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The Scarlet Pimpernel (publication order) #5
Lord Tony's Wife
PBaroness, (Emusca/Emmuska/Emma Magdalena Rosalia Marie Josepha Barbara) Orczy, Mrs Barstow (1865-1947) was a British novelist, playwright and artist of Hungarian origin. She was most notable for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel. Some of her paintings were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Her parents left Hungary in 1868, fearful of the threat of a peasant revolution. They lived in Budapest, Brussels, and Paris, where Emma studied music without success. Finally, in 1880, the family moved to London where they lodged with their countryman Francis Pichler. In 1903, she and her husband, Montague MaClean Barstow, wrote a play based on one of her short stories about an English aristocrat, Sir Percy Blakeney, Bart., who rescued French aristocrats from the French revolution#58; The Scarlet Pimpernel. She went on to write over a dozen sequels featuring Sir Percy Blakeney, his family, and the other members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of which the first, I Will Repay (1906), was the most popular. The last Pimpernel book, Mam'zelle Guillotine, was published in 1940. She also wrote popular mystery fiction and many adventure romances.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1916
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About the author
Emmuska Orczy
856 books1,111 followersFull name: Emma ("Emmuska") Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy de Orczi was a Hungarian-British novelist, best remembered as the author of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL (1905). Baroness Orczy's sequels to the novel were less successful. She was also an artist, and her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy, London. Her first venture into fiction was with crime stories. Among her most popular characters was The Old Man in the Corner, who was featured in a series of twelve British movies from 1924, starring Rolf Leslie.
Baroness Emmuska Orczy was born in Tarnaörs, Hungary, as the only daughter of Baron Felix Orczy, a noted composer and conductor, and his wife Emma. Her father was a friend of such composers as Wagner, Liszt, and Gounod. Orczy moved with her parents from Budapest to Brussels and then to London, learning to speak English at the age of fifteen. She was educated in convent schools in Brussels and Paris. In London she studied at the West London School of Art. Orczy married in 1894 Montague Barstow, whom she had met while studying at the Heatherby School of Art. Together they started to produce book and magazine illustrations and published an edition of Hungarian folktales.
Orczy's first detective stories appeared in magazines. As a writer she became famous in 1903 with the stage version of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Baroness Emmuska Orczy was born in Tarnaörs, Hungary, as the only daughter of Baron Felix Orczy, a noted composer and conductor, and his wife Emma. Her father was a friend of such composers as Wagner, Liszt, and Gounod. Orczy moved with her parents from Budapest to Brussels and then to London, learning to speak English at the age of fifteen. She was educated in convent schools in Brussels and Paris. In London she studied at the West London School of Art. Orczy married in 1894 Montague Barstow, whom she had met while studying at the Heatherby School of Art. Together they started to produce book and magazine illustrations and published an edition of Hungarian folktales.
Orczy's first detective stories appeared in magazines. As a writer she became famous in 1903 with the stage version of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 4, 2024
4 stars. I’m not sure how to review this. I wanted to love this… but it fell a little flat? I felt like Lord Anthony changed immensely between this and The Scarlet Pimpernel, and I spent the whole book trying to readjust my mental faculties to this astonishing development. He was very sweet though, and I loved Yvonne. I hated Pierre, and the Duc… and Chauvelin… and all the others… But Percy and Marguerite were so sweet. The plot was a real rollercoaster, but I was annoyed because I picked out the Scarlet Pimpernel’s disguise instantly, lol, and wondered why Chauvelin didn’t! So overall, I enjoyed it, but I think this might be where the Pimpernel books start going downhill…
Better review to come upon reread.
A Favourite Quote: And the man who is afraid can never climb the ladder of success above the man who is fearless.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Think you," he added hoarsely, "that I need reminding of that?"
"No. I do not think that, citizen," replied Chauvelin calmly, "I only desired to warn you."
"Warn me? Of what? … Why should you wish to warn me? … What are my affairs to you—what do you know about them?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing, citizen Martin-Roget," replied Chauvelin pleasantly, "I was only indulging the fancy I spoke to you about just now of putting two and two together in order to make four. The chartering of a smuggler's craft—aristos on board her—her ostensible destination Holland—her real objective Le Croisic.... Le Croisic is now the port for Nantes and we don't bring aristos into Nantes these days for the object of providing them with a feather-bed and a competence, what?"
Better review to come upon reread.
A Favourite Quote: And the man who is afraid can never climb the ladder of success above the man who is fearless.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Think you," he added hoarsely, "that I need reminding of that?"
"No. I do not think that, citizen," replied Chauvelin calmly, "I only desired to warn you."
