The Scarlet Pimpernel series

I'm thinking about reading Baroness Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel series of books. I've been doing some basic research and have put together a listing of all the books in the series. I read The Scarlet Pimpernel many years ago and loved it, and plan to re-read it again.

Here's the question: In what order should I read the books?

Apparently, Orczy wrote The Scarlet Pimpernel first, but then wrote the other books in no particular order about different times in the characters' lives. I found a website (the dreaded Wikipedia) that provides a chronological reading order for the books, which shows the order to read them in if you want to follow the characters' lives chronologically.

So, should I read them: 1. In the order in which they were written? OR 2. In the chronological order of the story itself?

My tendency is to read them in the chronological order of the story, but I was hoping someone else here might have read this series and would have a recommendation. Thanks, everyone!

oooh...I want to know the answer to this too! I loved the first book, and have always wanted to read the rest of the series.

As a side question: Has anyone seen a good version of the movies?

Oh, and I love the musical verison (especially the one with Linda Eder as Maguerite)!

I adore the books about the Scarlet Pimpernel - they seem to do something special to me! I do recommend reading them in chronological order for the most enjoyable reading experience. In fact, they have instilled a lifelong passion in me and also created a special interest in the French Revolution!This is the order I have found:

I Will Repay 1906
The Elusive Pimpernel 1908
Eldorado 1913
Lord Tony's Wife 1917
Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel 1922
League of the Scarlet Pimpernel
Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel 1929
Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel 1933
Sir Percy Hits Back 1936

I hope this is the right order - as a Swede, I have read them in Swedish so am not absolutely sure if this is correct.

As for movie versions - there are both bad and good ones: the good ones are 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' from 1934 with wonderful Leslie Howard in the lead, and the made-for-TV-movie in 1982 with Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour. Do avoid 'The Elusive Pimpernel' (1950) with David Niven (horribly miscast) and especially, the TV-series from 1998 with Richard E. Grant (definitely NOT right for the part!). Well, all that´s my opinion, of course, others may beg to differ.

I´m happy to hear others having a love for these books as well!

Yes, I agree with you completely about the movie versions, Starsong! I enjoyed the Leslie Howard version also. I think Merle Oberon plays Lady Blakeney in that one. The more recent one with Richard E. Grant isn't terrible, but I wasn't crazy about it. I thought Elizabeth McGovern was miscast also - although, I thought the guy who played Chauvelin was top-notch (can't remember his name just now).

Ilithyia - I didn't realize that there was a musical version! I'll have to hunt it down.

Oh, and according to Wikipedia (dubious source, I know), this is the chronological reading order:

The Laughing Cavalier (1913)
The First Sir Percy (1920)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (play 1903, novel 1905)
Sir Percy Leads the Band (1936)
I will Repay (1906)
The Elusive Pimpernel (1908)
Lord Tony's Wife (1917)
The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1933)
Mam'zelle Guillotine (1940)
Eldorado (1913)
Sir Percy Hits Back (1927)
The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1922)
A Child of the Revolution (1932)
Pimpernel and Rosemary (1924)

katybear,

I say that I love the musical with Linda Eder, only because I love her and I detest the woman who plays Marguerite in the broadway version (I speak from only listening to it, never seeing it). But to be fair to the broadway version, everyone else is fabulous! I especially love Terrance Mann as Chavalier (he was also the Beast in the musical Beauty and the Beast - and now he plays Bob on the Dresden Files)!

Also with most musicals the london version and the broadway version differ quite a bit, with one having songs that the other doesn't or just some different songs all together. The london (with Eder) has a great song called I will Forget you, but the Broadway has Falcon in the Dive. So they are both fabulous and I recommend checking them both out, and deciding for yourself!!

I really like the version with Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Ian McKellan. The first time I saw it I love A. Andrews, but the second time I could not take my eyes off Ian McKellen. Either way, I really liked it. I was very disappointed with the book.

katybear,

Thanks for the chronological list! I realize that there are a couple of books in there that have never been translated into Swedish and so I didn´t even know they existed! I don´t know whether I should feel bummed about it or find solace in the fact that there are more books out there for me to discover! :-)

I´m happy that you agree with me about the movie versions! Yes, that was definitely the beauteous Merle Oberon co-starring with Leslie Howard in the 1934 version! They were so right for the parts, as were Anthony Andrews and Jane Seymour whereas an otherwise interesting actor like Richard E. Grant was all wrong for the part (he´d do better playing crooks) and I definitely didn´t like Elizabeth McGovern as Marguerite either. Come to think of it I just didn´t like that production at all! It bore no similarities to the world of the pimpernel I have so loved ever since I first read it at age nine!

Did you know that Leslie Howard also did a modern take on the Scarlet Pimpernel in his WWII movie 'Pimpernel Smith'? I just love Leslie Howard (and Anthony Andrews too) - just beautiful people as well as great actors!

I used to have the biggest crush on Richard Grant. I can't for the life of me think why when I see him now. He is so thin, if he turned sideways, he'd disappear. I liked his version of TSP, I thought he and McGovern had great chemistry.

CC

I saw him (Grant) last night in The Players on cable. It was a small part. He was also in the Caper the Friendly Ghost Movie.

I just ordered Brideshead Revisited. I loved Anthony Andrews and Jeremy Irons in that, but the guy who played Iron's father stole the show. Can't think of his name right now.

Gautherbelle,

That was the legendary Sir John Gielgud who played Jeremy Irons´father - no wonder he stole the show! By the way, I loved Anthony Andrews but Jeremy Irons is not quite to my taste....

katybear,

The actor who played Chauvelin against Richard E. Grant´s Pimpernel was Martin Shaw (also of Judge John Deed fame)!

Hey, Starsong. I just realized you are a brand new member, and I forgot to welcome you! Welcome to the group!

CC

Starsong what a lovely name Starsong in the Universe (one song/one verse).

I must confess that I like Jeremy Irons if not most of his recent movies. I loved him in The French Lt. Woman. But I'm a sucker for unrequited passion.

CarolinaCatherine,

Thanks so much for the welcome - it sure put a smile on my face! :-)

Gautherbelle,

I´m so glad you like my name! Actually it suits me in a number of ways - I sing and I´m an astrologer - but your explanation sounds even better! ;-)

I also "like" unrequited passion - it´s like emotions not being allowed to be expressed somehow become all the stronger - or at least it seems that way - very effective in movies! Emotions smouldering beneath the surface is what I find exciting - not bedroom scenes.

I suspect the reason I´m not a fan of Jeremy Irons´is simply that I´m not attracted to him (as I am to Anthony Andrews), also, he´s a bit stiff - albeit a good actor.

PS. I see you are in Los Angeles - I once lived there for a time!

I found another resource for a recommended reading order if you want to read them in the chronological order of the story:

1. The Laughing Cavalier (1913) *prequel
2. The First Sir Percy (1920) *prequel
3. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905)
4. Sir Percy Leads the Band (1936)
5. The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1919) *short stories
6. I Will Repay (1906)
7. The Elusive Pimpernel (1908)
8. Eldorado (1913)
9. Mam'zelle Guillotine (1940)
10. Lord Tony's Wife (1917)
11. The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1933)
12. Sir Percy Hits Back (1927)
13. Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1929) *short stories
14. The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel (1922)
15. A Child of the Revolution (1932)
16. Pimpernel and Rosemary (1924)

The following website (where I found the above list) also has them all available for free viewing as e-books!

http://www.blakeneymanor.com/series.html