"The Elusive Pimpernel The Elusive Pimpernel is a 1950 British period adventure film by the British-based director-writer team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on the novel ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" (1905) by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. It was released in the United States under the title The Fighting Pimpernel. The film stars David Niven as Sir Percy Blakeney (a.k.a. The Scarlet Pimpernel), Margaret Leighton as Marguerite Blakeney and features Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack and Robert Coote. Originally intended to be a musical, the film was re-worked as a light-hearted drama. During the French Revolution, the Scarlet Pimpernel (David Niven), who"
"after his birth but her first novel, ""The Emperor's Candlesticks"" (1899), was a failure. She did, however, find a small following with a series of detective stories in the ""Royal Magazine"". Her next novel, ""In Mary's Reign"" (1901), did better. In 1903, she and her husband wrote a play based on one of her short stories about an English aristocrat, Sir Percy Blakeney, Bart., who rescued French aristocrats from the French Revolution: ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"". She submitted her novelisation of the story under the same title to 12 publishers. While waiting for the decisions of these publishers, Fred Terry and"
"Marguerite's love and courage amply proven, Percy's ardour is rekindled. Safely back on board their schooner, the ""Day Dream"", the happily reconciled couple returns to England. Sir Andrew marries the count's daughter, Suzanne. The title character, Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who transforms into a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist, established the ""hero with a secret identity"" into popular culture, a trope that would be seen in subsequent literary creations such as Don Diego de la Vega (Zorro), Kent Allard/Lamont Cranston (The Shadow) and Bruce Wayne (Batman). The Scarlet Pimpernel exhibits characteristics that would become standard"
"Pimpernel"" (1905) by Baroness Orczy chronicled an English aristocrat's derring-do in rescuing French aristocrats from the Reign of Terror of the populist French Revolution (1789–99). But the term ""spy novel"" was defined by ""The Riddle of the Sands"" (1903) by Irish author Erskine Childers. It described amateur spies discovering a German plan to invade Britain. Its success created a market for the invasion literature subgenre, which was flooded by imitators. William Le Queux and E. Phillips Oppenheim became the most widely read and most successful British writers of spy fiction, especially of invasion literature. Their prosaic style and formulaic stories,"
"popular culture use of secret identities begins in the early 20th century with characters such as the Scarlet Pimpernel (1903), Jimmie Dale, the Gray Seal (1914), Zorro (1919), and the Lone Ranger (1933). A line in the novel ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" reads, ""Because the Scarlet Pimpernel works in the dark, and his identity is only known under the solemn oath of secrecy to his immediate followers."" The Scarlet Pimpernel is the name of a chivalrous Englishman, Sir Percy Blakeney, who exhibits characteristics that would become standard superhero conventions, including the penchant for disguise, use of a signature weapon (sword), ability"
"success. However, with a rewritten last act, it opened at the New Theatre in London in January 1905. The premier of the London production was enthusiastically received by the audience, running 122 performances and enjoying numerous revivals. ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" became a favourite of London audiences, playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in England to that date. The novel ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" was published soon after the play opened and was an immediate success. Orczy gained a following of readers in Britain and throughout the world. The popularity of the novel encouraged"
"Georgette Heyer created the historical romance genre. Emma Orczy's original play, ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" (1905), a ""hero with a secret identity"", became a favourite of London audiences, playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in England to that date. Among significant writers in the fantasy genre were J.R.R. Tolkien, author of ""The Hobbit"" and ""The Lord of the Rings"". C.S. Lewis author of ""The Chronicles of Narnia"", and J.K. Rowling who wrote the highly successful ""Harry Potter"" series. Lloyd Alexander winner of the Newbery Honor as well as the Newbery Medal for his"
"eight years now-- ever since the true story of The Scarlet Pimpernel was put on record by the present author-- these gentle, kind, inquisitive friends have asked me to trace their descent back to an ancestor more remote than was Sir Percy, to one in fact who by his life and by his deeds stands forth from out the distant past as a conclusive proof that the laws which govern the principles of heredity are as unalterable as those that rule the destinies of the universe. They have pointed out to me that since Sir Percy Blakeney's was an exceptional"
