The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic play and adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. The story is a precursor to the spy fiction and the superhero genres, where a hero hides under a mild-mannered alias.

The Plot:

The novel is set in 1792, during the bloodthirsty, early stages of the French Revolution. Marguerite St. Just, a beautiful French ex-actress, is the wife of the wealthy English fop Sir Percy Blakeney, a baronet. Before their marriage, Marguerite had said unintended things in private that had resulted in sending French aristocrat the Marquis de St. Cyr and his sons to the guillotine. When Percy found out, he became estranged from his wife.

Meanwhile, a secret society of 19 English aristocrats, the "League of the Scarlet Pimpernel", is engaged in rescuing their French counterparts from the daily executions. Their leader, the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, takes his nickname from the drawing of a small red flower with which he signs his messages. Despite being the talk of London society, only his followers and possibly the Prince of Wales know the Pimpernel's true identity. Like many others, Marguerite is entranced by the Pimpernel's daring exploits.