The Scarlet Pimpernel, written by Baroness Emma Orczy and published in 1905, is a classic adventure novel set during the Reign of Terror following the French Revolution. The story revolves around a mysterious underground hero, known only by his alias "The Scarlet Pimpernel," who daringly rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine and spirit them away to safety in England.
The Scarlet Pimpernel introduced the archetype of the masked vigilante with a secret identity and a public alter ego. Suspense, romantic drama, and historical intrigue made the book an immediate sensation upon its release.
