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Classic. Romance. Action. Spy. Adventure. Masked Hero.
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 253
Started: 6 August 2022
Finished: 9 August 2022
Summary:
In the year 1792, as the new French government continues to put the French nobility to the guillotine, a mysterious hero known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel is the talk of England. Dressed in incredible disguises, the man smuggles the condemned nobles out of France and away from their death sentence.
The brilliant and charming Lady Marguerite Blakeney dearly loves her genial and inane husband Lord Percy Blakeny, but since he discovered that she sent a French Noble to execution for espionage, his previously boundless love for her has disappeared. Though she wants nothing more than to win his love back, she struggles to curb her pride.
When a clever and sinister French agent appears in England with the ultimatum that if Marguerite does not aid him in catching the Scarlet Pimpernel her beloved brother Armand will die, Marguerite must put her considerable wit to the test: she must find a way to save her brother, her marriage, and the mysterious and heroic Scarlet Pimpernel.
Thoughts:
I genuinely enjoyed this book. I've tried to read it multiple times before, and never got very far, but finally this time I had enough focus to read slowly and understand everything that was going on, which made all the difference. The writing, while definitely wordy, was quite clever, as was the protagonist. Lady Blakeney was a fun heroine to read. For most of the book she held her own with her wits and decorum, which was very exciting. Her relationship with Percy was super sweet, as well. The adventure was exciting to a degree that I did not expect from an older book. The action was mysterious and tense and really enjoyable. I also enjoyed how the Scarlet Pimpernel always had everything in control; it made the book feel safe and gave me less anxiety than action usually does.
There were, of course, flaws, two of which were prominent and disappointing: the sexism and the antisemitsm. The sexism was just boring. The brilliant and charming female protagonist travelled to save her husband and ended up just watching the events unfold. It was an interesting way for Orczy to tell a piece of the story that otherwise only Sir Percy would have seen, but I wish Marguerite had done something to help the Scarlet Pimpernel. The antisemitism was more blatant and more offensive. Percy disguised himself as a "dirty jew" and pretended to be cowardly, greedy, and weak for hours. I did not enjoy reading those pieces at all.
I will say: from the first few pages of the book, I had totally already called who the Scarlet Pimpernel was, and I'm very proud of myself for being right.
Brainstorming for English Project:
Era: French Revolution
Genre: Historical Fiction
Century: Written early 1900s, takes place late 1700s
Settings: The Fisherman's Rest Inn, English Houses that are part of high society, dingy French inns and french countryside
Key Characters: The Scarlet Pimpernell, Lord Percy Blakeney, Lady Marguerite Blakeney/St. Just, Chauvelin, Armand St. Just, Andrew Ffoulkes, The Comte and Comtesse Tourney, Suzanne Tourney
The Scarlet Pimpernel and the inane facade of Percy are the closest things to foils in the novel, despite being the same person. There's also a good contrast between sweet but unintelligent Suzanne and clever Marguerite. Chauvelin and the Scarlet Pimpernel have a very exaggerated hero-villain dynamic.
Key Conflicts: Marguerite wanting to win back Percy, Chauvelin manipulating Marguerite, Percy outsmarting Chauvelin and saving the French nobles
Distinctive Structural Elements: Written with a limited omniscient third person perspective, with Marguerite as the protagonist. Despite having the language and pomp of a classic, the novel had the distinct pacing of an adventure novel. There were few gaps in time, there were moments of tense waiting and suspense, and scenes were slightly exaggerated and very present.
Six Standout Scenes: - The Scarlet Pimpernel's daring and successful escape from France with a group of French nobles in tow sets the tone for the hero's character and his cleverness. It also mirrors the final scene.
- Chauvelin's first conversation with Marguerite where he threatens Armand and blackmails Marguerite into looking for the Scarlet Pimpernel for him. This scene effectively introduces Chauvelin not only as an antagonist, but an evil one, without morals. It sets the tone for the man's character for the rest of the novel.
- Marguerite's spying at the Grenville Ball, and her emotional distress over the betrayal
- Marguerite's impassioned plea to Percy to love her, outside of their manor
- When Marguerite awakes to find Sir Percy gone, and realizes that he is the Scarlet Pimpernel
- The scene where Percy casts off his disguise at the very end of the novel, proving that he has been cleverly planning and one step ahead the entire time.
