Emmuska Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel | Page 1 | General Fiction | Guild Forums

Lunar Kissed
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:34 am

I admit it. I love this series about the exploits of that elusive Sir Percy! 3nodding I had not heard anything about it before I found a cheap hardcover copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel at Wal-Mart. Without a plot sypnosis, I had the intrigue of the title and the cover to lure me into the purchase of the book. It started out as bedtime reading where I would read a chapter or two before drifting off to sleep, but then it got to the point where I had to finish the book ASAP! I've recently started reading the fourth book in the series, Eldorado.

It seems difficult to find people who have read any of the Pimpernel books. I think my friends are tired of hearing me spazz about it! blaugh

For those of you who are not familiar with the books or who might be interested in them, these novels take place during the French Revolution where an elusive Englishman known as the Scarlet Pimpernel, due to the flower signature he leaves officials in his wake, is rescuing aristocrats and other innocents from the bloody grasp of the guillotine.

Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:08 pm

Sadly, I've only heard of it in parodies. But since you think so highly of it, I will try to get it as soon as I'm done with Sons and a few other books that I'm borrowing. smile

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Lunar Kissed
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:25 pm

Fairgrass

Sadly, I've only heard of it in parodies. But since you think so highly of it, I will try to get it as soon as I'm done with Sons and a few other books that I'm borrowing. smile

It should be easy to get a copy through your public library, although I had to get the second book I Will Repay through interloan at the university's campus library. I have several more on a list waiting to be requested as soon as I finish the four books I have now. I kind of put Sons aside until I finish all of these books. sweatdrop I like Orczy's writing style, but since I've only read these early books from her I don't know if it's a universal trait in all of her works.

Sir Percy has been yet another entry in my chronicle of fictional crushes. 4laugh Ah, how I would wish to be loved by such a gentleman!

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 1:29 pm

My friend was just telling me about that book; I think I will check it out.

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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:53 am

One thing that I will be looking forward to during that short in-between-quarters break is the time that I will have to read the last Pimpernel novels that I've been able to find. My beloved Sir Percy has been neglected in the name of academics! crying

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:54 pm

Fantasy Moon

Sir Percy has been yet another entry in my chronicle of fictional crushes. 4laugh Ah, how I would wish to be loved by such a gentleman!

Same here! I think when I get a boyfriend, which who knows when that will happen, I'll drop subtle hints that he should quote passages from books such as the Scarlet Pimpernel. But knowing my luck it would be from when he and his wife were fighting, or from a part where Mr.Darcy is being a bit of a snob to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.

My sister went to New York when she was 13 and saw the Broadway musical version of it, she bought the cd when she got home and made me listen to it. I became obsessed. I pretty much memorized all of the songs and then freaked when I found the book. My sister tried to discourage me from reading it by saying that it would be different from the musical, boring,etc etc. Don't know why. I'm really happy I didn't listen to her as I ended up loving the book. I've only read the first book, but that's because I can never find any other books in the series. I've been looking for them for years. evil crying

Will someone list the books so I can know what they are for reference? I'd really appreciate it.

doodlebuggey88

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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:11 am

I have yet to hear the musical. One of my friends, who is usually more in favor of books, said that she liked the musical better than the book.

To be quoted passages from books with great romantics would be heavenly though! ^_^

A great website for Scarlet Pimpernel information is Blakeney Manor. I found it at the SP community on Live Journal and it is wonderful. It has images, sounds, historical information, as well as online texts of the books. I'd read them more there, but it hurts my eyes to do so for such extended periods of time. It even has the listings in chronological order of how they're suppose to go, which I neglected somewhat to follow. xd I hope this website helps you out!

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:34 pm

Thankies! I don't know if I like the musical or book better myself. It's been a while since I've read the book so I can't really compare. I do have something to celebrate though: I got one of my friends to read the Scarlet Pimpernel! I can't remember if she finsihed it or not though, probably knowing her.

doodlebuggey88

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Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:25 pm

It's always a pleasure to pass along the Pimpernel pleasure to other fans! I need to get my friends to read it... *plotting*

I placed a request through inter-library loan for another Pimpernel adventure, but I will have to wait a small spell for it to arrive. Guess I could always finish that novel by Lauren Willig, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, but it just doesn't have the same feeling of heroics as Orczy's novels.... I don't really like how the author in this book portrays Sir Percy yet I'm not sure if I could accurately say why this is so. I know that even heroes are human. Still there could have been better attention given when the segment of Percy was mentioned. I've only read the first couple of chapters and am unaware if he is in any more of the novel.

Chauvelin still fascinates me immensely. I always fear that the threats of the higher ups like Robespierre will become reality because they do say that his failure will mean his death if Chauvelin cannot capture (and keep) the Scarlet Pimpernel.

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