"Warn me? Of what? … Why should you wish to warn me? … What are my affairs to you—what do you know about them?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing, citizen Martin-Roget," replied Chauvelin pleasantly, "I was only indulging the fancy I spoke to you about just now of putting two and two together in order to make four. The chartering of a smuggler's craft—aristos on board her—her ostensible destination Holland—her real objective Le Croisic.... Le Croisic is now the port for Nantes and we don't bring aristos into Nantes these days for the object of providing them with a feather-bed and a competence, what?"
January 5, 2012
Lord Tony’s Wife provides offers nothing new in the Scarlet Pimpernel series. By this point, readers know the way the Scarlet Pimpernel operates and can probably predict the events that will lead to a successful rescue. The lack of innovation disappointed me as many books follow this one, and I fear they will soon grow old if Orczy does not change her formula. Despite the predictability, however, I enjoyed the story both because it is, after all, about the Scarlet Pimpernel, and because it gives readers a closer look at some of the other characters—in particular Lord Anthony Dewhurst and his wife Yvonne. I found the focus on Yvonne particularly intriguing since adventure novels often concentrate on men. In consequence, the female perspective felt refreshing and unique.
Despite the amount of time readers spend with Yvonne, however, her personality remains a little ambiguous. This stems largely from Orczy’s seeming reluctance to criticize the aristocracy. Our introduction to Yvonne portrays her as proud and stubborn, and specifically states that she has grown up learning to consider the peasants under her father as beasts. I found myself disliking her immediately. The next time we see her, however, she is suddenly charming and sweet. She has won over all those who know her. I can only attribute her change in manners to the people around her. We first see her interacting with peasants; we then see her interacting with aristocrats.
Orczy’s works undoubtedly have a slant that favors the aristocracy, but the insistence that readers accept Yvonne as a worthy heroine despite her contemptuous treatment of her social inferiors tested my ability to accept the black-and-white world of the Scarlet Pimpernel: a world where the servants of the Revolution are invariably ugly and depraved even in their private lives, and the nobility of England are invariably handsome and good. I thought back to the The Elusive Pimpernel where a character accuses the Pimpernel of not caring for the peasants who go to the guillotine—only the aristocrats. That book subsequently tried to prove that character wrong by having Sir Percy make an attempt to save a village from destruction, but the village people were only caught up in the machinations of the French government by accident; Sir Percy was obligated to save them simply because he was on the scene. I cannot think of any rescue planned out in advance for the benefit of anyone other than an aristocrat or a friend of one of the league members. But why should Sir Percy save the peasantry if they are truly as brutal and degenerate as the ones depicted by Orczy?
Ordinarily I can accept the good-and-evil dichotomy of adventure novels as a device to highlight the qualities to which a man should aspire. However, in the Scarlet Pimpernel series, good and evil have been drawn largely across class lines. Occasional descriptions of the sufferings of the ordinary men and women crushed by poverty and hard living as a result of the Revolution do little to outweigh all the instances where the poor prove themselves desperate and mean. Until Orczy gives readers a kindhearted and honest peasant as a major player and until she shows the Scarlet Pimpernel specifically setting out to aid one of the poor, I will be left wondering about the series’ latent classism, and if Sir Percy is really less of a man than I had thought.
Despite the amount of time readers spend with Yvonne, however, her personality remains a little ambiguous. This stems largely from Orczy’s seeming reluctance to criticize the aristocracy. Our introduction to Yvonne portrays her as proud and stubborn, and specifically states that she has grown up learning to consider the peasants under her father as beasts. I found myself disliking her immediately. The next time we see her, however, she is suddenly charming and sweet. She has won over all those who know her. I can only attribute her change in manners to the people around her. We first see her interacting with peasants; we then see her interacting with aristocrats.
Orczy’s works undoubtedly have a slant that favors the aristocracy, but the insistence that readers accept Yvonne as a worthy heroine despite her contemptuous treatment of her social inferiors tested my ability to accept the black-and-white world of the Scarlet Pimpernel: a world where the servants of the Revolution are invariably ugly and depraved even in their private lives, and the nobility of England are invariably handsome and good. I thought back to the The Elusive Pimpernel where a character accuses the Pimpernel of not caring for the peasants who go to the guillotine—only the aristocrats. That book subsequently tried to prove that character wrong by having Sir Percy make an attempt to save a village from destruction, but the village people were only caught up in the machinations of the French government by accident; Sir Percy was obligated to save them simply because he was on the scene. I cannot think of any rescue planned out in advance for the benefit of anyone other than an aristocrat or a friend of one of the league members. But why should Sir Percy save the peasantry if they are truly as brutal and degenerate as the ones depicted by Orczy?
Ordinarily I can accept the good-and-evil dichotomy of adventure novels as a device to highlight the qualities to which a man should aspire. However, in the Scarlet Pimpernel series, good and evil have been drawn largely across class lines. Occasional descriptions of the sufferings of the ordinary men and women crushed by poverty and hard living as a result of the Revolution do little to outweigh all the instances where the poor prove themselves desperate and mean. Until Orczy gives readers a kindhearted and honest peasant as a major player and until she shows the Scarlet Pimpernel specifically setting out to aid one of the poor, I will be left wondering about the series’ latent classism, and if Sir Percy is really less of a man than I had thought.
