The story in one page
During the French Revolution, the guillotine is busy clearing out the old nobility. A secret society of English gentlemen, led by a mysterious figure known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel, smuggles doomed aristocrats across the channel to safety. Marguerite Blakeney, an elegant socialite married to the apparently vacant Sir Percy, finds herself blackmailed by an agent of the Republic, Chauvelin. Forced to betray the Pimpernel to save her own brother, she inadvertently puts her husband in the crosshairs. She soon realizes her husband is not the indolent fop she mocked, but the very man the French are desperately trying to catch.
Who's who
- Sir Percy Blakeney
A bored English baronet who secretly operates as a heroic spy.
- Marguerite Blakeney
A celebrated French beauty married to Sir Percy in England.
- Chauvelin
A ruthless French agent obsessed with unmasking the Pimpernel.
- Armand St. Just
Marguerite's brother, whose safety depends on the Pimpernel's success.
- Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
A loyal member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
What it's really about
- Public Persona vs Private Truth
- Dandyism hides a sharp, courageous mind.
- The Cost of Secrets
- Traps set for others often ensnare the innocent.
Why it's memorable
- A cravat tied with the precision of a master spy.
- A boat named the Day Dream sailing into the mist.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Sir Percy carries an exhausted Marguerite to his yacht, reuniting her with her brother before sailing home. The story concludes with their domestic bliss and the permanent retirement of Chauvelin from London society.
For your book club
- Is being a complete nincompoop the ultimate tactical advantage?
- Does the French government need a better hobby than stalking a posh Englishman?