In 1905 a young HUngarian-born writer named the baroness
orczy created an audacious and reckless
hero, a "
daring
plotter" who used "tricks and games" against the
cruelties
of the french revolution.The story mixed
historical
fact
with dramatic adventure:as the Reign of Terror
reaches
its
bloody climax in 1794,a brave band of englishmen
risk
their
lives to rescue the intended victims of the
guillotine.Their leader is an enigmatic hero known
only
by
his calling card: tha red ,star-shaped wildflower
known
as "THE
SCARLET PIMPERNAL".The scarlet pimpernel is
often
cited as an early preducer of the superhero of the
united
states comic books: he is an independently wealthy
person
with a secret identity which he maintains in action
by
disguises,while in public life he appears as an
politically
irrevelant person to draw attention away from
himself.in
his hero guise he accomplises good in field which
the
state
is not competent to act,with his superior reasoning
and
fighting ailities.he even has a name as his emblem
though
not a coustume. The only thing anybody knew about
his
presence was the blood red flower known as the
scarlet
pimpernal.The year is 1792.Daily turmoil rolls over
the
crowded streets of paris,bearing new victims of the
unforgivable Guillotine.The hero of the novel is
percy blackney,who risks his life to save the french
aristocrats.When the scarlet pimpernal makes his
first
appearence he is dressed as an old hag who drives a
cart.The french governmentsends a spy named
chauvelin
to
track the scarlet pimpernal.The story gains
momentum in
each of the encounters between them.The climax
occurs
in a
small reef when chavelin sets up an clear trap for
percy.Percy once again shatters of his dreams of
capturing
the scarlet pimpernal and saves the french
aristocrats
with
some help from his lovable wifeMARGUIRITE,with
emotional
outbreak she suffers from the decision of
saving her
dear
brother,ARMAND,or saving the one and only scarlet
pimpernal .Baroness orczy's hero captured the
imagination
of the world, and has endured through 20th century
in
many
forms:in more than 10 sequels by orczy herself,as a
play,in
dozens of movies and television adaptions