May 5, 2016
Not my favorite of the Scarlet Pimpernel books. The tangled web of plots was really neat. Literally everyone was tricking everyone else.
Due to all the plots going on and his disgrace, Chauvelin couldn't orchestrate things with his normal efficiency. It made Sir Percy's escape seem a little easy compared to some of his other adventures. He didn't even have to work hard on this one.
Sir Percy wasn't in this one a whole lot. He's there, but no witty banter with Chauvelin, which was a disappointment. Those are always my favorite parts.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, and once I started getting into it, I couldn't stop listening. The free version of this one on Librevox is an okay recording. It is done by several narrators, and they are decent. Not as great as Karen Savage, but she's hard to beat.
Due to all the plots going on and his disgrace, Chauvelin couldn't orchestrate things with his normal efficiency. It made Sir Percy's escape seem a little easy compared to some of his other adventures. He didn't even have to work hard on this one.
Sir Percy wasn't in this one a whole lot. He's there, but no witty banter with Chauvelin, which was a disappointment. Those are always my favorite parts.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book, and once I started getting into it, I couldn't stop listening. The free version of this one on Librevox is an okay recording. It is done by several narrators, and they are decent. Not as great as Karen Savage, but she's hard to beat.
June 14, 2017
This is one of my favorite of the Scarlet Pimpernel series!
March 1, 2012
I have been looking forward to reading this particular Scarlet Pimpernel book for some time. Lord Tony’s Wife, for heaven’s sake its very title is exciting! Lord Anthony Dewhurst is one of my favorite characters and any adventure that involves his youthful excitement is worth it.
Plot
At the beginning of the revolution, a young man named Pierre Adet leads a mob against his lord, the Duc de Kernogan in Nantes. His plan fails and he is forced to flee, but the Duc, determined to have justice, hangs Pierre’s innocent Father for the crime. Pierre, bent on revenge, turns himself into Martin-Roget, a wealthy French immigrant, and begins courting the Duc de Kernogan’s daughter, Yvonne. Among Yvonne’s other suitors is the boyish and charming Lord Anthony Dewhurst, peer of the realm, favorite of society, and close friend of that famed fob of society, Sir Percy Blackney . Lord Tony convinces Yvonne to elope with him, but she is later kidnapped by Martin-Roget (Pierre) and taken to France to be disgraced and guillotined. Will the Scarlet Pimpernel be able to save her from the mostly deadly trap lade yet? Will Chauvelin finally get the revenge he seeks? Will Lord Tony ever hold his bride in his arms again?
Thoughts
As another reviewer said, there is really nothing “new” in this book. In fact, for most of it I felt like it was more simplistic than your average Scarlet Pimpernel novel. I was almost disappointed with it, right up until the end. Yvonne’s rescue is predictable to anyone who has read enough of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but it is daring and fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once again, it was the adventure at the end that made the book for me.
I am starting to get tired of the typical Pimpernel bad-guy, though. They are always ugly and gnashing their teeth and leering evilly. The chapters were also longer then they needed to be. I want more Percy!! More Tony! More Andrew! They are the characters I read these books for. The daring-do-gooders. Monologues about honor and love bore me. Extensive bad-guy creation where the evil-looking cowardly creep rants against the Scarlet Pimpernel is interesting…at first. After five chapters it gets slow.
But the intimate glances into the workings of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s gang are wonderful. I love reading about it, and I will continue reading about it. Even if all the women in these stories seem to do nothing but go about and faint, even if Chauvelin clenches his fist and smothers his anger a thousand times, still I will read on! Because Sir Percy is timeless. Honor, virtue, courage…unadulterated goodness. He embodies it and sometimes, it is just fun to read about a character that fights for no other benefit then that of the weak. Good is good and bad is bad and love triumphs over all. Sometimes, though, that good-good, evil-evil, black and white can be a bit tiring.
I don’t recommend to many Scarlet Pimpernel books in a row.
Plot
At the beginning of the revolution, a young man named Pierre Adet leads a mob against his lord, the Duc de Kernogan in Nantes. His plan fails and he is forced to flee, but the Duc, determined to have justice, hangs Pierre’s innocent Father for the crime. Pierre, bent on revenge, turns himself into Martin-Roget, a wealthy French immigrant, and begins courting the Duc de Kernogan’s daughter, Yvonne. Among Yvonne’s other suitors is the boyish and charming Lord Anthony Dewhurst, peer of the realm, favorite of society, and close friend of that famed fob of society, Sir Percy Blackney . Lord Tony convinces Yvonne to elope with him, but she is later kidnapped by Martin-Roget (Pierre) and taken to France to be disgraced and guillotined. Will the Scarlet Pimpernel be able to save her from the mostly deadly trap lade yet? Will Chauvelin finally get the revenge he seeks? Will Lord Tony ever hold his bride in his arms again?
