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happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
So fun! I loved it. Totally frivolous and charming - I will definitely re-read this one. I had seen the musical, the movie, etc. and am pleased with the inspiration of the same. Love the Scarlet Pimpernel!
happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/3 stars
I like the movie so much more. Great story, not great writing.
I like the movie so much more. Great story, not great writing.
napping_muse's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty fun but like couldn’t Margaurite be at least somewhat useful?
sashapasha's review against another edition
4.0
Dated writing (as you would expect, given it was published in 1905), but such a phenomenal story, and one that has acted as a foundation for countless stories since.
bichimo_girl's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
isbnopal's review against another edition
4.0
EEEK. i loved this book. It was so different from what i was reading. It was a sweet romance with adventure. And it was actually funny. i was absolutely was surprised.
gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
4.0
Very very good. A wonderful romance, a somewhat surprising spy element, and generally a good read (even though I listened to it from Librivox). I heartily recommend this book.
trin's review against another edition
3.0
As a romance and an adventure, this is great fun. They layers of deception and misunderstanding between Percy and Marguerite, even if all secrets are known at the outset to the reader, are delightful to unpick, with some very real tension, as there is also between the Pimpernel and his arch-rival, Chauvelin. Without this story I doubt we'd have Zorro, or Lord Peter Wimsey, or Francis Crawford of Lymond. Many of my favorite guys!
Minus a star, however, for Orczy's depictions of class and analyses thereof. The rich are all noble, the poor dirty, and while I don't in the least think the French Revolution was pure and good (hey! maybe it's gone too far if you're killing kids!), like...uh, they had a point. Truly shocking that a baroness would get this so wrong, lol.
Minus a star, also, I'm afraid, for the antisemitism. When I saw there was a chapter titled "The Jew," I can't even begin to describe how my heart sank. I had to take a break partway through reading this chapter to cook and realized as I was chopping some garlic that I was deeply anxious, as if something horrible was looming over me; I realized it was the thought of going back and seeing just how bad it would be.
It's pretty bad!While no actual Jews appear on screen -- for reasons that are immediately obvious (I am a better spy than Chauvelin) -- characters' attitudes certainly are, and while it is somewhat satisfying that Chauvelin ultimately loses partly because his antisemitism blinds him, the text never really refutes these. Can't say I love the Russian Roulette of classic literature and never knowing when, in a random fun adventure, I'm going to have my personhood attacked. It's a bummer. :(
Minus a star, however, for Orczy's depictions of class and analyses thereof. The rich are all noble, the poor dirty, and while I don't in the least think the French Revolution was pure and good (hey! maybe it's gone too far if you're killing kids!), like...uh, they had a point. Truly shocking that a baroness would get this so wrong, lol.
Minus a star, also, I'm afraid, for the antisemitism. When I saw there was a chapter titled "The Jew," I can't even begin to describe how my heart sank. I had to take a break partway through reading this chapter to cook and realized as I was chopping some garlic that I was deeply anxious, as if something horrible was looming over me; I realized it was the thought of going back and seeing just how bad it would be.
It's pretty bad!
emily_quotier's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0