Customer Reviews

El Dorado: Further Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (Dover Books on Literature & Drama)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very good sequel to the well-known adventure classic. It is somewhat confusing because the book does not tell you in which order the series goes. However this is a good adventure story. All the main characters from the first book are in this sequel. Sir Percy, Marguerite, Sir Tony, Armund, Citizen Cheavalian, with the addition of several new characters. The plot begins when Sir Percy reluctantly agrees to send Armund St. Just (Marguerite's brother) to France. He warns him not to renew any friendships. Armund ignores him and renews a friendship with the scheming Baron de Bots who hates the Scarlet Pimpernel. Armund falls in love with a young actress named Citizeness L'Ange. Armund foolishly tells de Bots that he is in the league of the Scarlet Pimpernel. De Bots in turns tells Citizen Heron of the general committee of Public Safety. L'Ange is arrested and Armund behaves like a foolish idiot and disregards Sir Percy, who told him that he would rescue L'Ange. Armund runs through the street screaming "Long LIve the King" since he thinks that his place is to be arrested and executed with L'Ange and runs smack into no other than Citizen Chaeuvleain. Sir Percy is later captured and imprisoned. He is betrayed by a very close friend. Overall this was a great adventure story. The author's over exaggerated romantic descriptions sometimes become a little hard to put up with but all-in-all it is a good story.

I have read most of The Pimpernel Sequels along with the original, which was an exciting read. I must admit that many of the sequels pale in quality, and there are some stories that are almost identical but with different character names. I thought that the author might have lost her inspiration later on... But this wasn't the case with EL DORADO, which I found it as exciting (if not more) as the original novel.

***SPOILER ALERT~ DON'T READ IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!!!***

The story starts off slow because we don't get to see our hero until many chapters later. At first, it focuses more on Armand (Margarite's brother and our hero's brother-in-law). Armand's back in France, and making so many careless mistakes, one must wonder how could he be part of such a daring group. Then, he falls in love, and that in itself doesn't make sense: how can you fall in love just like that, while getting ready for a death-daring mission? Tragically though, Armand's low IQ was just the beginning of trouble.

Soon, we find out that Percy and his friends are preparing the most dangerous mission ever: to rescue the Dauphin, son of the late King of France, from prison and from death. But through Armand's careless disobedience, he puts the entire league in danger, and he continues to get himself into more trouble, forcing Percy to halt his escape, in order to go get his brother-in-law out of Paris. It is here that Percy tells his best friend:
"Go tell Margarite, that by giving my life for Armand, I'm giving it for her"

As it follows, Percy rescues Armand's lover, but Armand didn't know it. He thought she was still held in prison, so he bargains with Percy's enemy instead: He helps Chauvelin capture the Scarlet Pimpernel in exchange for the freedom of a woman he barely knows. This truth was the crux of this novel. Percy realizes he was betrayed the very moment he is captured.

In EL DORADO, we see a suffering Percy as never seen in other sequels. Yes, he's 'tortured' inside the prison (not in the way you'd expect though). We feel for him, and we cry along with Margarite for him. But he's more tormented for the pain he's inflicting on Margarite than all the external discomforts he was going through. Still, tormented as he was, he felt he was better off than the 'betrayer.' He knew that Armand was a walking dead now, guilt-ridden and desperate. And knowing that he himself might die, he wants Armand to be there for Margarite. Thus, not only does he forgive Armand, he makes sure to encourage him and makes provisions for him, 'ordering' him never to let Margarite suspect any of this awful truth.

I love this sequel because Percy comes out pretty often, and we get a glimpse of his inner thoughts and feelings. And OH~ I love how Percy is portrayed in here!~ He's strong, super smart, intuitive, sensitive, handsome, tall, funny, rich... and moreover, he's passionate, compassionate, deep, HUMBLE. My only complain of him is that he's way too perfect to be true. He's super-human.

I loved this book! I really enjoyed the first book in the series but I have to admit I liked this one better because there's more action and you get to see more of the inner-workings of the League of the Scarlet pimpernel. It's not too long just 341 pages and you'll fly right through it. I couldn't be more glad I picked up this book.

Another fun Scarlet Pimpernel romp. A friend of Percy's, has his head turned by yet another French actress (this one is not of the sneaky sort), and says some things that he shouldn't.

Throw in a dodgy Austrian baron, and Chauvelin, and the rescue of a young French monarch, and you have your adventure.

Because of his foolish friend Percy himself is captured, because Chauvelin wants him to reveal where the young French blueblood is being hidden, so that they can do some more chopping off of heads.

El Dorado was a bit disappointing. I am an avid fan of The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, and the qualities of that book that made it so original, memborable and endearing are practically non-existent in this book. Armand is an extremely weak character and Marguerite seems to have lost her sparkling intelligence. It is still a fun read, but don't expect it to be as good as The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Great sequel to the Scarlet Pimpernel. More adventure awaits you, as in all of Orczy's books.

This is a gift for a friend's daughter but I'm sure she will enjoy it immensely. The book arrived in excellent condition. Merry CHRISTmas!