The Scarlet Pimpernel

[Aly]

PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one enjoying this piece of art.

Let me tell you a bit about this rather than write an analysis like I'm supposed to. I can't just. I just. Good lord.

SO. The Scarlet Pimpernel, aside from being a cute little orange weed, is a book about the French revolution. It's also a musical. AND GOOD GOD THEY ARE SO. JUST .

Okay here's a link to the book, which is on Livrevox for free with a very talented reader, Karen Savage. IT's just. JUST BEAUTIFUL. I can't fucntion. I downloaded it, thinking that I would fall asleep to something from that time, as I'm rarely interested in any flowery literature. OH MAN. This was written in 1905 as a play, then a book, and then a musical.

Here's a link to a beautiful song from the musical, Madame Guillotine. And, if you feel like having an ear-gasm, here's one of the most beautiful baritones on the planet, Terrence Mann, singing Falcon in the Dive (bring a change of pants). Or, shit. Why not this one, too. Yeah, yeah, it's very 90s. Sh.

My poor summary
This book is compared to Les Mis, because it is one of two famous works that takes places during the French revolution. In this case, the French aristocrats are saved from the guillotine by a mysterious man known by the laughable name of the Scarlet Pimpernel (yes laughable, because even the characters make fun of it); the authorities (Chauvelin, AKA Javert) only know that their "criminals" have been saved by a famous calling card of the tiny flower in the corner of a cheeky note. We follow mostly Marguerite, a beautiful married woman whose brother is known to be in cahoots with this Scarlet Pimpernel. She is threatened by the life of her brother via her childhood friend, Chauvelin, to find this mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, despite her admiration for the mystery man's bravery.

I'm only partially done with the book, so that's all I feel secure sharing for now, but here are a few awesome things to entice you to listen:
-Marguerite is a very, very intelligent woman. She tricks people because they underestimate her
-The wit and comebacks Marguerite comes up with at the expense of her suspiciously dull-witted husband, Percy, literally have me laugh out loud. Like what.
-The narrative is freaking poetry. So well done.
-Ian McKellen played Chauvelin in the 80s on a TV thing of it.
-THE DESCRIPTIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
-More diversity in the first five chapters than Harry Potter and Hunger Games combined.

Ths is just .

Guys please talk to me about this. I'm not done yet but I just NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

[Mikkay]

You need to talk to Rosabeth.

[Aly]

It is my absolute favorite. That was the best end I've ever seen in my life.

[Rosabeth]

LET ME TELL YOU A THING OR TWO ABOUT MY LOVE FOR THIS DAMN MUSICAL.

My high school did The Scarlet Pimpernel for our musical my junior year and I played in the pit (clarinet/bass clarinet). I basically became obsessed with it over the months I spent working on that thing. The music is incredible ("Where's the Girl" sung by the right guy is a panty dropper...despite it's creepy overtones), the dialogue is great, and the characters are actually likable with realistic motives which is more than can be said for Les Mis (no shade but yeah, I have a favorite). Now, I've never read the book so I can't compare but I do know that from what I've heard the book is just as good and probably better.

HOWEVER. LET ME TELL YOU A THING ABOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL'S PRODUCTION.

So I became a little obsessed with our Chauvelin who was played by probably the best singer our HS has had in the last several decades, and after he graduated (along with the girl who played Marguerite and the guy who played Percy) the next year's production of "Guys and Dolls" was such a let down I'm still bitter about it.

Here are some links to my school's production because this is probably the only on-topic chance I'll get to brag about it for the next decade. Also yes, I realize his French accent is laughable but eh, he's 18 so I'll give him a break: Where's the Girl, Falcon in the Dive], and Madame Guillotine.