- Who is it for?
- Ages 10–14
- How long is it?
- 34 min
- What does it include?
- Synced read-along and a quiz
- What does it cost?
- Premium access in Emma's Library
About this audiobook
During the bloody Reign of Terror in 1792, a mysterious English hero known only as the Scarlet Pimpernel repeatedly rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine, leaving behind a card with a small red flower. In London, the brilliant Marguerite Blakeney is trapped in a cold marriage to Sir Percy, whom she disdains as a wealthy, empty-headed fop. When the ruthless French agent Chauvelin blackmails Marguerite by threatening her beloved brother Armand, she is forced to help unmask the Pimpernel. Marguerite successfully gathers a clue, but is horrified to discover that the heroic Pimpernel is actually her own husband, Sir Percy, who has been hiding his brilliant mind behind a mask of foolishness. Desperate to save him, Marguerite races across the English Channel to France, arriving just as Chauvelin closes in on Percy at a remote coastal inn. Through a series of clever disguises, daring maneuvers, and sheer physical courage, Percy outwits Chauvelin, rescues Armand and his companions, and escapes back to England. Marguerite and Percy are joyfully reunited, their mutual trust and love fully restored through their shared ordeal.
Why it's worth a listen
Enter the perilous world of the Reign of Terror, where a mysterious English league risks everything to rescue French aristocrats from the guillotine. You will watch a brilliant Frenchwoman navigate a high-stakes game of espionage, only to discover that the husband she dismissed as a foolish fop is the legendary hero she seeks. This thrilling tale of secret identities and daring escapes explores the profound sacrifices demanded by loyalty and love.
What listeners will learn
Subjects: literature, storytelling, historical imagination.
- character
- setting
- conflict
- choice
- consequence
- theme
- retelling
- scarlet
- pimpernel
- classic
Questions for after listening
- Retell the central conflict in order.
- Name one important choice and what happened because of it.
- How did the setting or tradition shape the story?
A question to keep
Is it morally justifiable to deceive those we love most in order to protect a greater humanitarian cause?
Chapters
- The Shadow of the Guillotine
- The Mask of Fools
- The Envoy's Trap
- The Midnight Choice
- The Road to Calais
- A Question to Keep
Editorial review
Quality reviewed · 98/100 on . Certificate EL-0D8B-482A is bound to the exact narrated script.
The review checks factual care, audience fit, teaching quality, structure, tone and source honesty. Read the editorial standards.
Published 2026-07-13 · Updated