"Fred Terry Fred Terry (9 November 1863 – 17 April 1933) was an English actor and theatrical manager. After establishing his reputation in London and in the provinces for a decade, he joined the company of Herbert Beerbohm Tree where he remained for four years, meeting his future wife, Julia Neilson. With Neilson, he played in London and on tour for 27 further years, becoming famous in sword and cape roles, such as the title role in ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"". Terry was born in London into a theatrical family. His parents, Benjamin (1817–1896) of Irish descent, and Sarah (née Ballard)"
"originally a highly successful play, when staged in London in 1905. The novel ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" was published soon after the play opened and was an immediate success. Orczy gained a following of readers in Britain and throughout the world. The popularity of the novel, which recounted the adventures of a member of the English gentry in the French Revolutionary period, encouraged her to write a number of sequels for her ""reckless daredevil"" over the next 35 years. The play was performed to great acclaim in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, while the novel was translated into 16 languages. Subsequently,"
"stuff"" is often used by football writers, commentators and fans when describing displays of great skill, or surprising results that go against the odds, in reference to the dramatic storylines that were the strip's trademark. Other comic books and graphic novels such as ""Eagle"", ""Valiant"", ""Warrior"", and ""2000 AD"" also flourished. Created by Emma Orczy in 1903, the Scarlet Pimpernel is the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who transforms into a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking escape artist, establishing the ""hero with a secret identity"" into popular culture. The Scarlet Pimpernel first appeared on stage"
"of Sir Percy Blakeney, known to history as the Scarlet Pimpernel."" EMMUSKA ORCZY <br>Haarlem, 1913 The Laughing Cavalier (novel) The Laughing Cavalier is a 1913 adventure novel by Baroness Orczy, which revolves around Percy Blake, a foreign adventurer and ancestor of Orczy's famous character, the Scarlet Pimpernel. The story takes place in Holland in 1623/1624 and is partly inspired by Frans Hals' painting ""The Laughing Cavalier"": in the novel, Blake is Frans Hals' adopted son and the man who poses for the painting of the Laughing Cavalier. The sequel to this book, continuing the story of Percy Blake, is ""The"
"non-related Revolutionary-period novels reference the Scarlet Pimpernel or the League, most notably ""The Bronze Eagle"" (1915). ""The Life and Exploits of the Scarlet Pimpernel"", a fictional biography of Percy Blakeney published in 1938, named the nineteen members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Orczy did not publish her Pimpernel stories as a strict chronological series, and in fact, the settings of the books in their publication sequence may vary forward or backward in time by months or centuries. While some readers enjoy following the author's development of the Pimpernel character as it was realised, others prefer to read the"
"Europe after the war, and is believed to have died in a Soviet prison camp. ""Behind the scenes, Mandela worked very closely with Walter Sisulu, who was now being pursued by the police. Z.K. Matthews told the Cape ANC in June that Sisulu was operating behind the 'iron curtain' of the Transkei as a Scarlet Pimpernel (before Mandela inherited the title): ""They sought him here, they sought him there, they sought him everywhere."""" Quote cites: ""Karis & Carter, Vol.3, op. cit., p.128"" The Scarlet Pimpernel The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness"
"Samuel Swinton Jacob Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob, (14 January 1841 – 4 December 1917) was a British Army officer and colonial engineer, architect and writer, best known for the numerous Indian public buildings he designed in the Indo-Saracenic style. Jacob was born in 1841 to Colonel William Jacob (of the Bombay Artillery and a member of a distinguished military family) and Jane Swinton, granddaughter of Captain Samuel Swinton RN, who was the inspiration for the story of ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"". He was educated at Cheam School and then at the East India Company Military College at Addiscombe where he was"
"previous relationship with Robespierre's agent Paul Chauvelin may endanger the Pimpernel's plans to save the young Dauphin, eldest son of the former King of France. The story differs from the book but is largely inspired by it. In 1792 during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, a secret league of brave Englishmen are rescuing French aristocrats from the guillotine. The leader of this secret society is a mysterious English nobleman known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel, whose signature sign is a humble wayside flower. In society he hides his identity by posing as the wealthy but foppish and"
"hospital in Hampstead, London, after a fall at her home, in 1957 at the age of 88. She was cremated at Golders Green, and she and her husband are both buried at Hampstead Cemetery in London. Julia Neilson Julia Emilie Neilson (12 June 1868 – 27 May 1957) was an English actress best known for her numerous performances as Lady Blakeney in ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"", for her roles in many tragedies and historical romances, and for her portrayal of Rosalind in a long-running production of ""As You Like It"". After establishing her reputation in a series of plays by W."
