Summary on The Scarlet Pimpernel.?

Question

If u've read it then please tell me about it. Any hints, tips, etc. ANYTHING!

Answer 1

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a classic play and adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the French Revolution. It was first produced as record-breaking play, in an adaptation by Julia Neilson and Fred Terry, which greatly helped the publication of the novel in 1905. The story is seen as a precursor to the spy fiction and the superhero genres. It gave rise to numerous sequels, and has been adapted several times for television and film.

The action takes place during the French Revolution, when a secret society of English aristocrats, called the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, is engaged in rescuing their French counterparts from the guillotine. Their leader, the Scarlet Pimpernel, takes his nickname from the small red flower with which he signs his messages. No one except his small band of 19 followers, and possibly the Prince of Wales, knows his true identity.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is often cited as an early (perhaps the earliest) precursor of the superhero of United States comic books: he is an independently wealthy person with a secret identity which he maintains in action by disguises, while in public life he appears as a politically irrelevant dandy to draw attention away from himself. In his hero guise, he accomplishes good, in a field in which the state is not competent to act, with his superior reasoning and fighting abilities. However, he never in the entire canon takes a life or indeed seriously wounds a foe. He even has a symbol in his name, which he does use as an emblem, though not on a costume. Johnston McCulley's Zorro (1919) and Bob Kane's Batman (1939) later followed the same pattern. In addition, his penchant for disguises and his great intellect are similar to those of Sherlock Holmes.

Plot

Marguerite Blakeney, a French woman, is married to a wealthy fop, Sir Percy Blakeney. The couple have become estranged as a result of her earlier unintentional denunciation of a French aristocratic family, resulting in their being sent to the guillotine. Like many others, Marguerite is entranced by stories of the Scarlet Pimpernel — an anonymous hero who, through a combination of courage and daring, has rescued many aristocrats from Madame la Guillotine, and brought them safely to England.

Marguerite's beloved brother, Armand, is discovered to be part of the Scarlet Pimpernel's organization, and he is therefore in danger of being executed. Marguerite is blackmailed by the wily French ambassador to England, Citizen Chauvelin; if she helps him discover the Pimpernel's identity, Armand's life will be spared. She cannot face the thought of losing her brother, and she hopes that the Pimpernel will be able to save him. She is contemptuous of her seemingly witless husband, so she does not go to him for help, and passes along information bearing on the Pimpernel's identity to Chauvelin.

When Sir Percy leaves for France, Marguerite realizes, to her horror, that he is the Pimpernel — the man she has betrayed. She follows him to France to try to warn him. Sir Percy outwits Chauvelin, and manages to rescue Armand, as well as the father of Marguerite's schoolfriend, who has been accused of treason in the country of France and will soon be executed. Touched by his wife's remorse, and by her devotion and courage, he forgives her, and the reconciled couple return to England.

Answer 2

The Scarlet Pimpernel Summary

Answer 3

It really is a pretty easy read, a rattling good romantic thriller. Is it really a set book in the US? Anyway, it's set in France and England during the French Revolution, where the poor have risen up and are cutting off the heads of the rich and powerful. But someone is rescuing the aristos - the Scarlet Pimpernel. An unknown and daring Englishman who is tricking the revolutionaries out of their prey. Meanwhile, Marguerite, a gorgeous French actress is married to the rich and stupid Sir Percy Blakeney. She was tricked into betraying some aristos who went to the guillotine, and Sir Percy went off her when he found out. Rather unfortunately, he found out on their wedding day, which rather spoilt things all round. The Revolutionary government send an agent to England to try and unmask the Scarlet Pimpernel. He blackmails Marguerite into helping, unless she helps, her brother will be caught and executed. Marguerite helps, but finds out later that the SP is really her husband who is not as daft as he's been making out. She dashes to France to warn him, gets caught but he rescues both her, her brother and the aristos they were there to help and they sail off into the sunset together. Don't rely on the films, there isn't one which uses the book plot. Why Scarlet Pimpernel - it's an English Wildflower and Sir Percy leaves a little drawing of one as a calling card when he's rescued people.

Answer 4

They seek him here,
They seek him there,
Them Frenchies seek him everywhere.
Is he in heaven or is he in hell?
That demmed elusive Pimpernel.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy are stories about an English aristocrat who, under the name of The Scarlet Pimpernel rescues French Aristocrats from the Guillotine. I can't remember his real name but he is seen as a very stupid ineffectual person so no one pays any attention to him. They are easy to read and great fun.

Answer 5

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Summary on The Scarlet Pimpernel.?
If u've read it then please tell me about it. Any hints, tips, etc. ANYTHING!