8 h 32 minAudiobook14 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 8 h 32 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
In London, he plays the fool; in France, he risks his life to save people from the guillotine.
In Baroness Orczy’s adventure stories, Sir Percy Blakeney hides daring work behind fine clothes, a lazy manner and silly jokes. As the Scarlet Pimpernel, he leads a secret League of English gentlemen into Revolutionary France. Their task is rescue. Their protection is disguise, quick thinking and a promise to keep their leader’s name hidden.
Chauvelin, an agent of the Revolutionary government, is determined to unmask him and stop the escapes. Marguerite Blakeney shares the anxiety of her husband’s secret, while Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and Lord Antony Dewhurst follow him into danger. Against the threat of the Reign of Terror, courage and loyalty meet a ruthless enemy—and danger becomes a game played with style.
What you’ll discover
- A gentleman with two lives Look past Sir Percy’s idle manner to discover the daring rescuer he conceals.
- Friends who share the danger Meet loyal companions who risk their lives and guard their leader’s hidden name.
- An enemy bent on exposure Feel the tension as Chauvelin hunts the man behind the disguises and escapes.
- Secrets with a human cost Share Marguerite’s anxiety as loyalty binds her to the dangers of her husband’s secret.
- Courage with a smile Enjoy secret signals, close escapes and heroes who face danger with good humor.
Who will love it
Readers who love quick adventures, clever disguises, daring escapes, and heroes who laugh at danger will delight in this book. It also suits lovers of Revolution-era history.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A beggar woman's grief draws Sir Percy to Marat
- Guards and innkeepers trust their eyes and lose
- A blackmailer's hatred is stronger than his greed
- A frail mother must betray the man who saved her son
- A starving servant sells his rescuers for a roast capon
- A jealous follower tries to sell the League
- A gang gambles for an heiress and a lover waits
- Two schemers set their traps and wait
- Disguise works because people see only what they expect
- Courage, humor, and varied voices carry the tales
Who’s who
- Sir Percy BlakeneyA rich English baronet with a lazy laugh who secretly leads the League and saves the condemned using disguise and nerve.
- ChauvelinA pale, patient agent of the Committee of Public Safety who hates the Pimpernel and lives only to catch him.
- Sir Andrew FfoulkesA loyal young ally in the League who obeys his chief's orders and faces danger alongside him.
- Madeleine LannoyA gentlewoman who dresses as a beggar and searches Paris for her little boy, stolen by Marat.
- Petite mamanA frail, devoted mother of Pierre, who must decide how to protect the man who saved her son.
- Esther VincentA banker's orphaned daughter, courageous and quick, who refuses a forced marriage and waits for her English sweetheart.
- Lucile ClametteA young woman who cares for her crippled father and three siblings and is forced to write a letter that could cost lives.
Formats and delivery
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- On your phone, tablet or computer, once the book texts are online.
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- The same book in bigger, clearer type, once the book texts are online.
- Audiobook
- Read by Lucas Linden, complete. It opens once the recording is online.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 14 minutes, to read today.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
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- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
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The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel
by Baroness Orczy · 1919
A starving beggar dances in a Paris street while a ragged servant waits beside Marat's bath.
Medium level5–10 hours to readEnglish
Excellent
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In short
A woman in rags dances barefoot under a swinging lantern in a Paris street, rattling a tambourine for a few coppers. The crowd jeers, and then English voices cut through the noise.
The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel at a glance
- Reading time
- About 4 h 50 min3 h 50 min fast, 5 h 45 min slow
- Length
- 69,100 words
- Library level
- Medium longer sentences, everyday words
- First published
- 1919by Baroness Orczy
Reading time at 238 words a minute (fast 300, slow 200). How long the classics take to read · Updated
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A beggar woman's grief draws Sir Percy to Marat
The opening tale starts with the dancer. She is Madeleine Lannoy, a gentlewoman whose husband died defending the Queen. Her small son has been stolen by Jean Paul Marat, a journalist and demagogue, who wants revenge because she refused his love.
The tall Englishman who lifts her from the mud does not ask her to be brave. He asks her to stop being alone. He gives his word to find the boy and places her in the care of his wife, Marguerite.
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Which edition is right for me
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas of the whole book in about 14 minutes. A good first look, or a refresher.
Details
- First published
- 1919
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 5 h 35 min
- Level
- Medium level
Cite this edition
Orczy, Emmuska. The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-league-of-the-scarlet-pimpernel.
Orczy, E. (2026). The league of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-league-of-the-scarlet-pimpernel (Original work published 1919)
Orczy, Emmuska. The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-league-of-the-scarlet-pimpernel.
@book{orczy2026league,
author = {Orczy, Emmuska},
title = {The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/the-league-of-the-scarlet-pimpernel},
note = {First published 1919}
}
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What is The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel about?
It is a collection of eleven short tales about Sir Percy Blakeney and his band of English gentlemen, who rescue people from the guillotine during the French Revolution. Each tale is a duel of disguise and wit against the agents of the Committee of Public Safety.
Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel?
The Scarlet Pimpernel is the secret name of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English baronet with a lazy manner. He signs his messages with a small red flower and leads a League of English gentlemen who save the condemned.
Who is Chauvelin?
Chauvelin serves on the Committee of Public Safety and is the hero's chief enemy. He is a cold, clever man who has been humiliated by the Pimpernel before and cannot rest until he catches him.
The author
Baroness Orczy
1865–1947 · Hungarian-born British novelist
Baroness Orczy (1865–1947) was a Hungarian-born British novelist and playwright. Born Emma Orczy in Tarnaörs, Hungary, she moved to London in 1880. She wrote The Scarlet Pimpernel, published in 1905, and detective stories, including The Old Man in the Corner and Lady Molly of Scotland Yard. She died in London.
More by Baroness Orczy
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