Percy Blakeney is the O. G. Batman, but this book is about Marguerite, the most brilliant woman in Europe. I love the concepts of The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Percy and Marguerite's desperate marriage, and all the cool plots, but... Marguerite, the most intelligent woman in Europe, doesn't ever really get to prove it. |
Orczy's dialogue is clever and her abilities in creating interesting adventurous situations are unparalleled. I love the Scarlet Pimpernel's many disguises, and Blakeney's disguise as the dimmest man in England is hilarious. Still, though, perhaps because Marguerite is tangential to Percy (despite all her efforts), this book didn't really grab me. Even though Margeurite's situation is perilous enough, we don't really get to see Percy's cool plot unfold, which undercuts the narrative tension and leaves the explanation to significantly less interesting exposition.
Rating: Three out of five. Good, but not great.
Turd rating: one for miscommunication.
Rating: Three out of five. Good, but not great.
Turd rating: one for miscommunication.