Thoughts
As another reviewer said, there is really nothing “new” in this book. In fact, for most of it I felt like it was more simplistic than your average Scarlet Pimpernel novel. I was almost disappointed with it, right up until the end. Yvonne’s rescue is predictable to anyone who has read enough of the Scarlet Pimpernel, but it is daring and fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once again, it was the adventure at the end that made the book for me.
I am starting to get tired of the typical Pimpernel bad-guy, though. They are always ugly and gnashing their teeth and leering evilly. The chapters were also longer then they needed to be. I want more Percy!! More Tony! More Andrew! They are the characters I read these books for. The daring-do-gooders. Monologues about honor and love bore me. Extensive bad-guy creation where the evil-looking cowardly creep rants against the Scarlet Pimpernel is interesting…at first. After five chapters it gets slow.
But the intimate glances into the workings of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s gang are wonderful. I love reading about it, and I will continue reading about it. Even if all the women in these stories seem to do nothing but go about and faint, even if Chauvelin clenches his fist and smothers his anger a thousand times, still I will read on! Because Sir Percy is timeless. Honor, virtue, courage…unadulterated goodness. He embodies it and sometimes, it is just fun to read about a character that fights for no other benefit then that of the weak. Good is good and bad is bad and love triumphs over all. Sometimes, though, that good-good, evil-evil, black and white can be a bit tiring.
I don’t recommend to many Scarlet Pimpernel books in a row.
May 22, 2023
Lol Lord Tony has bad taste, RTC
Okay, the review:
So, I was so glad this book finally addressed the way the aristocracy really oppressed the peasants. The first part was about a village that was basically starving because of taxation, etc. And obviously any misstep would be punished by hanging. The Duc the Kernogan and his daughter do not come across as nice at all. The Duc hangs an innocent man, and Yvonne is rude to her driver. The book establishes she has been taught to see peasants as little more than animals. I feel like the author almost excuses it by saying "well yeah but that's how she's been taught!" Okay, still don't like her.
Obviously, the author had to make the villain who is out for revenge a nasty piece of work in some way, so he
The Duc never once feels regret for his actions. At one point, the villain is monologuing (and the book calls it half-crazed, even when he really makes excellent points) and the duc realises he killed the villain's father years ago. Not once does he feel regret! He only feels regret about the fact that his own stupidity caused all this, not any of his other terrible actions.
Other stuff:
- Poor children labelled as "tiny, miserable atoms of humanity". They're children, ma'am.
- Poor women: "There was no individuality amongst them - just one uniform sisterhood of wretchedness which had already gone hand in hand with crime"
- Yvonne is really stupid.
- According to the author, Breton peasants have an "innate rapacity"
- Yvonne really tries to calm down a crowd by telling them "I am poor and wretched like yourselves" Like girlllllll the audacity
-
- Yvonne really
- The author still maintains the government agents are in this because they actually care about the revolution. Clearly they're in it for their egos.
- The French Commandant Fleury really got the bad end of the deal... I just kinda wonder how many people lost their heads directly because of the SP
- I love this insult: "you old noodle"
- This was sweet: "Now for Le Croisic and the Day-Dream, sighed the daring adventurer contentedly. ... and for Marguerite! he added wistfully."
Okay, the review:
So, I was so glad this book finally addressed the way the aristocracy really oppressed the peasants. The first part was about a village that was basically starving because of taxation, etc. And obviously any misstep would be punished by hanging. The Duc the Kernogan and his daughter do not come across as nice at all. The Duc hangs an innocent man, and Yvonne is rude to her driver. The book establishes she has been taught to see peasants as little more than animals. I feel like the author almost excuses it by saying "well yeah but that's how she's been taught!" Okay, still don't like her.
Obviously, the author had to make the villain who is out for revenge a nasty piece of work in some way, so he
The Duc never once feels regret for his actions. At one point, the villain is monologuing (and the book calls it half-crazed, even when he really makes excellent points) and the duc realises he killed the villain's father years ago. Not once does he feel regret! He only feels regret about the fact that his own stupidity caused all this, not any of his other terrible actions.
Other stuff:
- Poor children labelled as "tiny, miserable atoms of humanity". They're children, ma'am.
- Poor women: "There was no individuality amongst them - just one uniform sisterhood of wretchedness which had already gone hand in hand with crime"
- Yvonne is really stupid.
- According to the author, Breton peasants have an "innate rapacity"
- Yvonne really tries to calm down a crowd by telling them "I am poor and wretched like yourselves" Like girlllllll the audacity
-
- Yvonne really
- The author still maintains the government agents are in this because they actually care about the revolution. Clearly they're in it for their egos.
