- Paperback: 270 pages
- Publisher: Forgotten Books (16 Oct 2008)
- ISBN-10: 1606801422
- ISBN-13: 978-1606801420
- Product Dimensions: 22.2 x 15.2 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 270,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic play and adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. It was first produced as a record-breaking play in an adaptation by Julia Neilson and Fred Terry.
The play first opened on 15 October 1903 at Nottingham's Theatre Royal; it was not a success. But Terry had confidence in the play and, with a rewritten last act, he took it to London where it opened at the New Theatre on 5 January 1905. The standing ovation of the first night audience proved him right, but the critics were unimpressed. The London critics criticized it as old-fashioned. Despite that, the play became a popular success. It began a run of 122 performances and numerous revivals, becoming a favourite of the London audiences - playing more than 2000 performances, one of the most popular shows ever staged in an English theatre.
The novel was published soon after the play's opening and was an immediate success. Orczy gained a following of readers in England and throughout the world. With the demand high, she wrote a number of sequels over the next 35 years.
The success of The Scarlet Pimpernel, in novel and play form, allowed Orczy and her husband to live out their lives in luxury and comfort. Over the years, they lived on an estate in Kent, a bustling London home and an opulent villa in Monte Carlo. Orczy continued to create adventures for her "reckless daredevil" and watch his incarnations take life throughout the world. The play was performed to great acclaim in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, while the novel was translated into 16 languages. (Quote from wikipedia.org)
About the Author
Emma Orczy Orczy (September 23, 1865 - November 12, 1947) was a British novelist, playwright an
The play first opened on 15 October 1903 at Nottingham's Theatre Royal; it was not a success. But Terry had confidence in the play and, with a rewritten last act, he took it to London where it opened at the New Theatre on 5 January 1905. The standing ovation of the first night audience proved him right, but the critics were unimpressed. The London critics criticized it as old-fashioned. Despite that, the play became a popular success. It began a run of 122 performances and numerous revivals, becoming a favourite of the London audiences - playing more than 2000 performances, one of the most popular shows ever staged in an English theatre.
The novel was published soon after the play's opening and was an immediate success. Orczy gained a following of readers in England and throughout the world. With the demand high, she wrote a number of sequels over the next 35 years.
The success of The Scarlet Pimpernel, in novel and play form, allowed Orczy and her husband to live out their lives in luxury and comfort. Over the years, they lived on an estate in Kent, a bustling London home and an opulent villa in Monte Carlo. Orczy continued to create adventures for her "reckless daredevil" and watch his incarnations take life throughout the world. The play was performed to great acclaim in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, while the novel was translated into 16 languages. (Quote from wikipedia.org)
About the Author
Emma Orczy Orczy (September 23, 1865 - November 12, 1947) was a British novelist, playwright an
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Kindle Edition
I love this book, it has stood the test of time, I have the book, the film and obviously needed to purchase it on Kindle - I would recommend this as a good, solid, romantic, historical read.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
62 reviews
80 of 87 people found the following review helpful
God Save the King!
11 Aug 2007
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic novel, though it is hard to categorize. It is part romance, part adventure, part spy thriller, and part superhero fiction. All of these elements went into the pot and the resulting stew is extremely entertaining.
The book follows the adventures of Sir Percy Blakeney as he seeks to help French aristocrats escape the guillotine during the French Revolution. Since official English policy forbids this, Blakeney adopts a masked identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel to remain anonymous. The French, of course, detest this interference in their affairs and set out to trap and kill the Pimpernel at all costs. As part of his effort to deflect suspicion from himself, he plays the fool in every day life and he does it well. His own wife considers him a useless fop... and that's where the story really gets interesting.
I won't give away more of the plot, but she ends up following him into danger in an attempt to save him. This allows the most suspenseful section of the book to be told from Mrs. Blakeney's perspective. Her terror for her husband's fate is pure and adds to the tension considerably. If we saw it through the Pimpernel's eyes, it would doubtless be far more composed and nowhere near as suspenseful.
In closing, The Scarlet Pimpernel is well worth buying. It's laugh out loud funny, suspenseful, romantic, and generally quite a page-turner.
The book follows the adventures of Sir Percy Blakeney as he seeks to help French aristocrats escape the guillotine during the French Revolution. Since official English policy forbids this, Blakeney adopts a masked identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel to remain anonymous. The French, of course, detest this interference in their affairs and set out to trap and kill the Pimpernel at all costs. As part of his effort to deflect suspicion from himself, he plays the fool in every day life and he does it well. His own wife considers him a useless fop... and that's where the story really gets interesting.
I won't give away more of the plot, but she ends up following him into danger in an attempt to save him. This allows the most suspenseful section of the book to be told from Mrs. Blakeney's perspective. Her terror for her husband's fate is pure and adds to the tension considerably. If we saw it through the Pimpernel's eyes, it would doubtless be far more composed and nowhere near as suspenseful.
In closing, The Scarlet Pimpernel is well worth buying. It's laugh out loud funny, suspenseful, romantic, and generally quite a page-turner.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Great Edition
26 Jun 2005
Format:Hardcover
This is one of my favorite books. I love the story and was excited to finally own my own copy. This edition is really great because it is lightly annotated. There are one or two footnotes on just about every page, defining french terms or just uncommon words. This makes reading that much more enjoyable because one understands more.
If you enjoy the book, there is a musical with an amazing soundtrack by the same name.
If you enjoy the book, there is a musical with an amazing soundtrack by the same name.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel Review
10 July 2007
Format:Paperback
Suspenseful and realistic, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel leaves the reader wanting more. It all seems so real. Could there really have been an Englishman who helped aristocrats escape out of Paris during the French Revolution? Each of the Scarlet Pimpernel's plans actually could have worked. Finding out the ingenious schemes the Scarlet Pimpernel used was my favorite part of the book. The plans the Scarlet Pimpernel used to get the aristocrats safely out of Paris included several disguises and even fake passports. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy short adventure stories. These stories include tricky English spies, determined French patriots, scared French aristocrats, and severe consequences.
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