Customer Reviews

the Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel

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

 

 

A spunky young Parisian named Josette must find a way to help her best friend, a young mother whose husband has been murdered by the CGS, get out of France. She barters for their passage to England with some incriminating letters that the CGS is desperate to get ahold of. But when the plan falls apart and Josette herself is facing the guillotine, The Scarlet Pimpernel must spirit her away from the jaws of death. This is a well-crafted tale of intrigue, murder and romance. Percy is in top form battling Chauvelin and his goons. Chauvelin is particularly bloodthirsty in this one!

This book was as well-written as the rest, but I was disappointed to find that the Scarlet Pimpernel/Sir Percy is only really featured in the last ten pages of the book. While Josette was interesting enough...I wanted more of the hero for whom the book was named.

The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel was a slight disapointment. The story didn't actually pick up until the last fifty pages and Sir Percy really wasn't in it that much. How exactly Sir Percy knew all about Josette's problems was never really explained nor did Orczy explain how he could go masquerading as a man with only one leg. Perhaps she meant that he had only one good leg or perhaps the reader should just accept that he could go masquerading as a man with only one leg simply because he is afterall, the Scarlet Pimpernel. If you've read any of the other Scarlet Pimpernel books you won't want to miss this one. It's worth reading just to see Chauvelin's reaction to again having his carefully laid schemes foiled.

I borrowed this book from a friend, and I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with it the same way as I did the original Scarlet Pimpernel book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loved The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Now, first of all, I'd like to state that I am a Scarlet Pimpernel Fanatic, so it is very hard to give one of his books only three stars. But in truth, this book is hardly about the Scarlet Pimpernel at all.

The main character, Josete, was exreamly boring, and horribly developed. The Baroness' stroke of genius, when creating Sir Percy, and Chauvelin, (not to mention Sir Andrew and Lord Tony) seems to have worn out. Chauvelin, is not introduced until half way thru the story, at least, and it is only then that the story takes on some real interest. But even the good story potential is squandered. The ending is and almost exact replica of the short story, "Needs Must." I will admit though that part of the story was ruined for me by a summary which I read on a website.

Sir Percy, is hardy in this at all, and we never see him playing the fool, or messing around with the league members at all. For a sportsman, he really does not seem the derive much enjoyment from adventure at all.

I found the story, overall predictable. This may be because I have read so many Pimpernel books that they have lost their charm, but I am inclined to think that Orczy was just sloppy. She spent so much time trying to develop new characters, that she ignores the old ones. I don't believe Sir Percy says "sink me!" in the entire book!

This book is not entirely devoid of appeal. Percy's converseation with M. What's-Your-Name? is quite interesting, but if you are not a true pimpernel adict, then I would suggest the more interesting titles, such as, The Elusive Pimpernel, The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel, or Eldorado.

-E

In the Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel a young woman tries to rescue a friend of hers from those dastardly employers of the guillotine. A little naive, she believes some documents she has in her possession will give her the leverage necessary.

The Committee are not rookies at the game of underhandedness and subterfuge, and she is facing a neck shortening herself. The Pimpernel must come to the rescue!

I borrowed this book from a friend, and I absolutely loved it. I fell in love with it the same way as I did the original Scarlet Pimpernel book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loved The Scarlet Pimpernel.