- The French Commandant Fleury really got the bad end of the deal... I just kinda wonder how many people lost their heads directly because of the SP
- I love this insult: "you old noodle"
- This was sweet: "Now for Le Croisic and the Day-Dream, sighed the daring adventurer contentedly. ... and for Marguerite! he added wistfully."
April 13, 2021
As always, still a rollicking adventure story that keeps you guessing how they're going to pull it off this time.
After reading a lot of these, I will say this one isn't the most outstanding. While it was interesting to put some focus on Tony and his wife, Tony actually doesn't play a huge role in the story and Yvonne's storyline feels very slow. It just took me a really long time to get through since the adventure part took so long to start - I think this would have been better off with a shorter lead-in before Nantes, and probably just more editing out of extraneous descriptions. Some of the elements are new and exciting, but a few parts felt similar to previous books (e.g. Yvonne in the storeroom was very similar to Marguerite in the attic in the first book).
Also, I try to read these without too much of a social lens since they're intended to be the old timey version of action flicks, but it's hard to ignore how actively unsympathetic this book is to the peasants in Nantes. While some of them have done horrible things, there is a weird halo around Yvonne wherein she never really recognizes that her father was exactly the sort of aristocrat that led to the revolution and the peasants being so hateful toward aristocrats. Even though the book repeats that the Duc did wrong things, which is certainly added nuance compared to earlier books, it also frames people like Martin-Roget and the denizens of the Rat Mort as flat angry stereotypes and Yvonne seems to have a lot of forgiveness for her father and zero sympathy for the peasants (or at least...sympathy for how they ended up so miserable and spiteful). It makes Yvonne really a lot less likable than she could have been - while the Pimpernel gang are nobles who are at least trying to use their resources to help others, and Marguerite even has some sympathy and understanding toward the revolution, Yvonne is just an oblivious rich girl marysue who is framed as being a wonderful person while simultaneously overlooking other people's problems and her own family's wrongdoing.
In summary: still enjoyable as a Pimpernel story but not one of the best. Has some similar elements to previous stories, felt longer and slower than other stories, and the heroine feels like a step back after the mixed framing of I Will Repay, or Mam'zelle Guillotine.
After reading a lot of these, I will say this one isn't the most outstanding. While it was interesting to put some focus on Tony and his wife, Tony actually doesn't play a huge role in the story and Yvonne's storyline feels very slow. It just took me a really long time to get through since the adventure part took so long to start - I think this would have been better off with a shorter lead-in before Nantes, and probably just more editing out of extraneous descriptions. Some of the elements are new and exciting, but a few parts felt similar to previous books (e.g. Yvonne in the storeroom was very similar to Marguerite in the attic in the first book).
Also, I try to read these without too much of a social lens since they're intended to be the old timey version of action flicks, but it's hard to ignore how actively unsympathetic this book is to the peasants in Nantes. While some of them have done horrible things, there is a weird halo around Yvonne wherein she never really recognizes that her father was exactly the sort of aristocrat that led to the revolution and the peasants being so hateful toward aristocrats. Even though the book repeats that the Duc did wrong things, which is certainly added nuance compared to earlier books, it also frames people like Martin-Roget and the denizens of the Rat Mort as flat angry stereotypes and Yvonne seems to have a lot of forgiveness for her father and zero sympathy for the peasants (or at least...sympathy for how they ended up so miserable and spiteful). It makes Yvonne really a lot less likable than she could have been - while the Pimpernel gang are nobles who are at least trying to use their resources to help others, and Marguerite even has some sympathy and understanding toward the revolution, Yvonne is just an oblivious rich girl marysue who is framed as being a wonderful person while simultaneously overlooking other people's problems and her own family's wrongdoing.
In summary: still enjoyable as a Pimpernel story but not one of the best. Has some similar elements to previous stories, felt longer and slower than other stories, and the heroine feels like a step back after the mixed framing of I Will Repay, or Mam'zelle Guillotine.
January 13, 2016
Once again I was totally surprised by the scarlet pimpernel disguises...I wasn't expecting that!
As usual, the story was highly enjoyable...one death did shock me a lot...I wasn't expecting it to happen so suddenly if at all.
I'm gald we have got to know a bit more about Lord Tony...he is so cute!
Percy & Marguerite are terribly adorable! *sniffs*
Last but not least, poor Chambertin/ Chauvelin...he just can't win.
As usual, the story was highly enjoyable...one death did shock me a lot...I wasn't expecting it to happen so suddenly if at all.
I'm gald we have got to know a bit more about Lord Tony...he is so cute!
Percy & Marguerite are terribly adorable! *sniffs*
Last but not least, poor Chambertin/ Chauvelin...he just can't win.
