Customer Reviews

Sir Percy Leads the Band (Scarlet Pimpernel)

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

 

 

I really adored this book! It's the second one I've read in the Pimpernel series and I finished it in record time. It was so incredibly true to the spirit of The Scarlet Pimpernel. My only complaint would be - no Marguerite. She was very much a background character in this book, only mentioned, but never actually appearing. However, I would still recommend this to any Pimpernel fan!

What a great novel! Yes, I have heard criticism that there is less of Marguerite in this book than its predecessor, and that is true. However, I think the story is every bit as good as the original (even without Mrs. Blakeny). I also loved the 2 meanings of the title (and yes, I admit I read it one way until partway through the book, and then the second way dawned on me).
Anyone who loved "The Scarlet Pimpernel" will like this book as well!

A priest, a baron, a doctor, a lawyer and the Scarlet Pimpernel walked into a bar. Ok, well, not really, but take those characters and a woman, throw in a love triangle, and you have the basics of this book.

That, and the execution of the king of France. Sir Percy's band has to sneak around in entertaining disguises and extricate most of the above from the problems they have gotten themselves into.

To make matters worse, Chauvelin has become interested.

Fun stuff.

A nice hardback book version of the Scarlet Pimpernel series is indeed elusive. This one is a good one. Wish the cover was a little more decorative. That's the only drawback.

This second book in the series contained all the adventure of the first one. It kept me interested throughout, and I rapidly read through it. It was nicely separated into chapters (or smaller book sections) so that the reader knew exactly who was in current need of saving. I liked that part... especially since our favorite hero was of course the one we were all to worry about in the end. Yes, Marguerite was mostly absent from this book, but since it is all set inside France, it made a lot more sense than if our author had radomnly tried to throw her into the happenings. Plus, she was at least mentioned a few times... so not at all entirely forgotten by our hero. I liked the little wrap up in the end since it gave us a quick view into what happened to the minor characters and also a little bit more of Marguerite with her husband. Of course, to me this book told more about about Percy's relationship with his "band" of followers than with other characters. I guess that makes sense, since it is just as the title suggests.