Plot
The novel follows the adventures of a mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel who rescues French aristocrats at the time of the French Revolution. The protagonist has a secret identity--a man who masks the true, heroic qualities of the main character. The Scarlet Pimpernel is fantastically plotted, with a plot that keeps you on your toes and barely anytime to breath.
The story begins with the escape from Paris of a beautiful Comtesse, from right under noses of the revolutionary committee who planned to send her to the guillotine. She is smuggled out by a constant thorn in the French authorities’ side, known as the Scarlet Pimpernel. The Comtesse is brought to England, where she arrives at the Fisherman's Rest inn. There she meets young men who are part of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel: all have sworn to obey and (if necessary) die for their leader.
Also staying at the inn is Marguerite, who came to England and married one of the foremost fashionable gentlemen of England--the good-natured but rather stupid, Lord Percy Blakeney.Lady Blakeney is approached by a man from France, who threatens her brother if she does not help him find the Scarlet Pimpernel. At an evening party, she gains information from one of the League, which helps to identify the man.
That very night, she approaches her husband, and states the fact that they fad drifted apart. Sir Percy remains distant and tells her that he must set off on business the next day. The final act of the book's drama takes place in France, where the main characters desperately race to save Marguerite's brother. It is then that the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel is finally revealed.
The story begins with the escape from Paris of a beautiful Comtesse, from right under noses of the revolutionary committee who planned to send her to the guillotine. She is smuggled out by a constant thorn in the French authorities’ side, known as the Scarlet Pimpernel. The Comtesse is brought to England, where she arrives at the Fisherman's Rest inn. There she meets young men who are part of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel: all have sworn to obey and (if necessary) die for their leader.
Also staying at the inn is Marguerite, who came to England and married one of the foremost fashionable gentlemen of England--the good-natured but rather stupid, Lord Percy Blakeney.Lady Blakeney is approached by a man from France, who threatens her brother if she does not help him find the Scarlet Pimpernel. At an evening party, she gains information from one of the League, which helps to identify the man.
That very night, she approaches her husband, and states the fact that they fad drifted apart. Sir Percy remains distant and tells her that he must set off on business the next day. The final act of the book's drama takes place in France, where the main characters desperately race to save Marguerite's brother. It is then that the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel is finally revealed.