Review: THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL by Baroness Orczy
Stiletto Blade
EDITION: House of Stratus 2002
A rich but foppish and seemingly slow-witted man struggles with a troubled
marriage while leading a secret existence as a dashing champion of the
oppressed. Is this the template for another comic-book hero? No, it's
Baroness Orczy's THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, written in 1905 and introducing a
character who pre-dates Zorro, Batman, and all the other masked heroes you
might care to name. And it's quite simply a fantastic novel, the first of a
long and brilliant series.
Baroness Emmuska Orczy was born in Hungary, the daughter of Baron Felix
Orczy, a respected composer. The family moved to London when she was
fifteen, which is when she learned to speak English. In 1894 she married a
fellow artist and they both became successful as illustrators and writers. A
number of Orczy's detective stories appeared in magazines but it wasn't
until 1903 that she became famous with the stage version of the Scarlet
Pimpernel. It was written with her husband but the subsequent book
adaptation was authored by the Baroness alone. It was a massive hit, and
deservedly so.
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL is relentlessly entertaining. Written in a florid
style, perfectly suited to the swashbuckling theme, it's also surprisingly
deep. Here we have a hero with a complex personality who, for much of the
length of the story, is adored and yet loathed by his wife. Marguerite St
Just had been an actress and darling of high society when she met the witty
and stylish Sir Percy Blakeney. They were married but within 24-hours her
husband learned that she had been inadvertently responsible for sending a
French aristocrat to the guillotine. From that moment on, a coldness has
existed between them. This provides an undercurrent of sadness and stress
which doesn't reach a resolution until the explosive climax of the tale.
Until then, we follow Lady Blakeney as her brother falls into the hands of
the devilish agent Chauvelin. Unless she helps this fanatical follower of
Robespierre to trap the notorious Scarlet Pimpernel, her brother will be
executed.
Chauvelin, actually a real historical personage, is portrayed as a
ferret-like and thoroughly evil character. You can almost smell the fire and
brimstone whenever he appears on the scene. Repellent and unprincipled, he's
a man you really wouldn't want to have on your tail. Understandably,
Marguerite is horrified by the fix she's in; she loves her brother dearly
but the Scarlet Pimpernel is feted the length and breadth of England. This
mysterious figure, whose identity has never been revealed, has rescued
countless aristocrats from the revolution currently sweeping through France.
A master of disguise and as cunning as a fox, he's the pride of the land.
And, of course, as she's helplessly drawn into betraying him, we readers
know that she's also blindly sending her husband to his doom.
Orczy's adherence to historical truth is rather hit and miss. She gets the
politics and revolution timeline right but commits some blatant blunders
where the details are concerned, especially in her descriptions of costumes.
But this doesn't matter at all. The story simply sweeps you into its
emotional embrace and powers along. There's no time to stop and think. All
that matters is that Lady Blakeney finds a way to save her brother, protect
the Pimpernel and reconcile with her husband.
The Scarlet Pimpernel himself is rarely centre stage, remaining a figure of
mystery for most of the tale, and doesn't really come into his own until the
very last chapter when we finally get to see him in action. Just like his
dumbfounded wife, we're amazed when his true identity is revealed and by the
contrast between the dandified Sir Percy and the powerful and skilled
Pimpernel. I would love to have read this book without knowing from the
start that Percy and the Pimpernel are one and the same. The revelation must
have been stunning back in 1905; the author really does hide the truth well
and, even though it's now common knowledge that Sir Percy Blakeney is the
Scarlet Pimpernel (even in those who haven't read the book which 100 years
later is a damned fine recommendation in itself), his eventual unmasking
remains an astonishingly powerful moment.
It's a wonderful formula which was repeated years later in the form of Don
Diego and Zorro before becoming the template for countless comic book
heroes. But has it ever been done in as thoroughly entertaining manner as
this? I don't think so. I loved this book from the very first page. It is
exactly how a swashbuckling tale should be and I can't wait to delve into
the many sequels.
We seek him here, we seek him there.
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in Heaven? - Is he in hell?
