New Releases by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

In "By the Gods Beloved," Baroness Emmuska Orczy weaves a vibrant tapestry of romance and historical adventure set against the backdrop of ancient Greece. With her characteristic flair for dramatic irony and rich character development, Orczy delves into the lives of her protagonists as they navigate the tumultuous seas of love and allegiance amidst the grandeur of a mythical landscape. The narrative captures not only the emotional depth of its characters but also vividly illustrates the cultural and social mores of the time, reflecting Orczy's acute observations of love's complexities and pitfalls. Baroness Emmuska Orczy, a Hungarian-born British author, is best known for her innovative works that often blend elements of romance and adventure. Her diverse heritage and experiences—from her noble upbringing in Hungary to her creative life in England—infused her writing with a unique perspective. Orczy's fascination with history and mythology, alongside her desire to portray the strength of women in historical contexts, significantly influenced her approach to "By the Gods Beloved." This book is recommended for readers who appreciate a blend of romance and mythological intrigue, along with those interested in feminist literary history. Orczy's engaging narrative invites readers to explore the delicate interplay of love, power, and destiny, making it a compelling addition to the libraries of historical fiction enthusiasts.

agent, and a self-styled confidant of kings and emperors during the Napoleonic era. This is a collection of short stories about Ratichon's humorous antics while assisting folks at the top of the social scale with their issues. To get a proper understanding of Ratichon's adventures, readers should go through this entertaining book! This collection of short stories by Sir Orczy attempts to compile many of his classic thoughts consolidated in a single draft and offer them at an affordable price so that everyone can read them. Castles In The Air by Baroness Emmuska Orczy is a masterpiece that can take readers through a rollercoaster of interesting and curious feelings unlike other novels, this book makes no qualms in showing tragedy in its true color and spirit!

Excerpt: "AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF MR.THOMAS BETTERTON AS TOLD BY HIS FRIEND JOHN HONEYWOOD. May it please you that I, an humble Clerk and Scrivener, do venture to address so talented a Lady; but there is that upon my Conscience which compels me to write these lines. The Goodness and Charity of Mistress Saunderson are well known, and 'tis not as a Suppliant that I crave pardon for my Presumption, but rather as one whose fidelity and loyalty have oft been tried and never been found wanting. 'Tis said, most gracious Mistress, that your fancy hath been touched by the tenderness and devotion of a Man who is as dear to me as if he were mine own Brother, but that You hesitate to bestow upon him that for which he craves more than for anything in the world, your Hand and Heart. And this because of many Rumours which have sullied his fair Name. Mr. Betterton, Madam, hath many enemies."

In 1572, Spain rules over Flanders with an iron fist. The threat of the Inquisition and its tortures holds the people in terror of their conquerors. William, the Prince of Orange, has led an unsuccessful rebellion, and is now a fugitive hiding in the city of Ghent. His cunning and faithful watchdog, a mysterious man called Leatherface for the mask he wears, is the only reason Orange is still alive. Spanish Duke de Alva conceives a plan to capture Orange by arranging the marriage of his general's daughter Lenora with the son of Ghent's High Bailiff, thus introducing a spy into a house known to be in sympathy with Orange. When Leatherface kills the bride's former lover, she swears vengeance on him and on all rebels. Intrigue follows intrigue, treachery and misunderstanding divides the enforced newlyweds, and Lenora can no longer tell whom she loves or hates until all seems too late. (Amazon)

A Bride of the Plains is a historical novel written in 1915 by Baroness Orczy, the author of the famous The Scarlet Pimpernel series. The story is set in Hungary and the scene is laid in a village close to the Maros. The sharp, cracked sound of the Elevation bell breaks the silence of the summer morning. The good Pater Bonifacius is saying Mass: he, at any rate, is astir and busy with his day's work and obligations. Surely it is strange that at so late an hour in mid-September, with the maize waiting to be gathered in, the population of Marosfalva should be still absent from the fields! Hej ! But, stranger, what would you ? Such a day is-this Fourteenth of September. What ? You did not know it? The Fourteenth of September, the ugliest, blackest, most God forsaken day in the whole year! What kind of a stranger are you if you do not know that?

The Old Man in the Corner is an unnamed armchair detective who appears in a series of short stories written by Baroness Orczy. He examines and solves crimes while sitting in the corner of a genteel London tea-room in conversation with a female journalist.

Taurus Antinor must choose between his love for Christ and his love for Dea Flavia. Following Christ means rendering unto Caesar those things that are his, even if the Caesar is a raving madman. But he makes the right choice and is rewarded in the end. (Goodreads)

The Man in Grey by Baroness Orczy, author of The Scarlet Pimpernel, was first published in 1918. This time Orczy sets the action in post-revolutionary France. The book takes the form of a novel but is divided up into nine inter-connected short stories about the mysterious Man in Grey's adventures in tracking down Royalist criminals for the Government.

