The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

The Scarlet Pimpernel 
by Baroness Emmuska Orczy
The Scarlet Pimpernel Series, Book 1

Publisher: Goldfish Classics Publishing (2012)

311 pages, eBook (Purchased Myself for $1.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Ratings:

Violence: Mild-Moderate-Brutal

Swearing: Clean-Light-Filthy

Sexual Content: White-Pink-Red

Summary:

This story is part action/adventure, part mystery, and part romance. The French Revolution is in full swing in France, and the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel is smuggling French aristocracy out of France and into England with the help of his league of faithful followers, but no one knows who he is. This is the original tale of a hero with a secret identity (the forerunner of Zorro, Batman and others).

My Thoughts:

I loved this book! I absolutely could not put it down! I don’t think it was much of a mystery, for the reader, who the Scarlet Pimpernel was, because I had it figured out almost immediately, but the mess with Marguerite just kept getting worse and worse, and the suspense regarding how it would all turn out was riveting. The cleverness involved in evading his adversaries and the elaborateness of his disguise made the Scarlet Pimpernel an entertaining hero. And though the romance was really a secondary concern, I thought its presence within the story really wrapped everything up so nicely. Great, action-packed read!

Edition Notes:

This Goldfish Classics edition was beautifully organized for maneuverability and readability, and included an author’s biography and other study materials at the end of the text for those with an interest. Excellent ebook copy for the price!

Quotes:

“A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter I

“Sergeant Bibot especially at the West Gate had a wonderful nose for scenting an aristo in the most perfect disguise.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter I

“—the fond embrace of Madame la Guillotine.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter I

“It was asserted that these escapes were organized by a band of Englishmen, whose daring seemed to be unparalleled, and who, from sheer desire to meddle in what did not concern them, spent their spare time in snatching away lawful victims destined for Madame la Guillotine.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter I

“But Mr. Jellyband had a last succeeded on getting upon his favorite hobby-horse, and had no intention of dismounting in any hurry.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter II

“‘The Scarlet Pimpernel—is the name of a humble English wayside flower; but it is also the name chosen to hide the identity of the best and bravest man in all the world, so that he may better succeed in accomplishing the noble task he has set himself to do.’” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter IV

“—we are a nation of sportsmen, you know, and just now it is fashion to pull the hare from between the teeth of the hound.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter IV

“—remember that, when France is in peril, it is not for her sons to turn their backs on her.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter VII

“—the few months of separation had already seemed to have built up a slight, thin partition between brother and sister; the same deep, intense love was still there, on both sides, but each now seemed to have a secret orchard, into which the other dared not penetrate.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter VII

“We seek him here, we seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? Is he in hell? That deemed, elusive Pimpernel.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter XII

“—there still lingered in her heart of hearts a vague, undefined hope that ‘something’ would occur, something big, enormous, epoch-making, which would shift from her young, weak shoulders this terrible burden of responsibility, of having to choose between two such cruel alternatives.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter XIV

“It is only when we are very happy, that we can bear to gaze merrily upon the vast and limitless expanse of water, rolling on and on with such persistent, irritating monotony, to the accompaniment of our thoughts, whether grave or gay. When they are gay, the waves echo their gaiety; but when they are sad, then every breaker, as it rolls, seems to bring additional sadness, and to speak to us of hopelessness and of the pettiness of all our joys.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter XXI

“The weariest nights, the longest days, sooner or later must perforce come to an end.” -Baroness Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Chapter XXII

Movie Adaptations:

The Scarlet Pimpernel (TV Movie 1982)

Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen

Movie Rating: NR

My Rating: 4 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry

This adaption is based on a compilation of the books The Scarlet Pimpernel and Eldorado (a sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel in which they attempt to rescue the Dauphin, among other things). Timelines are rearranged and other things are changed (Chauvelin is made to be a suitor of a yet unmarried Marguerite who is also being courted by Sir Percy). I wouldn’t say it is a particularly faithful adaptation, as far as following closely to the book, but it was very entertaining in its own right, and I thought the characters well-cast.

The Scarlet Pimpernel (TV Series 1999-2000)

Richard E. Grant, Elizabeth McGovern, Martin Shaw