When it comes to my favorite classics, Ben-Hur may have more depth, but The Scarlet Pimpernel has more intrigue. Published in novel form in 1905 by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, after two years of success as a play, The Scarlet Pimpernel tells the story of what happens when “the cleverest woman in Europe” marries “the biggest fool in England” during the French Revolution—with all the plots, secrets, escapes, and emotions that follow.

I first listened to The Scarlet Pimpernel a year or two ago, and I loved it. With the goal of drawing inspiration from the French Revolution for my Book 3, I recently bought my own lovely hardback edition to read (and display on my bookshelf). I’m so glad I did.

I was emotionally invested from early on. The various relationships and their respective tensions tugged me into the story, none more so than the those of the main character, French actress Marguerite Blakeney, with her endangered brother, Armand St. Just, and her indifferent husband, the British aristocrat Sir Percy Blakeney. I felt for Marguerite, and I loved following her journey through confusion, fear, regret, and longing to love, bravery, and—by the end—happiness.

“[E]verything in him appealed to her romantic imagination; his personality, his strength, his bravery, the loyalty of those who served under him in that same noble cause, and above all, that anonymity which crowned him, as if with a halo of romantic glory.”
~Chapter 8, “The Accredited Agent”

The story itself is a work of art: richly complex and interconnected, with multi-faceted conflicts that grow tenser and more complicated all the way up to the climax and the resolution. And what a sweet, glorious, triumphant resolution. (The last chapter may be my favorite; I reread it more than once.) Once I finished the book, I immediately wanted to go back to the beginning and start again—for the emotions, for the twists, and yes, for the adrenaline rush. 🙂 What. A. Story.

Sure, the writing may be a bit repetitive at times, the style and the dialogue a touch melodramatic compared to our contemporary standards. But I was pleasantly surprised how much of the structure—both of the story overall and of individual scenes and chapters—felt surprisingly modern and comfortable, making The Scarlet Pimpernel one of the more accessible reads among the classics. Plus, even non-writers have to appreciate the apt and gorgeous descriptions that bring characters and settings alike to life, from the elegant clothes of Sir Percy Blakeney or his “man cave” study to the ragged peasant Jew in the streets or the fisherman’s hut at midnight. Finally, allow me to credit the warm wit that sprinkles this story with humor (and made me laugh) from start to finish. Truly a delightful read on levels.

“‘We know not if he be tall or short, fair or dark, handsome or ill-formed; but we know that he is the bravest gentleman in all the world, and we all feel a little proud, Monsieur, when we remember that he is an Englishman.'”
~Chapter 11, “Lord Grenville’s Ball”

While I loved the clever plot twists (I want to write like that when I grow up), one of my favorite elements of The Scarlet Pimpernel is the romance. With so many novels telling the classic (read: same-old same-old) chase and struggle of Girl Meets Boy or Guy Gets the Girl (or vice versa), I found it refreshing and sweet in a deep, beautiful way to read this married romance between husband and wife as they navigate perceptions, internal struggles, external obstacles, and the whole gamut of emotions about each other. Who did he marry? Who did she marry? Why did they marry? What was the love that brought them together? Where is the love that will keep them together—if they ever see each other again? It may have been the plot that captured my mind, but it was the romance that won my heart.

In short: if you’ve never read The Scarlet Pimpernel, find a copy, on paper or on audio. This tale of riveting intrigue and sweeping romance will find a place in both your mind and your heart as one of the best tales ever written.