The First Sir Percy

The First Sir Percy (1905) by Baroness Orczy is a prequel to Orczy's immensely popular Scarlet Pimpernel series. This novel tells the story of Sir Percy Blakeney's ancestor, the original Sir Percy, whose actions and adventures set the stage for the legacy of the Scarlet Pimpernel—the legendary English hero who secretly rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine during the French Revolution. While The First Sir Percy is part of the broader Pimpernel saga, it is distinct in both its time period and its central character. Set in the early 18th century, the novel introduces a new historical setting, distinct from the Revolutionary France in which Sir Percy Blakeney's adventures take place. Despite this shift, it shares the same themes of daring adventure, romance, and honor that run throughout Orczy's famous series.