October 16, 2025
As much as it pains me to give a Scarlet Pimpernel book a 3-star rating, I really didn't enjoy this one as much as the others I've read. I think at least 75% of the book was from the perspective of the villains, which, while an interesting twist, made me considerably less invested in the outcome for the heroes, since I barely knew them! And Orczy certainly didn't intend for you to sympathize with the villains, so you were left with a book mostly about people you were meant to strongly dislike. The one thing I enjoyed about that choice, though, is that it left you in the dark about the League's plans to rescue Yvonne for so long. If that had been done more from Chauvelin's perspective and focused less on Adet and Carrier, I think it would have been a more compelling narrative, since Chauvelin is a more worthy adversary than the other two.
June 23, 2022
I had no idea that The Scarlet Pimpernel had sequels, so it was exciting to discover some of what happened to these characters. The resolution was ultimately a little disappointing, and I wish we could have seen more from Sir Percy’s perspective.
December 19, 2021
The Scarlet Pimpernel series continues to delight and entertain me. I love the romance, the adventure, and the pretty accurate history. Missed Marguerite in this one but it was good anyway.
August 22, 2023
4.25 stars
September 24, 2015
"It all came about through the death of a pair of pigeons," he said.
Such was the combustible spirit of France in 1789, anything could light the fuse. Lord Tony's Wife kicks off at breakneck speed, an exciting prologue describing a pre-revolutionary flickering of dissent in rural Nantes and the injustice which follows it.
A father is hanged in place of the rebellious son who whipped up the frenzy of a mob, only to disappear in the aftermath. This son, Pierre Adet, plots an unusually humiliating revenge against the aristocrat M. le duc de Kernogan and his young daughter, Mademoiselle Yvonne.
In Paris Adet forms an alliance with citizen Chauvelin, an aristocrat turned Republican idealist, ruthless and unflappable, yet the continual patsy of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel!
As adventure stories go, Lord Tony's Wife has a terribly thin plot, with very little incident after that exciting prologue. I found it an enjoyable enough read all the same, thanks largely to Orczy's breezy style and the cheery insouciance of her hero.
The Scarlet Pimpernel may well be a master of disguise, but in Orczy's capable hands he always wears the acceptable face of melodrama.
Such was the combustible spirit of France in 1789, anything could light the fuse. Lord Tony's Wife kicks off at breakneck speed, an exciting prologue describing a pre-revolutionary flickering of dissent in rural Nantes and the injustice which follows it.
A father is hanged in place of the rebellious son who whipped up the frenzy of a mob, only to disappear in the aftermath. This son, Pierre Adet, plots an unusually humiliating revenge against the aristocrat M. le duc de Kernogan and his young daughter, Mademoiselle Yvonne.
In Paris Adet forms an alliance with citizen Chauvelin, an aristocrat turned Republican idealist, ruthless and unflappable, yet the continual patsy of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel!
As adventure stories go, Lord Tony's Wife has a terribly thin plot, with very little incident after that exciting prologue. I found it an enjoyable enough read all the same, thanks largely to Orczy's breezy style and the cheery insouciance of her hero.
The Scarlet Pimpernel may well be a master of disguise, but in Orczy's capable hands he always wears the acceptable face of melodrama.
April 20, 2018
Mm, yes, more time reacquainting myself with the League, the members of which I have not visited since that dreadfully embarrassing period of time when the Scarlet Pimpernel may have been an obsession. They’re still friends, though, and I visit them as an occasional treat. I’ve already memorized most of the facts of the French Revolution, so the novels no longer provide any educational value. *winces*
Shockingly, I, an extremist anti-Yvontony shipper- found the ship slightly less obnoxious this time around. I still find Yvonne wrong for Tony, but at least this time I was able to see a bit of her bravery and . . . Alright, fine, they go reasonably well together. Still not a fave, but tolerable.
Vive la Mourin Rouge!
Shockingly, I, an extremist anti-Yvontony shipper- found the ship slightly less obnoxious this time around. I still find Yvonne wrong for Tony, but at least this time I was able to see a bit of her bravery and . . . Alright, fine, they go reasonably well together. Still not a fave, but tolerable.
Vive la Mourin Rouge!
November 29, 2012
Absolutely amazing! The rescue for Yvonne Dewhurst was quite unexpected. It thrilled and amazed me ho daring the plot for the rescue was, still am puzzled though, whether or not Sir Percy dropping "important" files was deliberate or not. It was absolutely addicting, I couldn't put the book down until I've finished reading it, but even then I just had to reread the whole story! :) Definitely, absolutely a must read!
July 3, 2017
Much too much dialogue and detail by and about Chauvelin, Martin-Roget, and Carrier -- the villains of the piece -- and not enough with the good guys. I skipped much of the dialogue in the middle, and skimmed most of the descriptive passages. The action is in the prologue and at the end.
On the positive side, Baroness Orczy could write characters and settings, and when she swung into action, well, her heroes could buckle-and-swash. I'd like to see this story on film.
