Placed last in the series of the Scarlet Pimpernel sequels because the story covers the events of July 1794, but written mid-sequence by Orczy, who obviously couldn't resist adding more adventures about her hero! 'Sir Percy Hits Back', about Chauvelin's daughter, 'Sir Percy Leads the Band' and 'Mam'zelle Guillotine' all followed after this natural conclusion.

Although this is still an entertaining novel, and an important marker in the corpus, it isn't one of my favourites. The main characters seem to be merely going through the paces, and the writing is melodramatic rather than evocative. Poor Chauvelin is suffering from monomania and suddenly old and haggard beyond his years; Marguerite is resigned and redundant, having learned nothing from what happened in Boulogne; and Sir Percy has one or two witty verbal duels with Theresia and Chauvelin, earns a painful and permanent souvenir of his mad career in Paris, but is mostly preoccupied with manipulating historical events and personages.

Always a font of educational titbits, Orczy never fails to bring the cast of the Revolution to life. Students and apologists of Robespierre will no doubt be annoyed by her stock portrayal of the Incorruptible, but I found the life of Theresia Cabarrus, who did indeed marry Tallien and rule post-Thermidor Paris for a while, fascinating. She is a playful diva in Orczy's imaginings, collecting the hearts of devoted swains as her due, but falling under the spell of the Pimpernel, and an ambitious beauty in real life.

If nothing else, 'Triumph' can be read as a lively introduction to the downfall of Robespierre and the Revolution, and the final chapter of Sir Percy's dual life as the Pimpernel. Hopefully he retires after this, and spends the rest of his life trying to make amends with Margot for the stress and danger she constantly suffers! ( )

The Scarlet Pimpernel again has to deal with a femme fatale, but this time, she is Spanish. This doesn't mean that the Robespierre types are not around, just that she is involved with one of them.

The Pimpernel has to save a brash young man from her wily clutches, and really is quite enjoying himself in the process.

When she can't outthink or seduce our hero, they decide to do the kidnap the wife routine. Committe, you should know by now, that trick never works.

http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks06/0602...

http://superprose.blogspot.com/2007/0... ( )