Quotes:- "The lust of blood grows with its satisfaction, there is no satiety"
- 186 halfway down, "even [...] rash"
- bottom 173, top 174
Words:
Sententiously (adv) given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner
Implacable (adj) unable to be appeased
Epistle (n) a letter
Plebeian (adj) of or belonging to the commoners of ancient Rome
Soupçon (n) a very small quantity of something
Effusively (adv) marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
Hauteur (n) haughtiness of manner; distdainful pride
Tawdry (adj) showy but cheap and of poor quality
Scion (n) a descendant of a notable family
Propitiate (v) to win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them
Fichu (n) a small triangular shawl, worn around a woman's chest and neck (fih-shoo)
Appurtenances (pl n) accessories or other items associated with a particular activity or style of liberty
Vagaries (pl n) unexpected and inexplicable changes in a situation or in someone's behavior
Anent (archaic preposition) concerning; about
Lurid (very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect
Pate (n) a person's head
Insularity (n) ignorance or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside of one's own experiences
Aureole (n) a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy
Inane (adj) silly, stupid
Irresolute (adj) showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain
Pernicious (adj) having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
Urbanely (adv) courteous and refined in manner
Effete (adj) affected, overrefined, and ineffectual
Jabot (n) an ornamental frill or ruffle on the front of a shirt or blouse, typically made of lace
Consummately (adv) to do something showing a high degree of skill and flair; completely or perfectly
Prosaic (adj) having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty
Perforce (adv) used to express necessity or inevitability
Peremptorily (adv) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way
Execration (n) the act of cursing or dencouncing
Raiment (n) clothing
Sedulously (adv) showing dedication and dilligence
Catechized (v) put question to or interrogate (someone)
Laconically (adv) using or involving the use of a minimum of words
Anathema (n) something or someone that one vehemently hates
My Review for AP Lit: Ella Kirshbaum
Mrs. Housley
AP Lit Block 1
7 September 2022
Summer Reading Review: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
This summer I read Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s novel The Scarlet Pimpernel. It takes place in 1792, as the newly instated french government continues to put former nobility to the guillotine and a mysterious hero known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel devises clever schemes to rescue the condemned nobles. The protagonist Lady Marguerite Blakeney, a witty and charming favorite, loves her genial and vacuous British husband but ever since he discovered that she unwittingly sent a noble to his death, his affection for her has cooled. When a sinister agent of the new french government appears in England with an ultimatum for Marguerite, she has no choice but to join him in trying to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. But when she finds out who the masked hero truly is, she embarks on a journey to save him from imminent peril.
Though this book was written in 1903, and its language is accordingly different from today’s (inane is used many, many times), both the plot and characters are remarkably similar to those present in more recent adventure and romance novels. Considered the origin of the masked hero trope, The Scarlet Pimpernel contains a mysterious hero who is the talk of the town, a woman in love who risks her life to save her husband’s, lots of suspense, and a very exciting conclusion. The overarching structure is almost identical to what one would find in a novel plucked from an airport bookstore. And though the language took a little while to get used to, The Scarlet Pimpernel was just as exciting as more modern adventures.
The book begins with a description of several of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s successful machinations (which are a fun parallel to the denouement of the novel), and immediately the tone of admiration toward the hero’s clever missions is set in contrast to the incompetence of french officials. A reader’s fidelity to the hero is a core element of action novels and through this contradiction of mood Orczy strongly implies, before the reader has even been introduced to a named protagonist, where their loyalties should like. Additionally, by glorifying the rescue of the french nobility, the author presents her novel’s stance on the french revolution: that those who overthrew the french crown are uncivilized villains who took revolution much too far.
One of my favorite techniques that Orczy uses is the way that she hides information from the reader. Using limited third-person narration and a protagonist who begins the book as clueless as the reader, the author leaves one guessing about many things of which the novel’s hero, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is aware. The reader does not know the identity of the masked hero, nor do they know what plans he might have in place to escape from near death. This suspense adds urgency to a book that might otherwise have fallen prey to the adjective-heavy meandering present in other books from the early 20th century, thus detracting from its adventurous plot. However, suspense and action were not the only components of the novel: the more personal plots happening simultaneously with the action were equally compelling. In particular, Marguerite’s desire to win back her husband despite her pride was surprisingly sympathetic, and I found myself eager to find out how their romance would end.
