classic black and white film with my father telling me about it again and again. now in my 40's i decided to read the novel, only to discover there are like 15 in the series--most not available in the usa, and they were written by a women. well, there in a scene that brought me to tears, not of sadness , but of heartache. the passage was a expression of such love between a man and a woman he might not see again-- i wept. i do not go to chick flicks ever, and i was crying.
there o...more

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Dec 04, 2008 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jenna by: ?

Shelves: my-classics, napoleonic-era

One of the best books that I've ever read! I loved the twists that it had in it.

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Apr 16, 2009 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, 2009, reviewed, romance

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, and a rather satisfying story of redemption and love.

I would have liked to see a bit more about why the Scarlet Pimpernel set out on his mission in the first place. It seems rather disappointing for it to be simply sport. Not very noble to play with peoples' lives.

Aside from that, I did enjoy the story. I loved the way that Marguerite grew during the course of the story, as well as how she was able to overcome her pride in order to recognize wha...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Cleo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic adventure tale set during the French Revolution. "This timeless novel of intrigue and romance is the adventure of one man's defiance in the face of authority. The rulers of the French Revolution are unable to discern the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a man whose exploits are an embarrassment to the new regime. Is he an exiled French nobleman or an English lord? The only thing for certain is his calling card--the blood-red flower known as the Scarlet Pimper...more The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic adventure tale set during the French Revolution. "This timeless novel of intrigue and romance is the adventure of one man's defiance in the face of authority. The rulers of the French Revolution are unable to discern the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a man whose exploits are an embarrassment to the new regime. Is he an exiled French nobleman or an English lord? The only thing for certain is his calling card--the blood-red flower known as the Scarlet Pimpernel..." It's clear whose side the author (a baroness herself) is on. The Scarlet Pimpernel mainly rescues aristos and other people slated for execution, and the book is much simplified. But it's a great adventure story, and I think while many of the aristocrats were awful people, they (let alone their children) didn't deserve to be so brutally executed without a fair trial. Plus, as we see in A Tale of Two Cities, there were plenty of people executed who did nothing at all wrong, or were only faintly affiliated with the upper class. The French Revolution just got out of hand. I myself am not in favor of capital punishment anyway, but even if you are, so many innocents were killed. The point is, it's complicated.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is not a complicated tale at all. It's merely the story of a mysterious rescuer protecting the innocent from the vicious and cruel. The Scarlet Pimpernel is such an alluring and evocative character, mainly because he is so mysterious, and you do sympathize with him, even if the aristocrats are tyrannical. I also loved the scene at the beginning of the book when The Scarlet Pimpernel and a whole group of prisoners escape from France into England, right under the nose of one of the French guards who prides himself on never letting anyone escape. It's always fun to see pretentious characters get taken down a notch.

The writing is a bit florid and there are lots of characters to keep track of, but it's still a really absorbing read, no matter where your sympathies lie. I love a good adventure tale, and this was one, with high stakes too. I felt myself getting drawn into this tale, and really wanted to see what would happen.

I picked this one up because of two things. First, it was mentioned in The Shoemaker's Wife and it sounded really interesting. Second, Diana Peterfreund, author of For Darkness Shows the Stars (a sci-fi retelling of Persuasion), is publishing a new science fiction book set in a different area of the same world which is a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I can't wait. I'd heard of The Scarlet Pimpernel before, but had never given reading it much thought. But it sounded really interesting, and I was not disappointed. Some parts of this book are so subtle, others so obvious.

I won't say specifically who The Scarlet Pimpernel is; I found out while reading another review and a description of the plot, and in some ways, it made my reading of the book better, in some ways not. It certainly took away a certain element of the mystery, though it did make me look at the book a different way. Anyway, read The Scarlet Pimpernel yourself to find out who the title character is. Though it was pretty obvious.

My two favorite characters were Marguerite and Percy Blakeney. Both are central characters, particularly Marguerite. When the cruel Chavelin, who is hunting down the Scarlet Pimpernel, blackmails her into doing some spying for him, she handles it with remarkable fortitude, though she can't help breaking down occasionally. I loved the character of Percy Blakeney too.

I loved The Scarlet Pimpernel; it's an amazing adventure. I might try a few of the less popular sequels written by Baroness Orczy. Also, Diana Peterfreund, author of For Darkness Shows the Stars, is coming out with a new science fiction retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Across a Star-Swept Sea. I look forward to reading it in October.

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Dec 10, 2011 Dayna Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of the three most famous classics set during the French Revolution; the other two being Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities and Sabatini's Scaramouche. This is the epic adventure of Sir Percy Blakeney, whom everyone believes to be a bumbling idiot; but who in reality is the heroic Scarlet Pimpernel. With his small band of followers the Pimpernel saves doomed aristocrats from the guillotine right under the noses of the Revolutionary government. Afraid for her brother's life, Lady Blakeney betrays t...more

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About Emmuska Orczy

Full name: Emma ("Emmuska") Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy de Orczi was a Hungarian-British novelist, best remembered as the author of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (1905). Baroness Orczy's sequels to the novel were less successful. She was also an artist, and her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy, London. Her first venture into fiction was with crime stories. Among her most popular c...more

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El Dorado: Further Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel

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Quotes from The Scarlet Pimpernel

“They seek him here, they seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That demned elusive Pimpernel” — 120 people liked it

“Had he but turned back then, and looked out once more on to the rose-lit garden, she would have seen that which would have made her own sufferings seem but light and easy to bear--a strong man, overwhelmed with his own passion and despair. Pride had given way at last, obstinacy was gone: the will was powerless. He was but a man madly, blindly, passionately in love and as soon as her light footstep had died away within the house, he knelt down upon the terrace steps, and in the very madness of his love he kissed one by one the places where her small foot had trodden, and the stone balustrade, where her tiny hand had rested last.” — 61 people liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1112132.The_Scarlet_Pimpernel?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1181094611l/1112132.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1112132.The_Scarlet_Pimpernel?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy[/url]

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