The Scarlet Pimpernel
There's been one thing that has been my ultimate obsession throughout most of my life. It is probably one of the first things I've "passionately loved" or been "invested" in (Disney was my first). That is the story of The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy.
It takes place during the French Revolution (when the aristocrats were being beheaded at the guillotine publicly to make way for a new Republic). A mysterious man smuggles the French aristocrats out of France through various clever ploys and disguises. He only leaves behind his sigil, a red flower, a scarlet pimpernel, which is what he becomes known as. In England, a French politician employs the help of an English Lady through blackmail, to help him track down the Scarlet Pimpernel, because he believes him to be an English aristocrat.
I first read the book in eighth grade when we had a special reading period. We would go to the library for an hour and were required to pick a book, read it, and then take a test on it. I was reading on the highest level and was required to pick from all these classic books like Moby Dick, Treasure Island, and so on. I'd read all the interesting ones that I'd heard of before and finally had to start looking at the "uninteresting" ones. I eventually went for The Scarlet Pimpernel only because it sounded vaguely familiar to me. It took me AGES to get into it. The first chapter was so boring and wordy, and I didn't understand what it was trying to say. All the French words confused me. I was ready to put it back on the shelf and find something else. However, I happen to ask my grandpa (the walking encyclopedia) if he knew anything about it. He gave me a brief overview of the plot and what the French Revolution was. With this new information, I delved back into it.
This time, I got sucked in. It was SO good! The mystery, the suspense, the characters! Awesomeness!
I ended up rereading it. Several times over the years. I hunted down movie adaptions. I'm particularly fond of the 1982 version starring Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellen. I can quote it backwards and forwards. Do NOT watch the 1999 version! It's an insult to nature!
Did anyone know that there's a stage musical? I did! It's not half bad. I enjoy the music.
Point is, I adore this story! So I was thinking, it needs a tribute. I've been working on a project concerning The Scarlet Pimpernel (it's a secret. I can't divulge what it is yet, but I can say it's going to be epic!). And sometimes I get a little worn down with school, so I need something to remind/motivate me to work on it. So, I've created a screensaver!
It takes place during the French Revolution (when the aristocrats were being beheaded at the guillotine publicly to make way for a new Republic). A mysterious man smuggles the French aristocrats out of France through various clever ploys and disguises. He only leaves behind his sigil, a red flower, a scarlet pimpernel, which is what he becomes known as. In England, a French politician employs the help of an English Lady through blackmail, to help him track down the Scarlet Pimpernel, because he believes him to be an English aristocrat.
I first read the book in eighth grade when we had a special reading period. We would go to the library for an hour and were required to pick a book, read it, and then take a test on it. I was reading on the highest level and was required to pick from all these classic books like Moby Dick, Treasure Island, and so on. I'd read all the interesting ones that I'd heard of before and finally had to start looking at the "uninteresting" ones. I eventually went for The Scarlet Pimpernel only because it sounded vaguely familiar to me. It took me AGES to get into it. The first chapter was so boring and wordy, and I didn't understand what it was trying to say. All the French words confused me. I was ready to put it back on the shelf and find something else. However, I happen to ask my grandpa (the walking encyclopedia) if he knew anything about it. He gave me a brief overview of the plot and what the French Revolution was. With this new information, I delved back into it.
This time, I got sucked in. It was SO good! The mystery, the suspense, the characters! Awesomeness!
I ended up rereading it. Several times over the years. I hunted down movie adaptions. I'm particularly fond of the 1982 version starring Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and Ian McKellen. I can quote it backwards and forwards. Do NOT watch the 1999 version! It's an insult to nature!
Did anyone know that there's a stage musical? I did! It's not half bad. I enjoy the music.
Point is, I adore this story! So I was thinking, it needs a tribute. I've been working on a project concerning The Scarlet Pimpernel (it's a secret. I can't divulge what it is yet, but I can say it's going to be epic!). And sometimes I get a little worn down with school, so I need something to remind/motivate me to work on it. So, I've created a screensaver!
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment