The Scarlet Pimpernel: A Book Review

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. 



Anthony Andrews & Jane Seymour, 1982 remake of "The Scarlet Pimpernel"

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.



Leslie Howard & Merle Oberon, 1934 "The Scarlet Pimpernel"

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.