Brilliant book if I may say so, written by Baroness Emmuska Orczy in 1905 this story is set in England and France around the time of the reign of terror, so named for the bloodthirsty guillotine that claimed so many lives. A rouge travels between the countries who goes under the pseudoym of The Scarlet Pimpernel, snatching innocent citizens from the famous execution style that was prominant in France in the 1700's.
The question is, who is the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel? Is he British? Is he a French citoyon? Could he be your fearless neighbor? No one knows! Save for the Scarlet Pimpernels trusty staff, who keep the secret so well hidden that not even Chavaulin finds out his secret!
The story begins with a lavish party where Marguite is approached by the sniveling Chavaulin who is trying to capture the rascal the Scarlet Pimpernel. Using the weakness of women to his advantage, Chavaulin alerts Marguite to her brother Armands plight of perhaps becoming a victim of the guillotine soon. He asks of ehr to reveal the where-abouts of the elusive one to barter her brothers life. With Marguite's husband was away, Marguite agrees to the terms and gathers information for the two-timing Chavaulin who promptly sets off to find the Scarlet Pimpernel. Much to his astonishment however, all he finds at the appointed place is Marguite's idiot husband, Sir Percy, asleep on the couch in the next room. The slumbering idiot gets up and leaves the party with his not-so-doting wife and life goes on for the couple. Or does it?
Chavaulin takes the information he gathers at the party and applies it to a new search of finding the Scarlet Pimpernel and is once again on the brilliant mans heels. Marguite realizes that in her haste to find information regarding her brothers savior, she not only put her brother in danger, but the savior, and other lives that the Scarlet Pimpernel was rescuing! In desperation Marguite goes after her brother with a trusted friend, Sir Andrew to try to save the day and rescue innocent French citizens. Much to her dismay the trail is laywayed with danger and unexpected trials.
Will Marguite save her brother? Will Chavaulin capture the Scarlet Pimpernel? And Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel?
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