For other uses, see The Scarlet Pimpernel (disambiguation).
The Scarlet Pimpernel
1908 edition
Author
Baroness Orczy
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Genre
Historical fiction, adventure fiction
Set in
1792, during the early stages of the French Revolution
Publisher
Greening[1]
Publication date
1905
Pages
319
Preceded by
The First Sir Percy
Followed by
Sir Percy Leads the Band
The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in London, having opened in Nottingham in 1903.
The novel is set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. The title is the nom de guerre of its hero and protagonist, a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: apparently nothing more than a wealthy fop, but in reality, a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking master of disguise and escape artist. The band of gentlemen who assist him are the only ones who know of his secret identity. He is known by his symbol, a simple flower, the scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).
Opening at the New Theatre in London's West End on 5 January 1905, the play became a favourite of British audiences, eventually playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in London. Published after the success of the play, the novel was an immediate success, gaining Orczy a following of readers in Britain and the rest of the world. The stage play and subsequent novel, with their hero and villain, were so popular that they inspired a revival of classic villainy at the time.[2]
Orczy's premise of a daring hero who cultivates a secret identity disguised by a meek or ineffectual manner proved enduring. Zorro, Doctor Syn, the Shadow, the Spider, the Phantom, Superman and Batman followed within a few decades, and the trope remains a popular one in serial fiction today. Read by Stan Lee as a boy, the Marvel co-creator called The Scarlet Pimpernel "the first character who could be called a superhero."[3]
^Cite error: The named reference Dugan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference Superhero was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
and 19 Related for: The Scarlet Pimpernel information
TheScarletPimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of...
Anagallis arvensis (syn. Lysimachia arvensis), commonly known as thescarletpimpernel, red pimpernel, red chickweed, poor man's barometer, poor man's weather-glass...
playwright. She is best known for her series of novels featuring theScarletPimpernel, the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who turns...
supporters, The League of theScarletPimpernel, that aid his endeavours. In comic books, superheroes and their secret identities are often considered the alter...
The Return of theScarletPimpernel is a 1937 British film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Barry K. Barnes, Sophie Stewart, Margaretta Scott and...
Plummer. Based on J. P. Gallagher's book TheScarletPimpernel of the Vatican (published in 1967), the film tells the story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, a...
precursor of the superheroes of American comic books, Jerry Siegel has credited Zorro along with TheScarletPimpernel as one of the inspirations for the creation...
The Adventures of theScarletPimpernel is a British television series based on the 1905 adventure novel of the same name by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. The...
The League of theScarletPimpernel is a sequel book to the classic adventure tale, TheScarletPimpernel. Written by Baroness Orczy and first published...
production and national tour of TheScarletPimpernel, the Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, and the national tour of The Addams Family. Sills was...
(1982) and TheScarletPimpernel (1982), and he played UK Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin in The King's Speech (2010). Andrews was born in London, the son of...
mostly in the UK. In 1999 and 2000 McGovern played Marguerite St. Just in a BBC television series loosely based on the novel TheScarletPimpernel. She also...
(1933) The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) TheScarletPimpernel (1934) Captain Blood (1935) The Bold Caballero (1936) The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) The Adventures...
The Triumph of theScarletPimpernel, first published in 1922, is a book in the series about theScarletPimpernel's adventures by Baroness Orczy. Again...
in French) is the villain in Baroness Emmuska Orczy's classic novel TheScarletPimpernel and the various plays and films derived from the work. He is cast...
flowering plants in the family Primulaceae, commonly called pimpernel. Thescarletpimpernel referred to in literature is part of this genus. The botanical name...
TheScarletPimpernel (both 1934), The Petrified Forest (1936), Pygmalion (1938), Intermezzo (1939), "Pimpernel" Smith (1941), and The First of the Few...
the Beast, Chauvelin in TheScarletPimpernel, Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Charlemagne in Pippin, Mal Beineke in The Addams Family, Charles...
Global Information