This novel is called "Petticoat Rule" because during the 1740s in France there were notable females influencing their male contemporaries. Lydie d'Aumont, who is the main focus of this fiction based on fact, is daughter of the French prime minister. Therefore, whoever marries her will gain power, as the prime minister is easily persuaded by his daughter to do what she wants. As for the story, one main theme revolves around the "pretender" to the English throne, Charles Edward Stuart, and how he is originally welcomed to the French court, only to be betrayed by Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, and their devotees; however, Lydie and her husband have other ideas and risk their favour with the king by trying to warn Bonnie Prince Charlie that the French plan to hand him over to the English if possible. (Goodreads)

In "Sir Percy Leads the Band," Baroness Emmuska Orczy deftly weaves a tale that transcends the boundaries of historical fiction and adventure. Set in the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolutionary Wars, the narrative follows the daring escapades of Sir Percy Blakeney, a seemingly frivolous Englishman masquerading as a dandy while secretly leading a band of rebels against tyranny. Orczy employs an engaging prose rich with vivid imagery and intricate characterizations, encapsulating the spirit of her time'Äîthe late 19th and early 20th centuries'Äîwhen the fascination with gallant heroes and the ideals of chivalry were prevalent in literature. The story is imbued with themes of love, sacrifice, and the moral complexities faced by those who stand against oppressive regimes, reflecting the era's cultural anxieties and romantic ideals. Baroness Emmuska Orczy, born in Hungary and raised in England, drew inspiration from her own rich heritage and the captivating folklore surrounding the Napoleonic Wars. A prolific writer and playwright, Orczy's creativity blossomed within the milieu of post-Victorian literature, where she became celebrated for her craft, especially as a woman navigating the male-dominated literary sphere. The character of Sir Percy is a manifestation of her aspirations for heroism and nobility against societal backdrops fraught with conflict and moral dilemmas, making her works both personal and politically resonant. Readers seeking a mix of historical intrigue and romantic adventure will find "Sir Percy Leads the Band" a captivating addition to their literary repertoire. Orczy'Äôs masterful storytelling and complex characters challenge the reader's perceptions of courage and cowardice, inviting reflections on the cost of heroism. This novel promises an enthralling experience for those who appreciate tales of gallant defiance and the timeless struggle for justice.

First published in 1908, The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is the 4th book in the classic adventure series about the Scarlet Pimpernel. A French-language version, translated and adapted by Charlotte and Marie-Louise Desroyses, was also produced under the title Nouveaux Exploits du Mouron Rouge. It was adapted into a silent film The Elusive Pimpernel in 1919.

"First published in 1908, The Elusive Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is the 4th book in the classic adventure series about the Scarlet Pimpernel.A French-language version, translated and adapted by Charlotte and Marie-Louise Desroyses, was also produced under the title Nouveaux Exploits du Mouron Rouge.It was adapted into a silent film The Elusive Pimpernel in 1919."

Baroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála "Emmuska" Orczy de Orci (23 September 1865 - 12 November 1947) was a Hungarian-born British novelist and playwright. She is best known for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who turns into a quick-thinking escape artist in order to save ill-fated French royalty from "Madame Guillotine" during the French revolution. Introducing the notion of a "hero with a secret identity" into popular culture, the Scarlet Pimpernel exhibits characteristics that would become standard superhero conventions, including the penchant for disguise, use of a signature weapon (sword), ability to out-think and outwit his adversaries, and a calling card (he leaves behind a scarlet pimpernel at each of his interventions). By drawing attention to his alter ego Blakeney he hides behind his public face as a slow thinking foppish playboy (like Bruce Wayne), and he also establishes a network of supporters, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, that aid his endeavours. Orczy went on to write over a dozen sequels featuring Sir Percy Blakeney, his family, and the other members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of which the first, I Will Repay (1906), was the most popular. The last Pimpernel book, Mam'zelle Guillotine, was published in 1940. None of her three subsequent plays matched the success of The Scarlet Pimpernel. She also wrote popular mystery fiction and many adventure romances. Her Lady Molly of Scotland Yard was an early example of a female detective as the main character. Other popular detective stories featured The Old Man in the Corner, a sleuth who chiefly used logic to solve crimes. Orczy held strong political views. Orczy was a firm believer in the superiority of the aristocracy, as well as being a supporter of British imperialism and militarism. During the First World War, Orczy formed the Women of England's Active Service League, an unofficial organisation aimed at encouraging women to persuade men to volunteer for active service in the armed forces. Her aim was to enlist 100,000 women who would pledge "to persuade every man I know to offer his service to his country". Some 20,000 women joined her organisation. Orczy was also strongly opposed to the Soviet Union. She died in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on 12 November 1947. (wikipedia.org)

