::READERS REVIEWS::

The Scarlet Pimpernel - After the first chapter, I could not put this classic down. This is a caped-crusader type story set during the time of the French Revolution. While French commoners are putting nobles to death left and right, a man going by the name of the Scarlet Pimpernel and his gang of followers are smuggling them out of Paris. This story is about a plot by the French to uncover the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel and put him to death. It is primarily told through the eyes of Marguerite St. Just, the wife of a popular but placid Englishman known as Sir Percy Blakeney, who is being blackmailed into finding out who this hero really is. An amazing read.

Good Story - I saw the TV movie, Scarlet Pimpernel, many years ago on PBS, but missed the last episode. Bummer... Well now I know how it ended. I recommend this for readers of all ages.

A delightful adventure - How much readers enjoyed this 1905 adventure can be judged by the fact that Orzy wrote thirteen more books about the Scarlet Pimpernel from 1906-1936 and by the more than several films and TV shows made of her story. The well-known tale is about Paris during the French Revolution. The Scarlet Pimpernel hides his true English identity and outwits the ruthless tyrants of the French Revolution, men and women who are determined to bring the citizens of France freedom and a better life, even if it requires them to kill many citizens to obtain it. The book is filled with drama and frequently humorous dialogue, including:
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?

An 18th century superhero - It is easy to see why Baroness Orczy's tale has become such a classic. It combines adventure and romance in the beautiful writing of the very best classics. Written just over 100 years ago, The Scarlet Pimpernel is charming but still eminently readable to a 21st century audience.

The story focuses on Sir Percy Blakeney and his French wife Marguerite. Both are fabulously beautiful, fabulously fashionable, fabulously rich, the toast of London society. I must confess that I had the slightest crush on Sir Percy -- he is very tall, broad, muscular, rich, handsome, gallant and a close friend of the Prince of Wales. *sigh* If he is foppish, inane and somewhat droll, well that can all be easily overlooked because of all the above qualities. He is married to Marguerite, equally beautiful and widely regarded as the cleverest woman in Europe. Alas, their marriage of just one year, although begun in great passion and love, has already fallen on hard times; a misunderstanding has pushed them apart and they are little more than polite strangers.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is the mysterious, brave adventurer who has managed to rescue numerous French aristocrats from under the nose of the revolutionary forces and bring them safely to English shores. He is the hero of England, the talk of every party as everyone speculates on his true identity, and the bane of the French who would like nothing more than to capture and send him to the guillotine.

When Marguerite learns that her beloved brother has fallen into displeasure with the French revolutionaries and is destined for the guillotine, she is hopeful that The Scarlet Pimpernel will somehow rescue him. But when events compel her to return to France, she plunges both her brother and her husband into peril.

Before listening to this audio book I had read a synopsis of the book, and so I already knew the identity of The Scarlet Pimpernel. I wish I hadn't -- it would have been so much more enjoyable to begin the story knowing nothing. How long would it have taken me to figure it out?

Michael Page's narration is excellent -- Brilliance Audio does a wonderful job with their classic audio books. They have top-notch readers, and even add nice little touches like music at the beginning and end of each CD, and lovely artwork on every CD.

For a lover of classics and/or charming old-fashioned adventure stories, I highly recommend this one.

A Rolicking Read - "We seek him here, we seek him there, that demned, elusive Pimpernel."
Indeed,everyone seeks for the identity of the famed Scarlet Pimpernel. The French Committee of Public Safety wants him because he and his fellow Englishmen keep saving aristocrats from the hungry blade of Madame Guillotine. The British worship their unknown hero, their curiosity as to his identity growing every day.

I first read this book as a young girl, and I fell in love with it. Set during the time of the French Revolution, it's a combination romance, mystery and high adventure novel. Even the reader isn't certain at first who the mysterious hero is. Then our loyalties are torn between him and the lovely and talented Marguerite Blakeney, a French woman married to a British gentleman and fop. Forced to choose between saving the life of her beloved brother Armand and betraying the noble Pimpernel, she struggles with her actions and choice.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is a quick read, which I found a pity, because I wanted the fun to continue. There is a follow up novel -- short stories of continuing adventures called The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. I recently re-read both of them, and found them still entertaining and fun.

Why is he called the Scarlet Pimpernel? It's a small red roadside flower in England. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine.

Nonstop Fun ! - This book was an excellent book that moves at a pace that will keep you turning pages to see what happens next. The only bad thing about the book is although it has a very satisfying conclusion it leaves you wanting more. Of couse this really isnt a problem when you own a kindle because you can instantly download the next book in the series.

A hard required read for high school - This book was on my summer reading list and I did'nt know what to think of it at first. The first chapter is set around completely different characters than the rest of the book and doesnt seem to fit until the end of the book. Along with a very confusing second chapter where way to many different characters were introduced making it hard to follow their conversation. The mystery was easy to figure out and it was very easy to get frustrated with the main characters because of their lack of communication. All in all i was more happy to be done with the book and only slightly satisfied about learning how everyone ended up.