Sonderbooks Book Review of El Dorado

Reviewed March 22, 2002.
Buccaneer Books. First published 1913. 256 pages.

It’s true. I’m on a Scarlet Pimpernel kick. The books aren’t numbered, but this seems to be the third book Baroness Orczy wrote about her swashbuckling hero who cleverly saved aristocrats from the French Revolution. This is the first time I’ve read this one, and I enjoyed it.

The events in this book were combined with Book One to make the “Scarlet Pimpernel” movie starring Jane Seymour that we have at the Sembach Library. So I thought I knew what was going to happen. However, the denouement and clever escape was entirely different, and completely unexpected.

In this book, the Scarlet Pimpernel takes on the task of rescuing the Dauphin of France. This one has more dramatic setbacks than most of the books, and made exciting reading. I am getting where I know what to expect in a Scarlet Pimpernel book, but she still manages to keep me guessing how the daring escape will be worked out.

I am finding these old books refreshing. Sometimes it’s fun to read a good, clean adventure story. Instead of indiscriminate sex, throw in undying love. Add some danger and clever surprises, and you end up with a delightful reading experience.

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Book Reviews by Sondra Eklund

*****El Dorado*

by Baroness Orczy