In the late 18th century, France was in the throes of the French Revolution. Of particular tumult during this conflict were the years known as the "Reign of Terror", a time in which a revolutionary tribunal executed thousands of French citizens. It is during the "Reign of Terror" in which Baroness Emmuska Orczy's "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is set. "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is the story of Sir Percy Blakeney, a chivalrous Englishman married to the beautiful French actress, Marguerite St. Just, with whom he pretends to be a slow-witted dandy. However this is but a ruse to hide his true identity as the Scarlet Pimpernel, who with his "League of the Scarlet Pimpernel", a secret society of English aristocrats, rescue French royalists before they can be marched atop the guillotine. Drawing his nickname from the small red flower he draws on his messages, the Scarlet Pimpernel is chased the relentless French agent Citizen Armand Chauvelin as he tries to intervene in the madness of the "Reign of Terror". First published in 1905, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" is notable for its introduction to literature of a hero with a secret identity. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

The Old Man in the Corner is an unnamed armchair detective who appears in a series of short stories written by Baroness Orczy. He examines and solves crimes while sitting in the corner of a genteel London tea-room in conversation with a female journalist. He was one of the first of this character-type created in the wake of the huge popularity of the Sherlock Holmes stories. The character's moniker is used as the title of the collection of the earliest stories featuring the character. Baroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála "Emmuska" Orczy de Orci ( 23 September 1865 - 12 November 1947) was a Hungarian-born British novelist and playwright. She is best known for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who turns into a quick-thinking escape artist in order to save ill-fated French royalty from "Madame Guillotine" during the French revolution, establishing the "hero with a secret identity" into popular culture.

In "Lord Tony's Wife: An Adventure of the Scarlet Pimpernel," Baroness Emmuska Orczy delves into the gripping world of espionage and romance during the tumultuous period of the French Revolution. The narrative unfolds through a masterful blend of suspense, adventure, and clever dialogue, showcasing Orczy's signature flair for vibrant characterization and intricate plotting. The book extends the Scarlet Pimpernel saga, intertwining the personal stakes of love and loyalty with the broader themes of sacrifice and heroism amid perilous political unrest. This story stands out in the historical fiction genre for its engaging amalgamation of fictional pursuits against a backdrop of actual historical events, enriching the Scarlet Pimpernel legacy with emotional depth. Baroness Orczy, a Hungarian-born British author known for her pioneering contributions to the detective genre, created the Scarlet Pimpernel character as a response to her fascination with the themes of heroism and the duality of identity. Her experiences as a refugee and her aristocratic background informed her understanding of the complexities of love and sacrifice during chaotic times. This personal history profoundly shapes the characters and dilemmas presented in "Lord Tony's Wife." This novel is highly recommended for readers who appreciate historical fiction infused with elements of adventure and romance. Orczy's engaging prose and compelling characters will draw readers into a world of intrigue and nobility, exploring the delicate balance between personal desires and the demands of higher ideals. Pimpernel enthusiasts and newcomers alike will find themselves captivated by Orczy'Äôs storytelling prowess.

Baroness, (Emusca/Emmuska/Emma Magdalena Rosalia Marie Josepha Barbara) Orczy, Mrs Barstow (1865-1947) was a British novelist, playwright and artist of Hungarian origin. She was most notable for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel. Some of her paintings were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Her parents left Hungary in 1868, fearful of the threat of a peasant revolution. They lived in Budapest, Brussels, and Paris, where Emma studied music without success. Finally, in 1880, the family moved to London where they lodged with their countryman Francis Pichler. In 1903, she and her husband, Montague MaClean Barstow, wrote a play based on one of her short stories about an English aristocrat, Sir Percy Blakeney, Bart., who rescued French aristocrats from the French revolution: The Scarlet Pimpernel. She went on to write over a dozen sequels featuring Sir Percy Blakeney, his family, and the other members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of which the first, I Will Repay (1906), was the most popular. The last Pimpernel book, Mam'zelle Guillotine, was published in 1940. She also wrote popular mystery fiction and many adventure romances.

English novelist and playwright Baroness Emmuska Orczy achieved enduring success with her novels of politics and intrigue set during the time of the French Revolution.

In 1792, during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, an English aristocrat known to be an ineffectual fop is actually a master of disguises who, with a small band of dedicated friends, undertakes dangerous missions to save members of the French nobility from the guillotine.

More adventures amongst the terrors of revolutionary France. No one has uncovered the identity of the famous Scarlet Pimpernel - no one except his wife Marguerite and his arch-enemy, citizen Chauvelin. Sir Percy Blakeney is still at large however, evading capture!

The Laughing Cavalier is a 1913 adventure novel by Baroness Orczy, which revolves around Percy Blakeney, a foreign adventurer and ancestor of Orczy's famous character, the Scarlet Pimpernel. The story takes place in Holland in 1623/1624 and is partly inspired by Frans Hals' painting The Laughing Cavalier: in the novel, Blakeney is Frans Hals' adopted son and the man who poses for the painting of the Laughing Cavalier.