That demmed, elusive Pimpernel.
... But go find him on the shelves in a bookshop. You won't regret it.
== Stiletto Blade ==
www.stilettoblade.com
www.sextonblake.co.uk
Terry McCombs
Batman, and all the other masked heroes you might care to name"
But not the league of forgotten masked heroes from the Penny Dreadfuls
such as Spring Heel Jack and others.
Terry
Gerry Zaninovich
The first time I read this book was a comic adaptation of it, and I
couldn't wait to go and read the book, that was around 30 years ago, and
I re-read it around 15 times since then. I also read al her "Scarlet
Pimpernel" series which are as wonderful as the first. There are 2
"prequels" which deals with his ancestors and 1 that deals with his
great great grandson, and is set in 1942 or there about (haven't read
any of those), there are 12 "Scarlet Pimpernel" books, and 1 book that
is just a story related by Sir Percy (no Pimpernel in it).
I don't know if anyone was so lucky to see the musical?, it's also
great, if you can go and see it is really worth it. There is a website
that has all the info about the books, the Baroness, the play, the
movies, etc, the address is http://www.blakeneymanor.com/
About Zorro, I suppose they were also shock when they found out that Don
Diego was Zorro when reading "The Capistrano Curse" as were the readers
of The Scarlet Pimpernel finding out that he was Sir Percy
Gerry
Stiletto Blade
others? Who was the very first masked hero?
== Stiletto Blade ==
www.stilettoblade.com
www.sextonblake.co.uk
"Terry McCombs" <magent...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:13817-40...@storefull-3136.bay.webtv.net...
Bruno Cattivabrutto
> THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL by Baroness Orczy (1905)
> EDITION: House of Stratus 2002
> Baroness Orczy's THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, written in 1905 and introducing a
> character who pre-dates Zorro, Batman, and all the other masked heroes you
> might care to name.
>
Eugene Sue's (known as the "king of the popular novel") "The Mysteries
of Paris" predates the "Pimpernel" by more than 50 years. It's the
story of Rodolph, the millionaire Prince of Geroldstein now fighting
crime in the Paris slums, seeking revenge for the kidnap of his
daughter. Rodolph is a master of disguise and even surgically
operates on captured criminals to reform them (like a later
superhero). Among Rodolph's associates is an ex-convict known as The
Slasher (based on the real-life Vidocq). Sue's book served as an
inspiration for Hugo's "Les Miserables." Sue's later "Wandering Jew"
features the immortal hero fighting evil Jesuits and Indian Thuggees
in Paris.
Dr Hermes
Ohh, ooh. I wanna play! For first masked hero in literature, let me
nominate The Black Knight from Sir Walter Scott`s IVANHOE (1819). This
mysterious fighter for justice hides his true identity behind that
unblazoned armor and turns out to actually a very famous person indeed.
(Hint: King John met him at family reunions.)
Actually` with the threesome of Wilfred of Ivanhoe, the Black Knight and
Robin Hood, this is also one of the first team-up or crossover books.
Pulpster
dead on as Sir Percy and Jane Seymour excellent as his long-suffering wife.
Gerry Zaninovich <zan...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:40FDC3DC...@worldnet.att.net...
> Stiletto Blade wrote:
> >
> > THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL by Baroness Orczy (1905)
> > EDITION: House of Stratus 2002
> >
> > A rich but foppish and seemingly slow-witted man struggles with a
troubled
> > marriage while leading a secret existence as a dashing champion of the
> > oppressed....
Joe Pfeiffer
>
> Eugene Sue's (known as the "king of the popular novel") "The Mysteries
> of Paris" predates the "Pimpernel" by more than 50 years. It's the
Oh, this does look fun -- and its at blackmask.org!
--
Joseph J. Pfeiffer, Jr., Ph.D. Phone -- (505) 646-1605
Department of Computer Science FAX -- (505) 646-1002
New Mexico State University http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~pfeiffer
Southwestern NM Regional Science and Engr Fair: http://www.nmsu.edu/~scifair
Terry Keith McCombs
was published first, that or The Man in the Iron Mask?
