A battle of wits and wills and a lesson of love and loyalty, all in inimitable Pimpernel style. Note: Secular author.
My rating: ★★★★☆
Sometimes a girl just gets in a mood for another Scarlet Pimpernel adventure. Time for a reread of a classic!
Much of this story centers around Armand, but we still get plenty of Marguerite and Sir Percy. (Though never as much of Sir Percy as I would like.) We also get plenty of action from the League, especially the incorrigible Lord Tony and the faithful Sir Andrew. It’s hard to watch our indomitable hero at Chauvelin’s mercy for a goodly section of the book. Yet the Pimpernel never gives in … or does he?
Trust and obey
The Scarlet Pimpernel books are secular adventure classics with their fair share of old British cussing. But somehow they never fail to remind me of truths I forget all too easily. This is as true of El Dorado as in my review of The Elusive Pimpernel.
The first time I read El Dorado, I rolled my eyes a lot (at least mentally) at Armand’s passionate instalove and the trouble it caused for everyone. The melodramatic writing style doesn’t help, although this original version does prove that Armand’s love story could have been carried off very well without the objectionable content the 1982 movie introduced.
This time around, I saw much more of myself in the way Armand tries to take matters into his own hands instead of trusting the one who already has a plan and knows what he’s doing. Hm. That sounds familiar … and convicting.
“You must try and trust me, Armand. It is much to ask, I know, for you will have to trust me with what is most precious in the world to you; and you will have to obey me blindly, or I shall not be able to keep my word.”
Not that I think our Rescuer needs our obedience in order to keep his word, but this was still such a needed reminder for me. Funny how a swashbuckling hero with a penchant for profanity can hit me between the eyes with spiritual truth.
Love is as strong as death
Speaking of Armand’s passionate romance, the Blakeneys are as much in love as ever. This is only brought into sharper focus by Armand’s accusation that Percy doesn’t know what it is to love. In contrast to much of modern fiction, the Pimpernel series is remarkable in that (a) its love story starts after marriage, and (b) it requires no salacious details to convey a love for the ages.
There’s a tension in this love, because Marguerite knows Sir Percy’s heart will always belong at least in part to the helpless victims of the Revolution. Yet there is a steadfast trust that he would lay down his very life for her—and has, on more than one occasion.
The strong pure air suddenly rushing right through to her lungs made her feel faint, and she almost fell. But it was good to feel herself falling, when one pair of arms amongst the millions on the earth were there to receive her.
Here too, I am reminded that I need have no fear of falling when I know who holds me up.
The Pimpernel wins again
The title of the French-language edition of El Dorado is La Capture du Mouron Rouge, or “The Capture of the Scarlet Pimpernel.” (Literally “Red Chickweed,” according to Google Translate, but what does Google Translate know?). This tells you something of the plot. The time Sir Percy spends in captivity means we get fewer deeds of derring-do and a greater battle of wits and wills. But he is no less heroic for that and, indeed, demonstrates superhuman endurance of doubtful scientific plausibility.
Marguerite, on the other hand, is very human indeed. Her quiet resolve interspersed with moments of despair make for some poignant scenes as she and Sir Andrew strive to follow Sir Percy’s orders to the letter. Chauvelin is nasty as always, and I only wish we could see his face when he realizes he’s been duped once again by that elusive Pimpernel.
In some books, it really annoys me when I start to suspect the final move. In other books, I’m thrilled to get a hunch and have it proven right. This book was one of the latter type. Partway through the climax my first time reading this, I started to get the feeling of “Oh, oh, oh, I think I know what’s going on …” and it was delicious to discover I was right. Score another one for Sir Percy.
Next in series?
El Dorado is the book most film and stage adaptations of The Scarlet Pimpernel draw from. At the time this book was written (1905), legends still existed that Marie Antoinette’s son did indeed disappear from captivity. Unfortunately for both the Dauphin and this imaginative theory of what could have happened, DNA evidence has proven the prince died in imprisonment. But since when do we expect the adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel to be factually accurate?
Although El Dorado is listed seventh in the chronological series order, it’s fourth in publication order and feels like a natural sequel after the original novel and The Elusive Pimpernel. (The second book in the series, I Will Repay, contains only cameo appearances from Sir Percy and friends.) If you aren’t sensitive to occasional profanity and you’re in the mood for a dramatic adventure of love, betrayal, forgiveness, courage, and hints of the Eternal Story, give the series a try. You may find yourself with a new favorite hero.
Read El Dorado for free on Gutenberg.org
If you enjoyed this book review of El Dorado by Emmuska Orczy, you might also enjoy my book review of The Scarlet Pimpernel, first in series by the same author. Read the review here or join my newsletter list for book recommendations, a free short story, author updates, and more.
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Happy reading!
Jayna Baas is the author of Preacher on the Run and director of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network. Learn more about Jayna here or join her email list for more recommendations.