The Scarlet Pimpernel

This is one of those books where you finish it and you wish there were 1000 more pages. Everything was perfect about this historical fiction novel. The setting is England and France during the Reign of Terror after the start of the French Revolution. And that makes it sounds dreary. It's not. It's a mystery and adventure book. It's a love story. It's beautiful language.

Caveat: in an effort to be authentic in language and accent it is a little difficult to read at first until you get to know the characters and what's going on. The beginning is setting up a lot of characters and is a little odious but after finishing the book I realize all the tedious set up is very important. It made me understand and care about the characters. Then you get lost in the story, the clothes, the manners, and the gorgeous language of the late 1700s.

I can't say much about this book...if you choose to read it, DO NOT FIND OUT WHAT IT'S ABOUT!!!!!! Was I loud enough?!

Here's a basic plot summary: French people are sending hundreds of French Aristocrats to the guillotine just for being apart of the aristocracy. There is an Englishman who goes by the name of The Scarlet Pimpernel (an English flower) who goes into France and rescues some of them. The French don't like it and try to find out who the man is. That's all you need (and should) know before reading this.

If you are an English major or just love literature...this is a must read. You have to think a little bit in the beginning, but once you place all the characters, it sucks you in and is a page turner.