"write a number of sequels for her ""reckless daredevil"" over the next 35 years. The play was performed to great acclaim in France, Italy, Germany and Spain, while the novel was popular across the former British empire and translated into 16 languages. Subsequently, the story has been adapted for television, film, a musical and other media. The international success of ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" allowed Orczy and her husband to live out their lives in luxury. Over the years, they lived on an estate in Kent, a bustling London home and an opulent villa in Monte Carlo. Orczy wrote in her"
"Lauren Willig Lauren Willig is a ""New York Times"" bestselling author of historical novels. She is best known for her ""Pink Carnation"" series, which follows a collection of Napoleonic-Era British spies, similar to the Scarlet Pimpernel, as they fight for Britain and fall in love. A native of New York City, Willig discovered historical romance fiction when she was only six years old, while she was attempting to find books about her idol, Eleanor of Aquitaine. After graduating from the Chapin School, Willig attended Yale University, where she majored in Renaissance Studies and Political Science, and was Chairman of the"
"The Scarlet Letter The Scarlet Letter: A Romance, an 1850 novel, is a work of historical fiction written by American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is considered his ""masterwork"". Set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester Prynne, who conceives a daughter through an affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. As she struggles to raise her rambunctious daughter, Pearl, on her own, the father of her child is revealed and is shown to be experiencing severe guilt. Through the scorn and judgment of the"
"the real-life Bernard-François, marquis de Chauvelin, who survived the Revolutionary period to serve as an official under Napoleon. He was a noted liberal Deputy under the Bourbon Restoration. Other historical figures who appear in Orczy's ""Pimpernel"" series include: Orczy's original play, ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"", was produced and adapted by Julia Neilson and Fred Terry. It opened on 15 October 1903 at Nottingham's Theatre Royal and was not a success. Terry, however, had confidence in the play and, with a rewritten last act, took it to London's West End where it opened at the New Theatre on 5 January 1905. The"
"are shattered however after Cousin Baranby starts complaining about young love birds, and having realised that her plans are not working out as expected Olive spins a web of lies, splitting the young couple up and inflicting misery and pain on both of them. Meadowsweet (novel) Written by Baroness Orczy, the author of ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"", Meadowsweet was first published in 1912. When their mother died, Olive and Boadicea were sent to live with their mother's sister, Caroline, and her husband Jasper Hemingford on Old Manor Farm. The farm is remote with few neighbours and while Aunt Caroline would have"
"the Scarlet Pimpernel), over-the-top theatrical actors (Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick), a squirrel-hating cross-dressing highwayman (Miranda Richardson), and a duel with the Duke of Wellington (Stephen Fry). This series is set in 1917, on the Western Front in the trenches of the First World War. Another ""big push"" is planned, and Captain Blackadder's one goal is to avoid being killed, but his schemes always land him back in the trenches. Blackadder is joined by his batman Private S. Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and idealistic Edwardian twit Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie). General Melchett (Stephen Fry) rallies his troops from a French château"
"Julia Neilson accepted the play for production in London's West End. Initially, it drew small audiences, but the play ran four years in London, broke many stage records, eventually playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in Britain. It was translated and produced in other countries, and underwent several revivals. This theatrical success generated huge sales for the novel. Introducing the notion of a ""hero with a secret identity"" into popular culture, the Scarlet Pimpernel exhibits characteristics that would become standard superhero conventions, including the penchant for disguise, use of a signature weapon"
"stop the envoy. Opening at the New Theatre in London's West End on January 5, 1905, the play became a favourite of British audiences, eventually playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in Britain. Orczy's premise of a daring hero who cultivates a secret identity disguised by a meek or ineffectual manner proved enduring. Zorro, The Shadow, Superman and Batman followed within a few decades, and the trope remains a popular one in serial fiction today. ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" is set in 1792, during the early stages of the French Revolution. Marguerite St."
