\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
    December    
SMTWTFS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Archive RSS
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/902870
Item Icon
Rated: E · Book · Educational · #2105953
One hundred facts that are interesting but ultimately useless.
#902870 added January 21, 2017 at 8:53pm
Restrictions: None
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel
- history / literature -

​​The "Scarlet Pimpernel" novels are considered to be the literary ancestor of many modern superhero tropes. Created by British author Emma Orczy in 1905, the stories follow Sir Percy Blakeney, a seemingly prissy and harmless English aristocrat during the age of the Frence Revolution. In secret, however, Sir Percy adopts the guise of the Scarlet Pimpernel, a brilliant escape artist and master swordsman who rescues men sentenced to death by the French government. His heroic persona is named after his calling card and symbol, a small reddish flower known as a "pimpernel" (Anagallis arvensis).

Many of the Scarlet Pimpernel's attributes -- a signature weapon, a playboy alter ego, a theatrical hero identity -- were influences in later crime-fighting characters like Zorro, the Shadow, and Batman.


#021


© Copyright 2017 BD Mitchell (UN: anigh at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
BD Mitchell has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/books/action/view/entry_id/902870