Another fun element of the novel was the motivation behind different characters' actions. Some of them were political–the book’s antagonist, the french agent Chauvelin, is driven completely by loyalty to his country. Some of the motivations were romantic–Marguerite wants to win back her husband, protect the Scarlet Pimpernel, and save her brother, all of whom she cares about deeply. The Scarlet Pimpernel and his cadre’s motivations are by far the most interesting to examine, though: the men–young, rich British nobles–risk their lives out of a combination of boredom with their lives and a desire to be heroic. The complexities of these motivations would be very interesting to explore further.
One unfortunate yet important facet of this book that cannot be overlooked is the sexism and racism present. Books are products of their times, and therefore accurately reflect the sentiments of the author in a specific time. In the case of The Scarlet Pimpernel, there is a disappointing amount of sexism and antisemitism that is central to the plot. Marguerite, despite being a clever and competent heroine, literally hides behind a railing for one of the most important scenes, and then in the climax of the novel manages to trip and reveal herself to a group of men who put her in handcuffs to await the salvation of her husband’s arrival. I was very frustrated by this because she was portrayed as so intelligent and competent at the beginning of the story, but I suppose that in 1903 simply being present for such harrowing adventures was relatively progressive. Similarly, there were multiple Jewish characters who had no personality outside of the stereotypical Jewish traits of greed, cowardice, and moral inferiority. But the worst part was (spoiler incoming) that one of the Jews was actually the Scarlet Pimpernel in disguise, who had covered himself in grime and maintained a slouching posture and a greedy and cowardly manner for hours before revealing himself to be the hero. For antisemitism to be present in a time when it was prevalent is one thing, but for such stereotypes to be a major plot device was upsetting.
Ignoring the “icky” elements of this book, it was a super fun read. Its combination of higher-level language and an engaging plot made it feel like the classier version of a quick beach read. One of my favorite quotes was “the lust of blood grows with its satisfaction, there is no satiety (31),” which in the context of french revolutionaries wanting to chop off the heads of the nobility, perfectly displays the novel's combination of pretty phrasing and engrossing suspense. For anyone looking for an older action novel that was groundbreaking in its genre, The Scarlet Pimpernel is the perfect choice.
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 253
Started: 6 August 2022
Finished: 9 August 2022
Summary:
In the year 1792, as the new French government continues to put the French nobility to the guillotine, a mysterious hero known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel is the talk of England. Dressed in incredible disguises, the man smuggles the condemned nobles out of France and away from their death sentence.
The brilliant and charming Lady Marguerite Blakeney dearly loves her genial and inane husband Lord Percy Blakeny, but since he discovered that she sent a French Noble to execution for espionage, his previously boundless love for her has disappeared. Though she wants nothing more than to win his love back, she struggles to curb her pride.
When a clever and sinister French agent appears in England with the ultimatum that if Marguerite does not aid him in catching the Scarlet Pimpernel her beloved brother Armand will die, Marguerite must put her considerable wit to the test: she must find a way to save her brother, her marriage, and the mysterious and heroic Scarlet Pimpernel.
Thoughts:
I genuinely enjoyed this book. I've tried to read it multiple times before, and never got very far, but finally this time I had enough focus to read slowly and understand everything that was going on, which made all the difference. The writing, while definitely wordy, was quite clever, as was the protagonist. Lady Blakeney was a fun heroine to read. For most of the book she held her own with her wits and decorum, which was very exciting. Her relationship with Percy was super sweet, as well. The adventure was exciting to a degree that I did not expect from an older book. The action was mysterious and tense and really enjoyable. I also enjoyed how the Scarlet Pimpernel always had everything in control; it made the book feel safe and gave me less anxiety than action usually does.
There were, of course, flaws, two of which were prominent and disappointing: the sexism and the antisemitsm. The sexism was just boring. The brilliant and charming female protagonist travelled to save her husband and ended up just watching the events unfold. It was an interesting way for Orczy to tell a piece of the story that otherwise only Sir Percy would have seen, but I wish Marguerite had done something to help the Scarlet Pimpernel. The antisemitism was more blatant and more offensive. Percy disguised himself as a "dirty jew" and pretended to be cowardly, greedy, and weak for hours. I did not enjoy reading those pieces at all.
I will say: from the first few pages of the book, I had totally already called who the Scarlet Pimpernel was, and I'm very proud of myself for being right.
