Other editions of book The Scarlet Pimpernel

When Baroness Emmuska Orczy wrote The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905), little did she know she was creating the super hero genre. Who is the elusive and mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel? A master of clever disguises, stealth and elegant escapes -- skills that he uses to rescue doomed French aristocrats from the guillotine during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror. His signature -- a tiny scarlet flower. The Pimpernel's true identity is unknown except to a small group of co-conspirators who work with him and together comprise the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Not even his wife, the beautiful Lady Marguerite Blakeney, knows that the man she is married to, an effete fop and dull-witted British dandy Sir Percy Blakeney, is a secret hero who risks his life on a daily basis in order to save countless others. A vibrant adventure awaits the reader -- heart-pounding narrow escapes, clever repartee and dashing wit, true love thwarted and redeemed, a relentless agent of the French Republican Government who makes it his personal goal to capture and destroy the Scarlet Pimpernel, and of course Percy's immortal "bon mot" that makes the social rounds in England and France: "We seek him here, we seek him there, Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? -- Is he in hell? That demmed, elusive Pimpernel." Book One of "The Scarlet Pimpernel Series"

"Who is this man, this Scarlet Pimpernel?" Each day this question grew more pressing to the rulers of the French Revolution. Only this man and his band of followers threatened their total power. Only this maddeningly elusive figure defied the vast network of fanatics, informers, and secret agents that the Revolution spread out to catch its enemies. Some said this man of many disguises, endless ruses, and infinite daring was an exiled French nobleman, returned to wreak vengeance. Others said he was an English lord, seeking sheer adventure and supreme sport in playing the most dangerous game of all. But of only one thing could those who sought him be sure. They knew all too well the symbol of his presence, the blood-red flower known as the Scarlet Pimpernel.

"he Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title enjoyed a long run in London, having opened in Nottingham in 1903.The novel is set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The title is the nom de guerre of its hero and protagonist, a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: apparently nothing more than a wealthy fop, but in reality a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist. The band of gentlemen who assist him are the only ones who know of his secret identity. He is known by his symbol, a simple flower, the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis). Marguerite Blakeney, his French wife, does not share his secret. She is approached by the new French envoy to England, Chauvelin, with a threat to her brother's life if she does not aid in the 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."

* The Scarlet Pimpernel is set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The title character, Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who transforms into a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist, represents the original "hero with a secret identity".* Just as accessible and enjoyable for today's readers as it would have been when first published, the novel is one of the great works of world literature and continues to be widely read.* This meticulous edition from Heritage Illustrated Publishing is a faithful reproduction of the original text enhanced with images of classic works of art.

In the year 1792, Sir Percy and Lady Marguerite Blakeney are the darlings of British society-he is known as one of the wealthiest men in England and a dimwit; she is French, a stunning former actress, and "the cleverest woman in Europe"-and they find themselves at the center of a deadly political intrigue. The Reign of Terror controls France, and every day aristocrats in Paris fall victim to Madame la Guillotine. Only one man can rescue them-the Scarlet Pimpernel, a master of disguise who leaves a calling card bearing only a signature red flower. As the fascinating connection between the Blakeneys and this mysterious hero is revealed, they are forced to choose between love and loyalty in order to avoid the French agent Chauvelin, who relentlessly hunts the Scarlet Pimpernel. The Scarlet Pimpernel is the best-known novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, a prolific author of popular fiction and plays. First published in 1905, it pioneered the tale of the masked avenger and paved the way for such future enigmatic swashbucklers as Zorro and the Lone Ranger. Repeatedly adapted for stage and screen-including as a successful Broadway musical-The Scarlet Pimpernel is a relevant and enormously entertaining tale of survival and pluck during times of widespread fear, hypocrisy, and corruption.

To many The Scarlet Pimpernel is the inspiration behind our modern “hero behind the mask,” movies. Set at the time of the reign of terror, just after the French Revolution, The Scarlet Pimpernel is a story about an English secret society determined to save their french friends from daily executions overseas. Twenty people gather together, renouncing the french oppression and vowing to do whatever they can to stop. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a play about heroism with personality and flair as the hero brings his own dandyish ways into all of his international exploits. Although the play did not fare well initially, it eventually gained a following and brought great success and material wealth to its creators. Many sequels were created after its release. There is something inherently attractive about a hero uses small red flowers to sign the messages he leaves for his enemies. This idea alone has been copied and parodied countlessly throughout modern film, cartoons, and television programs. Many of our modern heroes tend to have at least a few elements taken from the Pimpernel. This, in many ways, is a nice reprieve from the more serious version of the traditional literary hero. The Scarlet Pimpernel takes himself and his exploits lightly, indulging in his eccentric personality while saving the innocent at the same time. It is a lighthearted heroic classic for us all. Lovingly recreated as an mp3 audio this disc contains the timeless story of The Scarlet Pimpernel Now you can enjoy it again and again - MP3 compatible player (or a computer) required to play this disc Version: Unabridged Language: English Reader: Solo Female Format: MP3 Audio CD Tracks / Chapters: 31 Chapters Total running time: 07:34:07