Baroness Orczy Books In Order

Publication Order of Sir Percy Blakeney (Scarlet Pimpernel) Books

Chronological Order of Sir Percy Blakeney (Scarlet Pimpernel) Books

Publication Order of Teahouse Detective Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Baroness Orczy was the pen name of a Hungarian British born author, playwright and an artist of noble origin, Baroness Emma Magdolna. She is famously known for her novel series featuring Scarlet Pimpernel. On 5th January 1905 during an opening in London’s West End, The Scarlet Pimpernel became a favorite of British audiences, and some of her paintings were at the Royal Academy in London. During the First World War, Orczy founded the Women of England’s Active Service League, an organization that was focused on enlisting of female volunteers for active service.

Orczy was born in Tarnaors, Hungary. She was the daughter of Baron Felix (1835-1892), and Emma Wass (1839-1892). Her grandfather was a Knight and a royal councilor while her grandmother was the Baroness Magdolna Muller. In 1868 Orczy’s parents left their estate for Budapest in fear of the threat of a peasant revolution. They resided in Budapest, later Brussels and finally in France where Orczy studied music unsuccessfully. In 1880, she and her family moved to London where they lodged with their countryman, Francis Pichler. She joined West London School of Art and later Heatherley School of Fine Art. Even though she was not a destined painter, it was at the art school where she met a Montague MacLean Barstow, an illustrator and the son of an English clergyman whom she married in 1894.
The couple had limited funds, and Orczy began working with her husband as an illustrator and a translator to supplement their financial income. Their only child, John Montague Orczy was born on 25th February 1899. Orczy started her writing career soon after the birth of John, unfortunately, her debut novel; The Emperor’s Candlesticks (1899) was not a success.

In 1903, with the collaboration of her husband, Orczy wrote a play based on one of her stories about an English aristocrat who rescued a French aristocrat from the French Revolution: The Scarlet Pimpernel. She subsequently submitted the novelization of the same story under the same title to twelve publishers, and while awaiting decisions from the publishers, Julia Neilson and Fred Terry accepted the play for production. Initially, the play drew small audiences but ran for four years, broke many stage records and became one of the most popular shows in Britain. The play was also translated and produced in many other countries and also underwent various revivals, and as a result, the theatrical success garnered massive sales for the novel.

Orczy writings were so successful such that she was able to purchase a house in Monte Carlo, a place where she called home even during the Second World War. She was not able to make it back to London until the war was over. Her husband died in 1942 in Monte Carlo and finding herself alone and unable to travel, she wrote a memoir titled Links in the Chain of Life (1947). Orczy held a strong belief in political views and was a firm believer in the superiority of aristocracy. She was also a staunch supporter of the British Militarism and Imperialism. Orczy died on 12th November 1947.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel is the first novel in The Scarlet Pimpernel series. It is set during the 1790’s during the early days of the French revolution, and the reign of terror is at its climax. Thousands of French men, women, and children are sent to the guillotine, despite their actual fault. However, a group of brave English noblemen headed by the Scarlet Pimpernel are rescuing thousands of condemned French aristocrats and taking them to England and this outrages the French authorities.

Then, Marguerite St. married to the slow-witted but rich husband is having issues in her marriage. She at first thought that her husband adored her but she was all wrong and now they have drifted from the moment she confessed to him that her accusations against a French family resulted in their deaths.
Marguerite, however, has bigger problems at hand than the issues in her marriage: the French envoy to England is blackmailing her into spying for him so that he can find out the real identity of Scarlet Pimpernel and ensure that he dies the next moment that he steps in France. Moreover, if she does not cooperate her beloved brother would be executed.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is an old-fashioned romance/adventure, comfortable and an enjoyable read. The exploits of Scarlet Pimpernel and his band are well crafted. The relationship in the novels interesting, can two married people who do not understand each other and also have become stranger like have things work out?

The Elusive Pimpernel

The Elusive Pimpernel book four in Scarlet Pimpernel is set during the early days of Republic, and the Robespierre’s revolutionaries find their evil plots being thwarted. It seems that Sir Percy Blakeney- the heroic and cunning Pimpernel is more than a ideal match for them. However Chauvelin, Sir Percy spy-catching archenemy has designed a plan.

In this intriguing sequel to the series, Percy tries to smuggle French aristocrat of out of the country to a safe place while Chauvelin devises a plan to get rid of Pimpernel and his charming wife.
The Pimpernel adventure is a fascinating read and a worthy read. Orczy writing style is simple to read and her neatly crafted characters are interesting. The overall book plot is quite intriguing. From the first series installment, the Pimpernel is pitted against his adversaries. Chauvelin has been given one last chance from Robespierre to catch Pimpernel, and the plot that Chauvelin devices to catch his prey seem truly foolproof and somewhat diabolical. It evidently showcases the author’s creative ingenuity and the fullness of her strong characters. It fully exposes Chauvelin arrogance and prideful desire for vengeance.

The greater extent of the plot revolves around the mind games that Chauvelin designs against Marguerite and Percy. Lighting up television and movie screens, the adventures of Orczy’s rebel Pimpernel have ignited the imaginations of the world for generations. If you fancy classical original or rich historical novels, then The Scarlet Pimpernel series by Baroness Orczy is the ideal series for you. Its cast of characters, a plot full of twists and turns will keep you in each single book of the novel.