Sir Percy Blakeney is an English baronet, wealthy, idle, and mocked by London society as a fop. In reality, he leads the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a band of English gentlemen who rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine during the Terror. His wife, Marguerite, a former French actress, is blackmailed by the revolutionary agent Chauvelin into helping him unmask the mysterious hero. Baroness Orczy's 1905 novel is built on disguise, secret signals, and a double life, and it set a template for later masked adventurers such as Zorro.
It suits anyone who enjoys swashbuckling historical adventure and light romance. The pacing is brisk, and the central reveal is well worth experiencing as the book intends.
Practical, outward-looking, growth-minded, clear-cut and escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Language
- FR
