It’s a classic. It’s entertaining. It’s one of the first superhero stories ever written. Set during the French Revolution.
The novel is set in 1792, during the bloodthirsty, early stages of the French Revolution. Marguerite St. Just a beautiful French ex-actress, is the wife of the wealthy English fop Sir Percy Blakeney, a baronet. Before their marriage, Marguerite had said unintended things in private that had resulted in sending French aristocrat the Marquis de St. Cyr and his sons to the guillotine. When Percy found out, he became estranged from his wife. Marguerite’s actions gain speed on the gossip trails throughout both England and France and she becomes hated among old friends as being part of the Reign of Terror.
Meanwhile, a secret society of 19 English aristocrats, the “League of the Scarlet Pimpernel”, is engaged in rescuing their French counterparts from the daily executions. Their leader, the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, takes his nickname from the drawing of a small red flower with which he signs his messages. Despite being the talk of London society, only his followers and possibly the Prince of Wales know the Pimpernel’s true identity.
Our villain, Chauvelin, and his agents steal a letter incriminating Marguerite’s beloved brother Armand, proving that he is in league with the Pimpernel. Chauvelin blackmails our heroine for help against the Pimpernel in exchange for her brother’s life.