Brainstorming for English Project:
Era: French Revolution
Genre: Historical Fiction
Century: Written early 1900s, takes place late 1700s
Settings: The Fisherman's Rest Inn, English Houses that are part of high society, dingy French inns and french countryside
Key Characters: The Scarlet Pimpernell, Lord Percy Blakeney, Lady Marguerite Blakeney/St. Just, Chauvelin, Armand St. Just, Andrew Ffoulkes, The Comte and Comtesse Tourney, Suzanne Tourney
The Scarlet Pimpernel and the inane facade of Percy are the closest things to foils in the novel, despite being the same person. There's also a good contrast between sweet but unintelligent Suzanne and clever Marguerite. Chauvelin and the Scarlet Pimpernel have a very exaggerated hero-villain dynamic.
Key Conflicts: Marguerite wanting to win back Percy, Chauvelin manipulating Marguerite, Percy outsmarting Chauvelin and saving the French nobles
Distinctive Structural Elements: Written with a limited omniscient third person perspective, with Marguerite as the protagonist. Despite having the language and pomp of a classic, the novel had the distinct pacing of an adventure novel. There were few gaps in time, there were moments of tense waiting and suspense, and scenes were slightly exaggerated and very present.
Six Standout Scenes:
- The Scarlet Pimpernel's daring and successful escape from France with a group of French nobles in tow sets the tone for the hero's character and his cleverness. It also mirrors the final scene.
- Chauvelin's first conversation with Marguerite where he threatens Armand and blackmails Marguerite into looking for the Scarlet Pimpernel for him. This scene effectively introduces Chauvelin not only as an antagonist, but an evil one, without morals. It sets the tone for the man's character for the rest of the novel.
- Marguerite's spying at the Grenville Ball, and her emotional distress over the betrayal
- Marguerite's impassioned plea to Percy to love her, outside of their manor
- When Marguerite awakes to find Sir Percy gone, and realizes that he is the Scarlet Pimpernel
- The scene where Percy casts off his disguise at the very end of the novel, proving that he has been cleverly planning and one step ahead the entire time.
- "The lust of blood grows with its satisfaction, there is no satiety"
- 186 halfway down, "even [...] rash"
- bottom 173, top 174
Sententiously (adv) given to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner
Implacable (adj) unable to be appeased
Epistle (n) a letter
Plebeian (adj) of or belonging to the commoners of ancient Rome
Soupçon (n) a very small quantity of something
Effusively (adv) marked by the expression of great or excessive emotion or enthusiasm
Hauteur (n) haughtiness of manner; distdainful pride
Tawdry (adj) showy but cheap and of poor quality
Scion (n) a descendant of a notable family
Propitiate (v) to win or regain the favor of (a god, spirit, or person) by doing something that pleases them
Fichu (n) a small triangular shawl, worn around a woman's chest and neck (fih-shoo)
Appurtenances (pl n) accessories or other items associated with a particular activity or style of liberty
Vagaries (pl n) unexpected and inexplicable changes in a situation or in someone's behavior
Anent (archaic preposition) concerning; about
Lurid (very vivid in color, especially so as to create an unpleasantly harsh or unnatural effect
Pate (n) a person's head
Insularity (n) ignorance or lack of interest in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside of one's own experiences
Aureole (n) a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy
Inane (adj) silly, stupid
Irresolute (adj) showing or feeling hesitancy; uncertain
Pernicious (adj) having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
Urbanely (adv) courteous and refined in manner
Effete (adj) affected, overrefined, and ineffectual
Jabot (n) an ornamental frill or ruffle on the front of a shirt or blouse, typically made of lace
Consummately (adv) to do something showing a high degree of skill and flair; completely or perfectly
Prosaic (adj) having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty
Perforce (adv) used to express necessity or inevitability
Peremptorily (adv) insisting on immediate attention or obedience, especially in a brusquely imperious way
Execration (n) the act of cursing or dencouncing
Raiment (n) clothing
Sedulously (adv) showing dedication and dilligence
Catechized (v) put question to or interrogate (someone)
Laconically (adv) using or involving the use of a minimum of words
Anathema (n) something or someone that one vehemently hates
Ella Kirshbaum
Mrs. Housley
AP Lit Block 1
7 September 2022
Summer Reading Review: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
This summer I read Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s novel The Scarlet Pimpernel. It takes place in 1792, as the newly instated french government continues to put former nobility to the guillotine and a mysterious hero known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel devises clever schemes to rescue the condemned nobles. The protagonist Lady Marguerite Blakeney, a witty and charming favorite, loves her genial and vacuous British husband but ever since he discovered that she unwittingly sent a noble to his death, his affection for her has cooled. When a sinister agent of the new french government appears in England with an ultimatum for Marguerite, she has no choice but to join him in trying to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. But when she finds out who the masked hero truly is, she embarks on a journey to save him from imminent peril.
