#21 Scarlet Pimpernel

By Baroness Orczy

Classics Challenge #2

This is my second book for the Classics Winter Challenge, hosted by Booklogged. I chose this book because I’ve seen the movie (albeit only once and over a year ago) and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the book at least as much, if not more. As all of my recent books, I listened to this book on tape while driving to and from school. It took almost an entire CD for me to really get into it. I’m not sure if I was distracted for the first CD, or if just wasn’t as enthralling as the other 6.

The story is one of adventure, love, loyalty, and trust. The Scarlet Pimpernel is the alias for an English gentleman who aids aristocrats fleeing for their lives from the revolutionary French Bourgeoisie. The wife of the Scarlet Pimpernel, not knowing her husband’s secret identity, aids the French villain in discovering who the Scarlet Pimpernel is in order to save her brother’s life. When she discovers what she has done, she entangles herself in danger in an attempt to warn her husband of his impending doom and to prove her love for him.

I only listen to the CDs in my car, and I actually went out a couple of times this weekend to just drive around and listen to the story. I’ve done that with a few other books as well, but it doesn’t happen with every book I listen to. If you’ve seen the movie; you should still read this book. If you haven’t seen the movie, you should read the book and then watch the movie. They are both well worth the time.