"premier of the London production was enthusiastically received by the audience, but critics considered the play 'old-fashioned.' In spite of negative reviews, the play became a popular success, running 122 performances and enjoying numerous revivals. ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" became a favourite of London audiences, playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in the United Kingdom. The novel ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" was published two years after the play opened and was an immediate success. Orczy gained a following of readers in Britain and throughout the world. The popularity of the novel encouraged her to"
"M. P. Shiel Matthew Phipps Shiell (21 July 1865 – 17 February 1947), known as M. P. Shiel, was a British writer. His legal surname remained ""Shiell"" though he adopted the shorter version as a ""de facto"" pen name. He is remembered mostly for supernatural horror and scientific romances. His work was published as serials, novels, and as short stories. ""The Purple Cloud"" (1901, revised 1929) remains his most famous and often reprinted novel. Born on the island of Montserrat in the West Indies, Matthew Phipps Shiell's mother was Priscilla Ann Blake; his father was Matthew Dowdy Shiell, most likely"
"(1903) and then in novel (1905), and became very popular with the British public. He exhibits characteristics that became standard superhero conventions in comic books, including the penchant for disguise, use of a signature weapon (sword), ability to out-think and outwit his adversaries, and a calling card (he leaves behind a scarlet pimpernel at his interventions). Drawing attention to his alter ego Blakeney he hides behind his public face as a meek, slow thinking foppish playboy (like Bruce Wayne), and he establishes a network of supporters, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, that aid his endeavours. In the 1980s, a"
"for production in the West End. Initially, it drew small audiences, but the play ran four years in London, broke many stage records, was translated and produced in other countries, and underwent several revivals. This theatrical success generated huge sales for the novel. Orczy went on to write over a dozen sequels featuring Sir Percy Blakeney, his family, and the other members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of which the first, ""I Will Repay"" (1906), was the most popular. Set between 1832 and 1901 England, beginning with the Reform Act 1832 and including the reign of Queen Victoria."
"Eldorado (novel) Eldorado, by Baroness Orczy is a sequel book to the classic adventure tale, ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"". It was first published in 1913. The novel is notable in that it is the partial basis for most of the film treatments of the original book. A French-language version, translated and adapted by Charlotte and Marie-Louise Desroyses, was also produced under the title ""La Capture du Mouron Rouge."" As well as containing all the main characters from the first book, Eldorado introduces several new characters and features the Baron de Batz, who also turns up in ""Sir Percy Leads the Band"""
"Peter O'Donnell Peter O'Donnell (11 April 1920 – 3 May 2010) was a British writer of mysteries and of comic strips, best known as the creator of ""Modesty Blaise"", an action heroine/undercover trouble-shooter. He was also an award-winning gothic historical romance novelist who wrote under the female pseudonym Madeleine Brent, in 1978, his novel ""Merlin's Keep"" won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Born on 11 April 1920 in Lewisham, London, O'Donnell was the son of Bernard O'Donnell, a journalist on the ""Empire News"", and was educated at Catford Central School. He began to"
"just a mask, marble-like and impassive, jealously guarding the secrets of the soul within.Just a good-looking, well-bred young Englishman, in fact, who looked in his elegant attire ready to start off on some social function."""" A True Woman A True Woman (US Title ""The Heart of a Woman""), was written by Baroness Orczy (best known for The Scarlet Pimpernel series) and was first published in 1911. The main character in the book is Louise Harris, a plain but content young woman who leads a life of prosy luxury. Louise gets up every morning and eats a copious breakfast, she walks"
"Citizen Chauvelin Citizen Armand Chauvelin (""Citoyen Chauvelin"" in French) is the villain in Baroness Emmuska Orczy's classic novel ""The Scarlet Pimpernel"" and the various plays and movies derived from the work. He is cast as Sir Percy Blakeney's arch-enemy throughout the novel's many sequels and appears in almost all of them. The former ambassador to the United Kingdom (""The Scarlet Pimpernel"", ""The Elusive Pimpernel""), Chauvelin is both a representative in the National Assembly and the chief agent of the Committee of Public Safety. Chauvelin is a ruthless, amoral patriot who firmly believes that the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel is"