Eldorado (Novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 1913 First Edition |
|
| Author | Baroness Orczy |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, Historical |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Released | 1913 |
| Pages | 374 |
| ISBN | NA |
| Preceded by | Mam'zelle Guillotine |
| Followed by | Sir Percy Hits Back |
Eldorado, by Baroness Orczy is a sequel book to the classic adventure tale, The Scarlet Pimpernel. It was first published in 1913. The novel is notable in that it is the partial basis for most of the film treatments of the original book.
A French language version, translated and adapted by Charlotte and Marie-Louise Desroyses, was also produced under the title "La Capture du Mouron Rouge".
As well as containing all the main characters from the first book, Eldorado introduces several new characters and features the Baron de Batz, who also turns up in Sir Percy Leads the Band and The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel (Baron Jean de Batz is a genuine historical figure).
[edit] Plot
It is 1794 and Paris, "despite the horrors that had stained her walls - has remained a city of pleasure, and the knife of the guillotine did scare descend more often than did the drop-scenes on the stage."
The plot begins when Sir Percy reluctantly agrees to take Armand St. Just with him to France as part of a plan to rescue the young Dauphin.
Percy warns Armand not to renew any friendships while in Paris, but it doesn't take long before Armand has ignored his warnings and renewed a friendship with the scheming Baron de Batz (in the pay of the Austrian government), who wants to free the Dauphin himself and despises the Scarlet Pimpernel and all he represents.
Whilst attending the opera with De Batz, Armand foolishly tells him that he is in the league of the Scarlet Pimpernel. While there, he falls in love with a young actress named Citizeness Jeanne L'Ange. De Batz introduces the couple back stage at the theatre and once they have fallen for each other, De Batz tells Citizen Heron of the general committee of Public Safety where and when they have arranged to meet.
After covering for Armand at her house, L'Ange is arrested and thrown into jail, however Armand, discovering her fate and in the throes of passion, fails to trust Sir Percy who has told him that he will rescue Jeanne, and forgets his promise to his leader.
Armand, desperate to share Jeanne's fate, runs to the gate of the Temple prison and screams, "Long Live the King." There he's intercepted by none other than Percy's arch enemy, Chauvelin.
Faced with the death of his love Armand betrays Percy, unaware that The Pimpernel has already secured Jeanne's freedom. Sir Percy is then captured and imprisoned by Chauvelin and Heron, in the cell that was home to Marie Antoinette in her last days.
Chauvelin insits that Percy is to be deprived of food and rest in the hope that he will be weakened and disclose where young Capet, the uncrowned King of France, is being held following his rescue.
