Sir Percy Hits Back

This enjoyable sequel is Chauvelin's story. Not merely a zealous Republican, the Pimpernel's bete noir is also a family man with a carefully hidden secret - he has a daughter, blonde-haired and bright-eyed, living in the south of France! Fleurette has been cossetted and protected throughout her childhood, raised by a guardian and kept from the harsh realities of life by her proud father, until she turns eighteen and all hell breaks loose!

This revelation of 'Bibi's, as his daughter affectionately calls him, is jarring but not wholly unbelievable, and it is fascinating to study the two halves of Chauvelin's personality - doting father and staunch Republican - at war within the small, sable-clad 'terrorist'. If his main motivation has show more always been to avenge the events of his past and at the same time provide a better future for his daughter, then Chauvelin's private life is not altogether incongruous with his public persona. What drives 'Bibi' in this story is his overwhelming love for his child, and he is ready to throw out every principle and even sacrifice himself to save her. This clash of paternal pride and cynical professionalism is portrayed convincingly - Chauvelin is well aware of his reputation, and sadly tells Fleurette that 'there are no friends nowadays, only enemies and the indifferent'. He and the Pimpernel work independently yet simultaneously to achieve the same goal, and both, in their own manner, suceed - but of course the triumph belongs to Sir Percy, who comes to the aid of both father and daughter.

The daughter Fleurette is a true product of her sheltered upbringing, raised as a genteel young lady, and is described as 'simple' and 'honest' with a good heart. Chauvelin's mollycoddling by proxy has made her ignorant but also headstrong, and she is soon marching directly into danger with the best of Orczy's heroines! Ultimately, though, she and even Sir Percy are mere devices employed to test Chauvelin's mettle as his past and present collide. show less

Probably the best of the Scarlet Pimpernel sequels, in Sir Percy Hits Back we discover that Chauvelin has a daughter hidden away in the south of France, where he has sheltered her from the outside world and concealed just what role he plays in the revolutionary government. By chance she is recruited to play a part in the Scarlet Pimpernel's rescue of a local family, and when this becomes known by Chauvelin's rivals, she is arrested.

Obviously, I'm a fan. I mean- just look at my screen name.

What makes this the best of the sequels is the new side of Chauvelin that is revealed. Fleurette has always known him just as her doting father who isn't home nearly enough, and who seems to be under so much strain recentally. Here, when he is not show more trying to catch the Pimpernel, he brings all his authority and cunning to the task of protecting his daughter, while also holding on to the hope that the Pimpernel may himself rescue her so long as he does not find out she is Chauvelin's daughter.

This book is not perfect. As there frequently is, there's some weirdness to the Baroness' narration. It seems a bit unobservant, for example, that the she blames Adele's betrayal of Fleurette completely on how the Revolution has taught those awful peasants to destroy all the good people with never a word about how Adele's mother left her to be raised in poverty by her aunt while raising Fleurette instead. It seems to me that Adele has some reasons to resent Fleurette (although none of them are the latter's fault) and that the revolution just gave her an easy tool of revenge. However, Chauvelin alone easily makes this book feature the best example of well-rounded characters in the series. show less

It's a good story but the idea of Chauvelin raising such an innocent sweet daughter while he's off murdering and scheming across the French countryside seems rather improbable. But then again, I guess everything about the Scarlet Pimpernel books is improbable. They're just pure escapism.

This Scarlet Pimpernel sequel shows us Chauvelin's weakness--his beautiful daughter Fleurett--and offers Percy Blakeney the opportunity for revenge. The best sequel I've read so far.