The Scarlet Pimpernel

(1905)

The Scarlet Pimpernel is primarily an adventure novel by Baroness E. Orczy, set in the ‘Reign of Terror’ in France at the beginning of the French revolution, in 1792. Originally meant to be a play, it received more success when it was published in form of a book, after the first staging in 1903. It follows the adventures of a ‘Hero’ who smuggles French aristocrats out of France giving them back their freedom. He however leaves a note, every time he does so, so that no one else would take the blame (or credit) for his actions; signing them with just a scarlet flower, thus earning the name of ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’. With a group of Englishmen at his command, we follow his various adventures as seen through the eyes of people not involved in his league. We mostly follow Lady Blackeney (Marguerite St. Just), a French woman, married to a wealthy Englishman, Sir Percy Blakeney. Looked down upon by a lot of French families as a traitor for having married the Englishman, Lady Blakeney tries to keep her attention to where she wouldn’t be much reminded of it: in the secret London clubs and organisations. Very soon she is caught up by the talks, discussions, drama and numerous conspiracy theories that revolve around the Pimpernel: the hero to a lot of French aristocrats who has a huge price on his head and is constantly chased by the French. Throw in a dash of blackmail, a touch of betrayal, a ton of love, trust, faith and not to mention, courage, and we have the wonderful novel that is “The Scarlet Pimpernel”.--Submitted by Frost.

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