Though this book was written in 1903, and its language is accordingly different from today’s (inane is used many, many times), both the plot and characters are remarkably similar to those present in more recent adventure and romance novels. Considered the origin of the masked hero trope, The Scarlet Pimpernel contains a mysterious hero who is the talk of the town, a woman in love who risks her life to save her husband’s, lots of suspense, and a very exciting conclusion. The overarching structure is almost identical to what one would find in a novel plucked from an airport bookstore. And though the language took a little while to get used to, The Scarlet Pimpernel was just as exciting as more modern adventures.
The book begins with a description of several of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s successful machinations (which are a fun parallel to the denouement of the novel), and immediately the tone of admiration toward the hero’s clever missions is set in contrast to the incompetence of french officials. A reader’s fidelity to the hero is a core element of action novels and through this contradiction of mood Orczy strongly implies, before the reader has even been introduced to a named protagonist, where their loyalties should like. Additionally, by glorifying the rescue of the french nobility, the author presents her novel’s stance on the french revolution: that those who overthrew the french crown are uncivilized villains who took revolution much too far.
One of my favorite techniques that Orczy uses is the way that she hides information from the reader. Using limited third-person narration and a protagonist who begins the book as clueless as the reader, the author leaves one guessing about many things of which the novel’s hero, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is aware. The reader does not know the identity of the masked hero, nor do they know what plans he might have in place to escape from near death. This suspense adds urgency to a book that might otherwise have fallen prey to the adjective-heavy meandering present in other books from the early 20th century, thus detracting from its adventurous plot. However, suspense and action were not the only components of the novel: the more personal plots happening simultaneously with the action were equally compelling. In particular, Marguerite’s desire to win back her husband despite her pride was surprisingly sympathetic, and I found myself eager to find out how their romance would end.
Another fun element of the novel was the motivation behind different characters' actions. Some of them were political–the book’s antagonist, the french agent Chauvelin, is driven completely by loyalty to his country. Some of the motivations were romantic–Marguerite wants to win back her husband, protect the Scarlet Pimpernel, and save her brother, all of whom she cares about deeply. The Scarlet Pimpernel and his cadre’s motivations are by far the most interesting to examine, though: the men–young, rich British nobles–risk their lives out of a combination of boredom with their lives and a desire to be heroic. The complexities of these motivations would be very interesting to explore further.
One unfortunate yet important facet of this book that cannot be overlooked is the sexism and racism present. Books are products of their times, and therefore accurately reflect the sentiments of the author in a specific time. In the case of The Scarlet Pimpernel, there is a disappointing amount of sexism and antisemitism that is central to the plot. Marguerite, despite being a clever and competent heroine, literally hides behind a railing for one of the most important scenes, and then in the climax of the novel manages to trip and reveal herself to a group of men who put her in handcuffs to await the salvation of her husband’s arrival. I was very frustrated by this because she was portrayed as so intelligent and competent at the beginning of the story, but I suppose that in 1903 simply being present for such harrowing adventures was relatively progressive. Similarly, there were multiple Jewish characters who had no personality outside of the stereotypical Jewish traits of greed, cowardice, and moral inferiority. But the worst part was (spoiler incoming) that one of the Jews was actually the Scarlet Pimpernel in disguise, who had covered himself in grime and maintained a slouching posture and a greedy and cowardly manner for hours before revealing himself to be the hero. For antisemitism to be present in a time when it was prevalent is one thing, but for such stereotypes to be a major plot device was upsetting.
Ignoring the “icky” elements of this book, it was a super fun read. Its combination of higher-level language and an engaging plot made it feel like the classier version of a quick beach read. One of my favorite quotes was “the lust of blood grows with its satisfaction, there is no satiety (31),” which in the context of french revolutionaries wanting to chop off the heads of the nobility, perfectly displays the novel's combination of pretty phrasing and engrossing suspense. For anyone looking for an older action novel that was groundbreaking in its genre, The Scarlet Pimpernel is the perfect choice.
