A favourite of mine - not only does Marguerite take part in this adventure (and I think she shows great spirit and endurance in France, to make up for her whining at Richmond in an earlier chapter), but there is an uncharacteristic insight into Sir Percy's character, too. He gives a rousing speech to the Prince of Wales, revealing something of the psychological drive behind his dual personality, and must beat his personal best for subterfuge!

I'm not sure about his dealings with Gabrielle, a strong, determined woman, if slightly unbalanced - he has to get her on side, and she obviously demonstrates her attraction to him, but Public Displays of Affection with the enemy might be considered taking a role too far! I don't doubt his love for Marguerite, and most actors do not 'love' whomever they must kiss for a part in a film, but I was a little startled by Orczy's portrayal of Sir Percy in this - he is more ashamed of being beaten than for straying when his wife is in the vicinity!

Chauvelin cameos to stir up Mam'zelle Guillotine, and then is out of sight, if not mind (he inspires Sir Percy, at least) for the rest of the book; Sir Tony, who supposedly married his Yvonne in 1793, is single again in February 1794; and Sir Percy must barely have had time to recover from his imprisonment in Paris before this escapade in the Ardennes - but this is Orczy!

An excellent, exciting adventure, with all the main characters and some worthy additions (Gabrielle Damiens, whom I finally felt sorry for, and Eve de St Lucque, another intrepid mother figure fighting for her family). ( )

In this book, Percy isn't opposed by Chauvelin, really, but instead, has to deal with a femme fatale, instead.

A young woman ends up in the bastille because of a complicated story involving the execution of her father. When the mob releases her after the storming, she goes the other way, and becomes a feared agent of the blade, and is in fact nicknamed after it.

She works to take revenge on those who wronged her, and their families. This is where the Pimpernel and company work to try and stop her and save the innocent.

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

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

http://regency-cate.livejournal.com/2...

Percy, Percy, do you kiss your wife with that mouth? Making out with Gabrielle Damiens...tsk, tsk.

Even with Percy's pseudo-philandering aside, I must admit that Mam'zelle Guillotine is a good example of what bothers me about the Baroness; she obviously did not re-read her work. Mamzelle Guillotine and Eldorado both take place in January and February of 1974. So, while Percy is imprisoned in the Temple, being tortured into revealing the Dauphin's whereabouts, he's also in northwestern France, seducing Gabrielle. Of course, one must bear in mind that at this point, the Baroness had been writing Pimpernel novels for 35 years. (The original was published in 1905.)

It also disappoints me that Chauvelin makes an appearance in the early part of the book, then vanishes into Paris, never to be seen again.

Not my favourite Pimpernel, in fact rather low on the list, but then, something has to be under the favourites... ( )