The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of the great world's great literary characters which is set in the 18th century against the backdrop of the French Revolution.

The book was written by a real baroness - a young woman forced to flee her native Hungary because of fear of a peasent revolt against the ruling class. Her ficticious character, Sir Percy Blakeney, is the leader of a secret society of English aristocrats called the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

As the Pimpernel, he rescues French aristocrats who have been condemned to death by the blade of the guillotine.

The Scarlet Pimpernel takes his nickname from the small red flower with which he signs his messages.

No one except his small group of followers, and possibly the Prince of Wales, knows his true identity.

Read more about the Scarlet Pimpernel
Who was he?
Learn about the French Revolution
Read about the guillotine
Read about the author
The Scarlet Pimpernel flower
Get the Teachers Guide to the Scarlet Pimpernel novel*

*Teachers Guide courtesy of Penguin Books

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