The Elusive Pimpernel

Book excerpt: A novel of swashbuckling action in the series featuring the classic hero who saves innocents from the guillotine in Revolutionary France . . . “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?” Sir Percy thought he left his enemy vanquished, humiliated, and debased in Calais. Oh, how foolish he was. Now Chauvelin is bent on revenge . . . As punishment for letting the Scarlet Pimpernel escape the clutches of the French Republic, Chauvelin was demoted from the ranks of Robespierre’s trusted few. But he will have his day. Laying a trap for the wife of Sir Percy, Lady Marguerite, is only the first step. Can Sir Percy elude the blade of Madame Guillotine a second time, defend his honor as the Scarlet Pimpernel, and save his wife from a fate worse than death? Baroness Emma Orczy brings us the third thrilling installment in her iconic adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel, pitting Sir Percy against the wily Chauvelin once again in a battle of wit and cunning that stands between thousands of innocent lives and the ignominious bite of Madame Guillotine. Credited with the introduction of the “hero with a secret identity” trope, the Scarlet Pimpernel and his exploits have captured the imaginations of readers for over a century. The series housing the most historical accuracies of French Revolution-centric fiction of its time, it also inspired a stage play garnering over 2,000 performances in four years. Join the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel and dive into the rollicking adventures of the masked hero of the French Revolution!