Books with author Emma Orczy

The scene is set in the terrorized Paris of revolutionary France in the 1800's. During this time period nobody was safe from the horrifying grasp of "Madame la Guillotine" which claimed hundreds of lives every day. The Scarlet Pimpernel is England's national hero, a rescuer of French aristocrats from under the guillotine in France. He's also Sir Percy Blakeny, husband of Marguerite Blakeney nee St. Marguerite's brother Armand is under suspicion in France and a French government agent, Chauvelin, approaches her with an ultimatum: discover the identity of the Pimpernel or let your brother die. When she realizes that the Pimpernel is her husband, she's off to warn and rescue him with the help of another member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, Sir Andrew Ffoulkes. Chauvelin threatens to kill Marguerite's brother if she warns her husband that Chauvelin is trying to kill him. Will her husband figure out the trap he is in, or will Marguerite warn him before its too late?

"The Scarlet Pimpernel" was written by Baroness Emmuska Orczy and first published in 1905. This novel is the first in a series of tales that follows the fictional main character infamously known as the Scarlet Pimpernel. The story is set at the time of the French Revolution, which occurred in the latter part of the eighteenth century. This revolt involved the overthrow of the French monarchy. A notorious Englishman sympathetic to the crisis in the aristocratic ranks helped sneak French royals out of the country to safety across the English Channel. This Englishman was known by the name of the Scarlet Pimpernel because upon making a clean escape from the French patrols, he would leave a note describing the caper, and it would be signed with a red, star-shaped flower the English called a scarlet pimpernel.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution, first published in 1905. The novel was written after Orczy's stage play of the same title enjoyed a long run in London and popular success earlier in 1905, after a first run in Nottingham in 1903.The Scarlet Pimpernel is the name of a chivalrous Englishman, Sir Percy Blakeney, in the time of the Terrors in France, who, with his band of gentlemen, rescues aristocrats before they can be killed by the violent government in revolutionary France. A wealthy English fop, he is known by his symbol, a simple flower, the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). He succeeds by transforming himself into a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist in addition to the strict secrecy of the group's movements. His identity is secret to all but his men.Marguerite Blakeney, French wife of the wealthy English dandy, is approached by the new French envoy to England with a threat to her brother's life if she does not aid in his search for the Pimpernel. She aids him, and then discovers that the Pimpernel is also very dear to her. She sails to France to stop the envoy.Opening at the New Theatre in London's West End on January 5, 1905, the play became a favourite of British audiences, eventually playing more than 2000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in Britain. The title character established the notion of a "hero with a secret identity" into popular culture. He was a precursor to subsequent literary creations such as Zorro and Batman.

Sir Percy Blakeney presents himself as a dim-witted, foppish playboy, but in fact he is a master of disguise, an imaginative planner, a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist who rescues individuals sentenced to death by the guillotine. With each rescue he taunts his enemies by leaving behind a card showing a small flower—a scarlet pimpernel. His secret is kept by a band of friends known as the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. The league operates as an undercover team in enacting Sir Percy's rescue plans. The Complete Scarlet Pimpernel Series contains 15 novels and 20 short stories:The Laughing CavalierThe First Sir PercyThe Scarlet PimpernelSir Percy Leads the BandThe League of the Scarlet PimpernelSir Percy ExplainsA Question of PassportsTwo Good PatriotsThe Old ScarecrowA Fine Bit of WorkHow Jean-Pierre Met the Scarlet PimpernelOut of the Jaws of DeathThe TraitorThe Cabaret de la LibertéNeeds MustA Battle of WitsI Will RepayThe Elusive PimpernelLord Tony's WifeThe Way of the Scarlet PimpernelEldoradoMam'zelle GuillotineSir Percy Hits BackAdventures of the Scarlet PimpernelFie, Sir Percy!The Principal WitnessThe Stranger from ParisFly-By-NightThe Lure of the Old ChateauIn the Tiger's DenThe Little DoctorThe Chief's WayThe Triumph of the Scarlet PimpernelA Child of the RevolutionIn the Rue MongePimpernel and RosemaryThe Scarlet Pimpernel Looks at the World

"The Laughing Cavalier" revolves around Percy Blake, a foreign adventurer and ancestor of the famous Scarlet Pimpernel. In March 1623, the Dutch nobleman Willem, Lord of Stoutenburg, is on the run. His father, the statesman Johan was falsely accused of treason and sent to the gallows by the Stadtholder, Prince of Orange. Willem's brother Reinier has since been arrested and executed for plotting to kill the Prince. Stoutenburg is now a fugitive and determined to get his revenge."The First Sir Percy" is a sequel to The Laughing Cavalier, occurring a few months after the events in the first book. It is March 1624 in Holland. Two months earlier, a mercenary who calls himself "Diogenes" foiled the plot on the life of the Stadtholder, Prince of Orange. Now, he has finally met his real father, an English nobleman, and realized his true identity as Sir Percy Blake of Blakeney, heir to a large estate in Sussex.

Sir Percy reluctantly agrees to take Armand St Just, brother of his wife, with him to France as part of a plan to rescue the young Dauphin. Percy warns Armand not to renew any friendships while in Paris, but it doesn't take long before Armand has ignored his warnings and renewed a friendship with the scheming Baron de Batz who despises the Scarlet Pimpernel and all he represents. Armand foolishly betrays Percy and he gets captured and imprisoned.

Pierre Adet is a young revolutionary with a death sentence passed on him, whose father is hanged for his son's crime. Seeking the revenge against the Duc de Kernogan, Adet flees to England, becomes Martin-Roget and pursues Duc's daughter Yvonne, who is also a matter of interest of Lord Anthony Dewhurst. Lord Tony must seek the help of The Scarlet Pimpernel to save his loved one.

This eBook has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices.On hearing of the death of his only son by the sword of Paul Déroulede, the Duc de Marny forces his daughter Juliette to swear an oath to ruin Déroulede in revenge for her brother's death. Having tricked her way into Déroulede's home Juliette denounces her host, but realizes to late that she has come to love the man she has vowed to destroy. She will need a help of Scarlet Pimpernel to save the day.

My name is Ratichon--Hector Ratichon, at your service, and I make so bold as to say that not even my worst enemy would think of minimizing the value of my services to the State. For twenty years now have I placed my powers at the disposal of my country: I have served the Republic, and was confidential agent to Citizen Robespierre; I have served the Empire, and was secret factotum to our great Napoleon; I have served King Louis--with a brief interval of one hundred days-- for the past two years, and I can only repeat that no one, in the whole of France, has been so useful or so zealous in tracking criminals, nosing out conspiracies, or denouncing traitors as I have been.