The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel written by Baroness Orczy (1905) is a fictional novel that gives a glimpse of 'Reign of Terror' at the onset of the French revolution. Sir Percy Blakeney, a foppish Englishman who shows great bravery by rescuing the country's ill-fated aristocrats from the clutches of bloodthirsty citizen-soldiers of the Republic, disguised as the formidable Scarlet Pimpernel. The Pimpernel becomes famous for his notoriously designed rescue plans that make him the darling of the people and a swashbuckling rescuer of aristocrats. This novel-fiction with its superb sense of colour and drama and an irresistible gift of wonderfully romantic escape makes it a must-read.