![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Zorro, Doctor Syn, the Shadow, the Spider, the Phantom, Superman and Batman followed within a few decades, and the trope remains a popular one in serial fiction today. Orczy's premise of a daring hero who cultivates a secret identity disguised by a meek or ineffectual manner proved enduring. The stage play and subsequent novel, with their hero and villain, were so popular that they inspired a revival of classic villainy at the time. Published after the success of the play, the novel was an immediate success, gaining Orczy a following of readers in Britain and the rest of the world. ![]() Opening at the New Theatre in London's West End on 5 January 1905, the play became a favourite of British audiences, eventually playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in London. He is known by his symbol, a simple flower, the scarlet pimpernel ( Anagallis arvensis). The band of gentlemen who assist him are the only ones who know of his secret identity. Sir Percy Blakeney leads a double life: apparently nothing more than a wealthy fop, but in reality a formidable swordsman and a quick-thinking master of disguise and escape artist. The title is the nom de guerre of its hero and protagonist, a chivalrous Englishman who rescues aristocrats before they are sent to the guillotine. The novel is set during the Reign of Terror following the start of the French Revolution. ![]()
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