I knew about the character called the Scarlet Pimpernel--usually referred to as one of the first superheroes--for a long, long time before I finally got around the reading the novel. From the way the character and the story is generally portrayed in pop culture, I was expecting a thrill-a-minute tale full of swashbuckling swordfights. I was completely wrong, but not at all disappointed. In fact, after reading it, The Scarlet Pimpernel immediately became one of my favorite novels. The fact that the character served as an inspiration for Batman and other superheroes also endears it to me.
Set during the bloody French Revolution, the novel tells the story of Marguerite Blakeney, a lovely and spirited former French actress; the English nobleman Sir Percy Blakeney, her foppish and apparently airheaded husband; Chauvelin, the sly, sinister agent of the French Revolution; and the Scarlet Pimpernel, a daring and mysterious master of disguise who rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine.
There are no fight scenes or swordfights in The Scarlet Pimpernel, but the book zips along at a fast pace, and there are plenty of thrilling plot twists and turns. The book is full of so much fun and energy, even the slowest scenes keep you turning the page. If you like a solid adventure romance, I don't think you can go wrong with The Scarlet Pimpernel.