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ricksilva's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Scarlet Pimpernel is known for being a major inspiration for bumbling/clueless secret identity characters such as Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent. Set during France's Reign of Terror, the title character is the leader of a band of Englishmen who help smuggle French aristocrats across the channel and out of the threat of the guillotine.
The Pimpernel (the name comes from an English wildflower, that is used as the man-of-mystery's signature) hides behind the identity of foppish Sir Percy Blakeney. His wife, French former actress Marguerite Blakeney, is completely taken in by the whole charade, in spite of being referred to as the "cleverest woman in Europe" repeatedly through the story. Marguerite is the real main character of the story, as she is blackmailed by French spy Chauvelin into trying to uncover the Pimpernel's identity, and then proceeds to embark on a desperate journey to undo the damage she has done and save the Pimpernel in the midst of a dangerous mission. Chauvelin is a reasonably compelling villain, although he does better matching wits with Marguerite. Against Percy, he seems to constantly overlook the obvious.
There's not as much action as one might expect (Hollywood versions of this invariably add swordfighting, where not a single blade is ever unsheathed in the book), but the author does a good job of building suspense through intrigue and pursuit. The interplay between the characters is also good, especially earlier in the story when Marguerite's snark is on full display. Percy also gets in some good humorous lines while playing up the incompetent rich man role.
The story plays into ugly stereotypes of Jews, although fortunately not as an overall main plot point. Still it's enough to cringe at.
There's also a bit of predictability to the climactic events, where the author may have foreshadowed a bit too hard with some earlier portrayals of the Pimpernel's methods. The fast pacing and witty characters help keep it interesting in spite of these issues with the plot.
The Pimpernel (the name comes from an English wildflower, that is used as the man-of-mystery's signature) hides behind the identity of foppish Sir Percy Blakeney. His wife, French former actress Marguerite Blakeney, is completely taken in by the whole charade, in spite of being referred to as the "cleverest woman in Europe" repeatedly through the story. Marguerite is the real main character of the story, as she is blackmailed by French spy Chauvelin into trying to uncover the Pimpernel's identity, and then proceeds to embark on a desperate journey to undo the damage she has done and save the Pimpernel in the midst of a dangerous mission. Chauvelin is a reasonably compelling villain, although he does better matching wits with Marguerite. Against Percy, he seems to constantly overlook the obvious.
There's not as much action as one might expect (Hollywood versions of this invariably add swordfighting, where not a single blade is ever unsheathed in the book), but the author does a good job of building suspense through intrigue and pursuit. The interplay between the characters is also good, especially earlier in the story when Marguerite's snark is on full display. Percy also gets in some good humorous lines while playing up the incompetent rich man role.
The story plays into ugly stereotypes of Jews, although fortunately not as an overall main plot point. Still it's enough to cringe at.
There's also a bit of predictability to the climactic events, where the author may have foreshadowed a bit too hard with some earlier portrayals of the Pimpernel's methods. The fast pacing and witty characters help keep it interesting in spite of these issues with the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
ilovelucy's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
I found this book very enjoyable. While not written quite as well as some of my favorite Jane Austen books, I nonetheless enjoyed the romance between the two main characters. The villain was very hateable which is always a plus, and the excitement of the mystery/adventure was enough to keep me interested, but it was not too action packed to take away from the drama of Marguerite’s relationship. My biggest critique however would be the horrid antisemitism introduced in the third act. It was wholly unnecessary, deeply disturbing, and honestly quite sickening. I would have given this book a 4 if not for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Minor: Misogyny
helalost's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Violence
flawedamythyst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
emakay's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Classism
nichola's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Well that was racist. And please do not tell me she was critiquing racism with her clever twist at the end. It was basically written blackface used to save a white man from the consequences of his actions.
Let's not pretend that she was writing some great critique of antisemitism.
Also I spent my entire schooling with girls and women and I have genuinely seen women being put through emotional and physical turmoil and I have yet to see a woman actually *swoon*. What rubbish.
Don't read this. The more I think about this the angrier I get.
Let's not pretend that she was writing some great critique of antisemitism.
Also I spent my entire schooling with girls and women and I have genuinely seen women being put through emotional and physical turmoil and I have yet to see a woman actually *swoon*. What rubbish.
Don't read this. The more I think about this the angrier I get.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
epsyphus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Very enjoyable historical romance. I really liked the romance and I find English books that just rag on the French way funnier than I should.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Misogyny, Classism, Death, and Religious bigotry
filthyspirits's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I absolutely adored it until the last parts where the antisemitism was very prominent. Even so, I can’t deny that apart from that, my opinion of this book is still very high and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
raeli's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Kidnapping and Death
Minor: Xenophobia and Violence
aether_a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book forms the brilliant-hero-acts-like-a-rich-idiot trope and it does it very well. It focuses on the challenged loveless marriage between the hero and his wife (it's all her POV). They both have to learn communication and trust through a very interesting adventure.
Content Warning: The really bad antisemitism that was common in France at the time is used by the hero to trick the French. The stereotypes the hero played into are never disputed or stated as false.
Content Warning: The really bad antisemitism that was common in France at the time is used by the hero to trick the French. The stereotypes the hero played into are never disputed or stated as false.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism