“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”
― Baroness Emmuska Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel
I first became acquainted with The Scarlet Pimpernel through the movie adaptation with Jane Seymour and Anthony Edwards. I loved the movie so I had to read the book afterwards. The book did not disappoint. This is the classic adventure story set in 1792 France. The Revolution is in full swing and French nobles are desperately trying to escape France before they can be captured and killed. Upon this stage, a mysterious man known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel makes his debut. He has sworn to rescue helpless men, women, and children from their fate and as a result of his success becomes enemy #1 to French agent, Chauvelin, who will do anything to capture him. Add in Marguerite Blakeney, a beautiful French exile married to a dim witted English lord, who suffers from severe conflicts of loyalty and you have the recipe for a daring and suspenseful story that fully draws the reader into the action.
Published in 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel has an appeal that has lasted well over a century and continues to delight readers today.
Content Advisory: Violence