On the positive side, Baroness Orczy could write characters and settings, and when she swung into action, well, her heroes could buckle-and-swash. I'd like to see this story on film.
November 13, 2013
Somewhat entertaining. Orczy uses the same words and phrases over and over and the sensibility of Yvonne was a bit much to handle. The Scarlet Pimpernel was very much a background character in this one. I haven't read and of the others with him in it yet, other than The Scarlet Pimpernel, so I'm not sure if this is uncommon or not. Pretty forgettable on the whole.
February 5, 2015
I enjoyed this novel, although it was quite as much of a favourite as some of the others. It was nice to see Lord Tony get a girl and it was certainly entertaining. Although the ending, as I find with some of Orczy's novels, seems a bit beyond belief.
October 7, 2013
I have no idea why I finished this book. It's honestly very bad. The previous sequels were at least readable, but I'd seriously recommend skipping this one.
My main impression after finishing the book was something a lot like "peeling wallpaper and peasants are evil". And that was it.
My main impression after finishing the book was something a lot like "peeling wallpaper and peasants are evil". And that was it.
February 6, 2014
It's been so long since I've read a Scarlet Pimpernel book that I can't remember if they're all like this, but there was way too much time spent on the plottings of the bad guys and not enough time with Sir Percy!!
April 9, 2020
Not her best work but points for being set in Bath.
July 2, 2024
'La sposa di Lord Antonio' è il quinto capitolo della celebre saga sulla Primula Rossa, scritta dalla Baronessa Emma Orczy ad inizio Novecento. Lo stavo cercando da anni, perché in Italia è praticamente introvabile (l’ultima ristampa risale credo agli Anni Sessanta, ma non sono sicura). Trovato infine online in una libreria di libri usati, l’ho finalmente potuto leggere e gustare in ogni sua pagina (aprendomi anche la strada al sesto capitolo, che ho da vari anni, ma che attendevo di leggere per andare in ordine di come sono stati scritti - l'ordine cronologico, infatti, è un altro).
Ancora una volta la Baronessa mi sorprende per la sua capacità di nascondere dietro a delle intense storie d’amore, un romanzo decisamente storico-politico, in cui descrive con precisione gli eventi succedutesi in Francia nel corso della Rivoluzione Francese. In questo caso, si occupa della questione della Vandea e delle dure repressioni che venivano perpetrate nei confronti dei dissidenti (con particolare attenzione agli eccidi portati avanti contro i sacerdoti che non vollero giurare fedeltà alla nuova Dea Ragione, martirizzati facendoli affondare nella Loira imprigionati in delle barche lasciate andare a fondo). Un elemento, questo, molto trascurato dalla letteratura contemporanea (e dalla storiografia), e che avevo ritrovato solo ne 'Il conte di Cantheleine' di Jules Verne.
La penna della Orczy si concentra maggiormente nella descrizione del Terrore e delle sue dinamiche, che in qualsiasi altra cosa, una denuncia concreta e pesante contro quello che accadde nei lunghi anni dopo la presa della Bastiglia (è forse questo il motivo per cui non viene più ristampata?). E mostra una profonda conoscenza delle dinamiche psicologiche e sociali, con largo anticipo rispetto a quando vennero studiate e approfondite dagli accademici.
Complessivamente si tratta di un romanzo molto interessante, a volte illuminante.
Come mi era stato detto da una cara amica anni or sono, è proprio vero che più si va avanti con la saga, più le storie diventano accattivanti e coinvolgenti.
Consigliato a tutti coloro che amano i romanzi d’avventura period, con forti tinte d’amore (e anche una morale finale non trascurabile).
Per leggere la recensione completa visita il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
Ancora una volta la Baronessa mi sorprende per la sua capacità di nascondere dietro a delle intense storie d’amore, un romanzo decisamente storico-politico, in cui descrive con precisione gli eventi succedutesi in Francia nel corso della Rivoluzione Francese. In questo caso, si occupa della questione della Vandea e delle dure repressioni che venivano perpetrate nei confronti dei dissidenti (con particolare attenzione agli eccidi portati avanti contro i sacerdoti che non vollero giurare fedeltà alla nuova Dea Ragione, martirizzati facendoli affondare nella Loira imprigionati in delle barche lasciate andare a fondo). Un elemento, questo, molto trascurato dalla letteratura contemporanea (e dalla storiografia), e che avevo ritrovato solo ne 'Il conte di Cantheleine' di Jules Verne.
La penna della Orczy si concentra maggiormente nella descrizione del Terrore e delle sue dinamiche, che in qualsiasi altra cosa, una denuncia concreta e pesante contro quello che accadde nei lunghi anni dopo la presa della Bastiglia (è forse questo il motivo per cui non viene più ristampata?). E mostra una profonda conoscenza delle dinamiche psicologiche e sociali, con largo anticipo rispetto a quando vennero studiate e approfondite dagli accademici.