Mrs. Housley
AP Lit Block 1
7 September 2022
Summer Reading Review: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
This summer I read Baroness Emmuska Orczy’s novel The Scarlet Pimpernel. It takes place in 1792, as the newly instated french government continues to put former nobility to the guillotine and a mysterious hero known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel devises clever schemes to rescue the condemned nobles. The protagonist Lady Marguerite Blakeney, a witty and charming favorite, loves her genial and vacuous British husband but ever since he discovered that she unwittingly sent a noble to his death, his affection for her has cooled. When a sinister agent of the new french government appears in England with an ultimatum for Marguerite, she has no choice but to join him in trying to discover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel. But when she finds out who the masked hero truly is, she embarks on a journey to save him from imminent peril.
Though this book was written in 1903, and its language is accordingly different from today’s (inane is used many, many times), both the plot and characters are remarkably similar to those present in more recent adventure and romance novels. Considered the origin of the masked hero trope, The Scarlet Pimpernel contains a mysterious hero who is the talk of the town, a woman in love who risks her life to save her husband’s, lots of suspense, and a very exciting conclusion. The overarching structure is almost identical to what one would find in a novel plucked from an airport bookstore. And though the language took a little while to get used to, The Scarlet Pimpernel was just as exciting as more modern adventures.
The book begins with a description of several of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s successful machinations (which are a fun parallel to the denouement of the novel), and immediately the tone of admiration toward the hero’s clever missions is set in contrast to the incompetence of french officials. A reader’s fidelity to the hero is a core element of action novels and through this contradiction of mood Orczy strongly implies, before the reader has even been introduced to a named protagonist, where their loyalties should like. Additionally, by glorifying the rescue of the french nobility, the author presents her novel’s stance on the french revolution: that those who overthrew the french crown are uncivilized villains who took revolution much too far.
One of my favorite techniques that Orczy uses is the way that she hides information from the reader. Using limited third-person narration and a protagonist who begins the book as clueless as the reader, the author leaves one guessing about many things of which the novel’s hero, the Scarlet Pimpernel, is aware. The reader does not know the identity of the masked hero, nor do they know what plans he might have in place to escape from near death. This suspense adds urgency to a book that might otherwise have fallen prey to the adjective-heavy meandering present in other books from the early 20th century, thus detracting from its adventurous plot. However, suspense and action were not the only components of the novel: the more personal plots happening simultaneously with the action were equally compelling. In particular, Marguerite’s desire to win back her husband despite her pride was surprisingly sympathetic, and I found myself eager to find out how their romance would end.
Another fun element of the novel was the motivation behind different characters' actions. Some of them were political–the book’s antagonist, the french agent Chauvelin, is driven completely by loyalty to his country. Some of the motivations were romantic–Marguerite wants to win back her husband, protect the Scarlet Pimpernel, and save her brother, all of whom she cares about deeply. The Scarlet Pimpernel and his cadre’s motivations are by far the most interesting to examine, though: the men–young, rich British nobles–risk their lives out of a combination of boredom with their lives and a desire to be heroic. The complexities of these motivations would be very interesting to explore further.
One unfortunate yet important facet of this book that cannot be overlooked is the sexism and racism present. Books are products of their times, and therefore accurately reflect the sentiments of the author in a specific time. In the case of The Scarlet Pimpernel, there is a disappointing amount of sexism and antisemitism that is central to the plot. Marguerite, despite being a clever and competent heroine, literally hides behind a railing for one of the most important scenes, and then in the climax of the novel manages to trip and reveal herself to a group of men who put her in handcuffs to await the salvation of her husband’s arrival. I was very frustrated by this because she was portrayed as so intelligent and competent at the beginning of the story, but I suppose that in 1903 simply being present for such harrowing adventures was relatively progressive. Similarly, there were multiple Jewish characters who had no personality outside of the stereotypical Jewish traits of greed, cowardice, and moral inferiority. But the worst part was (spoiler incoming) that one of the Jews was actually the Scarlet Pimpernel in disguise, who had covered himself in grime and maintained a slouching posture and a greedy and cowardly manner for hours before revealing himself to be the hero. For antisemitism to be present in a time when it was prevalent is one thing, but for such stereotypes to be a major plot device was upsetting.
Ignoring the “icky” elements of this book, it was a super fun read. Its combination of higher-level language and an engaging plot made it feel like the classier version of a quick beach read. One of my favorite quotes was “the lust of blood grows with its satisfaction, there is no satiety (31),” which in the context of french revolutionaries wanting to chop off the heads of the nobility, perfectly displays the novel's combination of pretty phrasing and engrossing suspense. For anyone looking for an older action novel that was groundbreaking in its genre, The Scarlet Pimpernel is the perfect choice.