Scarlet Pimpernel

Scarlet Pimpernel

Puffin Classics
by Baroness Emma Orczy
Publisher: Puffin Books
Mass market paperback, 323 pages
Price: $5.99

The year is 1792. The French Revolution, driven to excess by its own triumph, has turned into a reign of terror. Armed with only his wits and his cunning, one man recklessly defies the French revolutionaries and rescues scores of innocent men, women and children from the deadly guillotine. His foes know him only as the Scarlet Pimpernel. But the ruthless French agent Chauvelin is sworn to discover his identity and to hunt him down.

One of our favorite novels. Sir Percy is that daring Englishman who, with his loyal band of followers, dons disguises and rescues members of the French aristocracy. When he woos and marries Marguerite, but later suspects her of betraying one such aristocrat, the process becomes a bit more complicated. Fun, swashbuckling, and romantic. . . full of close calls and some pretty memorable dialogue.

Many readers clamored for more after reading The Scarlet Pimpernel, and the Baroness Orczy graciously obliged. They're not as cleveras the first book, but here are three sequels, made available for free from Project Gutenberg:

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  If James Bond Had Any Virtues...
Sincerelyornot of Oregon, 10/15/2011
I wish there was a sixth star to award this book. Full of twists, secrets, disguises, and romantic love WITHIN marriage, its still my go-to for a late night mystery read. Its what James Bond would have been like if he had any Christian virtue. More details would spoil the story, so stop reading this and go find yourself a copy