Complessivamente si tratta di un romanzo molto interessante, a volte illuminante.
Come mi era stato detto da una cara amica anni or sono, è proprio vero che più si va avanti con la saga, più le storie diventano accattivanti e coinvolgenti.
Consigliato a tutti coloro che amano i romanzi d’avventura period, con forti tinte d’amore (e anche una morale finale non trascurabile).
Per leggere la recensione completa visita il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
February 23, 2024
While another fun adventure, this is probably my least favorite of the ones I've read so far. The first half was super fun and engaging. The prologue sets up a revenge plot, we see Chauvelin full of his usual bitterness, Percy pulls off a cool disguise, etc. I liked seeing Tony get a little romance, and I love how Percy, Marguerite, Andrew, Suzanne, The Prince, and all the friends were so committed into helping him and Yvonne get married. Plus it's always fun to see Percy and co in their Rich Dandy setting.
Marguerite was not present for much of this book, and while I missed her, it was at least of breath of fresh air from her getting kidnapped, trapped, or otherwise used against Percy. Instead she got to be helpful during the elopement and have some real character development when it came to accepting that Percy had to leave. Seeing the mutual growth in their goodbye scene was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The second half was a little slow and confusing. And even by the often remarkable standards of these books, I found Percy's rescue and escape this time around to be slightly unbelievable. Pulling off two impersonations without being recognized in one night, even by Chauvelin, was a little far-fetched. But hey, that's Perct for you!
I also just hated both Martin-Roget and Yvonne's father. Roget was especially nasty because of the sexual assault (just kissing, but still) he did to Yvonne. Obviously it was supposed to be bad, but it was uncomfortable to read. Yvonne's dad was incredibly selfish and awful to her, but pretty much just gets forgiven because they both ended up being kidnapped. Which didn't sit well with me.
Despite all that though, I did still have a good time. What can I say, I just love reading about Percy's exploits. Seeing Chauvelin hate Percy with this burning passion never gets old either. It's just good entertainment all around.
Marguerite was not present for much of this book, and while I missed her, it was at least of breath of fresh air from her getting kidnapped, trapped, or otherwise used against Percy. Instead she got to be helpful during the elopement and have some real character development when it came to accepting that Percy had to leave. Seeing the mutual growth in their goodbye scene was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The second half was a little slow and confusing. And even by the often remarkable standards of these books, I found Percy's rescue and escape this time around to be slightly unbelievable. Pulling off two impersonations without being recognized in one night, even by Chauvelin, was a little far-fetched. But hey, that's Perct for you!
I also just hated both Martin-Roget and Yvonne's father. Roget was especially nasty because of the sexual assault (just kissing, but still) he did to Yvonne. Obviously it was supposed to be bad, but it was uncomfortable to read. Yvonne's dad was incredibly selfish and awful to her, but pretty much just gets forgiven because they both ended up being kidnapped. Which didn't sit well with me.
Despite all that though, I did still have a good time. What can I say, I just love reading about Percy's exploits. Seeing Chauvelin hate Percy with this burning passion never gets old either. It's just good entertainment all around.
July 4, 2024
The action of the book was dramatic and delicious, as are all of Orczy's novels, and the ending just as satisfyingly clever as ever. However, I enjoyed this one the least of all of the Scarlet Pimpernel books that I've read. First, this book was distinctly un-feminist. Orczy has always had issues with her female characters but Yvonne, the heroine of this book, fainted at least 10 times at seminal moments during the book, and when she was conscious she did nothing significant, ever. Second, most of the book was from the perspective of Chaulvelin which I didn't enjoy. I'm here for Percy and Marguerite, not to read about Chauvelin rubbing his hands together at how clever he is.
June 15, 2024
I loved the complexity and intrigue of this entry in the series. I will say though that the endings and rescues are getting more preposterous.
Without giving any spoilers away, in this story I did actually have sympathy for the republican ‘villain’. Also, there can be as many revolutions as you like, but ultimately who ever ends up in charge remains the same.
Beautifully written with lovely descriptive prose as you would expect from Baroness Orczy.
Without giving any spoilers away, in this story I did actually have sympathy for the republican ‘villain’. Also, there can be as many revolutions as you like, but ultimately who ever ends up in charge remains the same.
Beautifully written with lovely descriptive prose as you would expect from Baroness Orczy.
April 2, 2020
I don't care what is happening in your life, you hear Percy laugh/speak/be and you know it is all ok.
June 17, 2020
Emma Orczy has done it again! The Scarlet Pimpernel series is one of the best and my favorite!!! Cannot wait to read the next.
April 29, 2021
It was not as good as others in the series i still loved the book alot
January 17, 2024
A fun and exciting adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel. I like all the perspectives it's told from. Story is a little less compelling than some of the other adventures but I would reread.
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