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The Scarlet Pimpernel Literary Analysis

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Including everything from a hero with a secret identity, to a dying passion “The Scarlet Pimpernel” written by Emmuska Orczy, is a classic that doesn’t bore you to death. “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is the first novel in a series of historical fiction, written by Emmuska Orczy. First published in 1905 it proved popular with its English audience, unlike its several sequels. No matter what genre you prefer I’m sure anyone would enjoy this piece of work. It’s difficult not to get hooked on the first line: surging, seething, murmuring crowd, of beings that are only human in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate. The story is set in 1792 during France’s bloodthirsty revolution. With French citizens demanding the heads of the rich whether it be child, woman, or man. A band of daring young Englishmen defies the French Republic, by endangering their lives to save innocent French aristocrats, from the sharp, merciless blade of the “Madame Guillotine”. The leader of this valiant group is only known by a small red flower, he leaves scribbled on a piece of paper after his daring rescues; the flower being a scarlet pimpernel. …show more content…

Everyone French and English alike are striving to know the ingenious protagonist’s identity, no one would ever suspect the dim, inane sir Percy Blakeney as the hero. The double life of Sir Percy made this story just the more interesting, I believe that Sir Percy one of England’s richest, fashionable and densest, was the Scarlet pimpernels finest façade, the disguise even fooling Marguerite Blakeney, the wife of Sir Percy Blakeney, and one of Europe’s

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