COLUMN: Several Classics for the masses
Mark Twain once said, “A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.”
Classics are so named because they have stood the test of time. When I walk into a book store and look at the new releases, I am wary that many books – while attractive from the cover and the description on the back (yes, I judge books by their covers, get over it) – may not prove to be well written or interesting.
In contrast, I know that not only are classics fitting for my poor, married, college student budget, but they will never fail to live up to the standards to which I am accustomed in my reading.
I will be reviewing classics that not only expand the mind, but are also feasible for college students to read and enjoy, as I know some classics may be a bit thick to get through.
“The Scarlet Pimpernel,” by Baroness Orczy, fulfills the common theme of books better than the movie. Considering that the movie tells you information right from the beginning that is saved in the book until later as an important twist, it is easy to see the merit of text over visual.
As a fan of historical fiction, I love how this novel does not just tell a story, but teaches about the history of that time period as well.
The book is set in the year 1792, after the French citizens have taken over the government and are massacring royals by way of the ruthless guillotine. The infamous Scarlet Pimpernel is an English citizen risking his life to rescue many of the innocent royals in France.
Admired by the British populace and despised by the French, the true Scarlet Pimpernel is known only to those members of the rescuing team. Chauvelin, the French antagonist, vows he will discover who the Scarlet Pimpernel is, capture him, and murder him.
Lady Marguerite is another main character, risen through the French ranks to become one of the most admired and witty women in France. Marguerite is intelligent, and has used her talents to involve herself in many different aspects of politics, including an acquaintance with Chauvelin.
In the setting of the book, she has married Sir Percy Blakeney, an extremely wealthy but witless Englishman. Just after their marriage, Blakeney discovers a mistake his new bride made in her past, a mistake for which she will always feel remorse. It seems that Blakeney will never forgive her, and their formerly blissful relationship transforms into an emotionless marriage.
Chauvelin uses his acquaintance with Marguerite to blackmail her to try to discover who the Scarlet Pimpernel is. But the Scarlet Pimpernel is much too clever to be discovered by anyone. He never fails to rescue French royals though, and devises ingenious plans to help them escape, a few at a time.
What I love most about this book is the tension Orczy creates with secrecy and deception. Towards the end of the book, the plot heats up even more and I was literally on the edge of my seat. This is one of those books with which I had to read the second half in one sitting, for there is no “good place” to stop.
I say “good place” because I want to explain that I don’t think true literature ever has what many of us call good stopping places. Writing should always encourage us to keep reading, and if it doesn’t, than that writing has failed.
Orczy captured me from the very beginning. She uses language that moves every sentence forward, rather than becoming stagnant. Any female can admire Lady Marguerite for her wit and strong nature, while any male can respect the Scarlet Pimpernel for his courage and cleverness.
This novel captures one point of view of the French Revolution beautifully. I felt the emotion of the royals being murdered, of Marguerite’s conflict with Chauvelin, and most of all, the sadness of the Blakeney marriage.
For those who would like to say they have read a classic, “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is a perfect place to start. The 271 pages of beautiful writing and a successful plot put this book in my top five favorite classics.
If all of your homework is done – and in my case, even if it is not – turn off that TV and go read something lasting. Not only will it help expand the mind (unlike “Spongebob,” which does exactly the opposite), but I guarantee you it will make you appear smarter to those potential employers, in-laws, dates, or even all three.
– kellyn.neumann@aggiemail.usu.edu