The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

 

Title:  The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author:  Baroness Orczy

Narrated by:  Bill Homewood

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 54 minutes

Source: Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library through Hoopla.  Thank-you!

Who is your favorite action hero/heroine?  I have always liked Wonder Woman.  The Scarlet Pimpernel is an early action hero and the basis for many modern action heroes with secret identities.

During the French Revolution, one man from Britain in helping French men, women, and children to escape the guillotine.  He evades capture and is known as the Scarlet Pimpernel.  French agent Chauvelin is on the case and will do anything to hunt him down.  Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel, and will he escape?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this in September.  I was running behind as it was the August pick for the What the Dickens Book Club and there was a great discussion about it on Facebook.

·       This novel was published it 1905.  It was originally a successful play and then the author made it into a book. 

·       I loved the adventure in this novel and the great romance between husband and wife.

·       The audiobook narrator was excellent.  He did great voices and accents for all the characters.  I loved it.

·       Towards the end of the book, a Jewish character comes in and is not treated that well.  He is called all sorts of slurs. It was uncomfortable reading. 

·       I love my 1960s classic paperback.  I bought it many years ago at the Kalamazoo Michigan Public Library and book sale.

·       I didn’t realize this was a series!  I need to continue reading more in the series.

·       I had watched and enjoyed a couple of the movies in my teens.  I need to rewatch them.

·       This was a great adventure novel   I loved the hero and heroine.  I also loved all the Scarlet Pimpernels disguises.

·       The romance was unique.  Can an estranged married couple learn to understand each other and fall in love?

·       Marguerite is the smartest woman in Europe, but is married to dull, foppish, but extremely rich Sir Percy Blakeney.  Chauvelin blackmails her to help him look for the Scarlet Pimpernel or his brother will be excited.  I love her character.

Overall, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is an excellent historical fiction novel full of romance and adventure.  I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it!