Spring Heel Jack stopped being an urban legend and became a masked
hero in 1875 in stories by Charlton Lea, the next one that I know of
after that was Sexton Blake's meeting with a black masked robin hood
in the American west that turned out to be Kit Carson.
As they copied each other back then worse than a room full of FOX
reality show producers I would be willing to bet that Lea was not the
first one to have a masked hero. I just don't know the details.
Terry
"Stiletto Blade" <stilett...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:<2ZpLc.19$NJ1...@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net>...
Terry Keith McCombs
penny dreadfuls that cast Dick Turpin in at least a somewhat heroic
light. He wore a mask from time to time didn't he? He might be the
first.
Terry
Bruno Cattivabrutto
> BCattiv...@yahoo.com (Bruno Cattivabrutto) writes:
> >
> > Eugene Sue's (known as the "king of the popular novel") "The Mysteries
> > of Paris" predates the "Pimpernel" by more than 50 years. It's the
>
> Oh, this does look fun -- and its at blackmask.org!
Be prepared, like many of the authors of romans-feuilleton, Sue, paid
by the word, could be exceedingly prolix, but enough weirdness ensues
to make the books interesting reads.
Stiletto Blade
== Stiletto Blade ==
www.stilettoblade.com
www.sextonblake.co.uk
"Terry Keith McCombs" <terrym...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:fb49dc27.04072...@posting.google.com...
PULP9860
When asked Jess Nevins gave me this answer, and jarred my memory, and it is a
good one.
For non-serial, non-repeating costumed heroes, I'd vote for
Robert Montgomery Bird's "Nick of the Woods," from NICK OF THE
WOODS (1837). Nathan Slaughter is a crazed Quaker whose family
had been slaughtered by Indians; in response, he goes crazy and
gains a split personality: among Anglos, he's Nathan Slaughter,
a gentle Quaker and pacifist; to the Indians, he's "Jibbenainosay,"
the "Spirit-that-walks," a never-seen being who wears a costume
(unfortunately I didn't note the details of the costume) and massacres
the "savages" whenever he gets a chance. (Bird intended Slaughter
to be a hero). He's a costumed vigilante with a secret/dual identity
and nearly supernatural powers when it comes to killing the Indians
and disappearing into the woods. Sure sounds like a superhero
to me....
Best
Joe
Terry McCombs
Bobin
Terry
TVPowers
"We've finally managed to track down Dick Turpin, sir."
"Great news! Were did you find him?"
"Hidin' under gravestone in Highgate Cemetary!"
The GOON SHOW circa 1958.
Dr Hermes
We must not forget Dennis Moore, the masked highwayman who robbed the
rich and gave the poor those bloody lupins....
BIG JOE :)
--
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"Stiletto Blade" <stilett...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:F0gLc.305$SF6...@newsfe5-gui.ntli.net...
ANIM8Rfsk
<< We must not forget Dennis Moore, the masked highwayman who robbed the
rich and gave the poor those bloody lupins.... >>
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,
Riding through the night.
Soon every lupin in the land
Will be in his mighty hand
He steals them from the rich
And gives them to the poor
Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,
Dumdum alum the night.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,
Dun de dun dum plight.
He steals dumdum dun
And dumdum dum dee
Dennis dun, Dennis dee, dum dun dum.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore,
Riding through the woods.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
With a bag of things.
He gives to the poor and he takes from the rich
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Galloping through the sward,
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, And his horse Concorde,
He steals from the rich, and gives to the poor,
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the night
Soon every lupin in the land will be in his mighty hand
He steals them from the rich, and gives them to the poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, dum-dum-dum, de-di
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, dum, dum-dum-dum-di
He steals, dum-dum-dum, and dum, dum-dum-dum
Dennis-Dummm, Dennis-Deee, Dum-dum-dummmm
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the woods
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, with a bag of things
He gives to the poor, and he takes from the rich..
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore.
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the land,
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, without a merry band,
He steals from the poor and gives to the rich,
Stupid bitch.