"The Scarlet Pimpernel" by: Emma Orczy

Recommended Age: 16-17+

182 pages

Description: Armed with only his wits and his cunning, one man recklessly defies the French revolutionaries and rescues scores of innocent men, women, and children from the deadly guillotine. His friends and foes know him only as the Scarlet Pimpernel. But the ruthless French agent Chauvelin is sworn to discover his identity and to hunt him down.

My Rating: 5/5

Set during the Reign of Terror in France, The Scarlet Pimpernel is an action-packed

story of adventure, romance, and mystery. Written by Baroness Emma Orczy, The Scarlet Pimpernel has been read and enjoyed since 1905. This story covers the exciting life of Sir Percy Blakeney as he masterfully organizes creative endeavors to rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine. He has received the name “Scarlet Pimpernel” from the hand-drawn flowers that he leaves at the sight of his rescues.

Another key character in this story is Percy Blakeney’s wife, Marguerite. At the beginning of the story, the Blakeney’s were experiencing a rocky marriage and Marguerite was unaware of his escapades. Unfortunately, Marguerite is then compelled (or should I say blackmailed) by Chauvelin, a French inspector, to uncover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel (unbenownst to her that it is actually her husband) in exchange for the promise of her brother’s salvation from execution (who has been accused of working with the Scarlet Pimpernel).

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was so much fun to read the clever tricks and disguises that Sir Percy concocted in order to evade capture. Watching Marguerite’s love and loyalty for her husband grow over the course of the story was also heartwarming. All the characters, even Chauvelin, could be related to because they each had a specific motive. There were no stagnant characters who were unsure of why they did what they did. As an avid writer and reader, I genuinely appreciated that. In the future, I would most certainly read this book again!

Things to be aware of in “The Scarlet Pimpernel”

THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW.

Language:

  • Numerous instances of “da**ed”

  • Multiple “what the devil”

Additional Notes:

  • A man jokes about a woman’s slim waist and “keep[ing] up with it.”

Links to the book: Amazon and Goodreads.

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