Baroness Emma Orczy (full name: ''Emma Magdalena Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy de Orci'') (; 23 September 1865 – 12 November 1947), usually known as Baroness Orczy (the name under which she was published) or to her family and friends as Emmuska Orczy, was a Hungarian-born British novelist and playwright. She is best known for her series of novels featuring the

Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...

, the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who turns into a quick-thinking

escape artist Escapology is the practice of escaping from physical restraint, restraints or other traps. Escapologists (also classified as escape artists) escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, Cage (enclosure), cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, bu ...

in order to save French aristocrats from "Madame Guillotine" during the French Revolution, establishing the "hero with a

secret identity A secret identity is a person's code name, cryptonym, disguise, incognito, Cover (intelligence gathering), cover and/or alter ego which is not known to the general populace, most often used in fiction. Brought into popular culture by the Scarlet Pi ...

" in popular culture. She is also known for her role in the

White Feather Movement The White Feather Campaign was a prominent enlistment campaign and shaming ritual in Britain during the First World War, in which women gave white feathers to non-enlisting men, symbolising cowardice and shaming them into signing up. Although ...

. Opening in London's West End on 5 January 1905, ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' became a favourite of British audiences. Some of Orczy's paintings were exhibited at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

in London. She established the Women of England's Active Service League during World War I with the intention of empowering women to convince men to enlist in the military.

Early life

Orczy was born in Tarnaörs, Hungary. She was the daughter of the composer Baron Félix Orczy de

Orci Orci (old spelling: Orczi) is a village in Somogy County, Somogy county, Hungary. External links Street map (Hungarian) References

Populated places in Somogy County Orczy family, * {{Somogy-geo-stub ...

(1835–1892) and Countess Emma Wass de Szentegyed et Cege (1839–1892). Her paternal grandfather, Baron László Orczy (1787–1880), was a royal councillor, and knight of the Sicilian order of Saint George; her paternal grandmother, Baroness Magdolna, born Magdolna Müller (1811–1879), was of Austrian origin. Her maternal grandparents were the Count Sámuel Wass de Szentegyed et Cege (1815–1879), member of the Hungarian parliament, and Rozália Eperjessy de Károlyfejérvár (1814–1884). Emma's parents left their estate for Budapest in 1868, fearful of the threat of a peasant revolution. They lived in Budapest, Brussels, and Paris, where Emma studied music unsuccessfully. Finally, in 1880, the 14-year-old Emma and her family moved to London, England where they lodged with their countryman, Francis Pichler, at 162

Great Portland Street Great Portland Street is a commercial road in the West End of London which links Oxford Street with the A501 road, A501 Marylebone Road. A mixed-use street of residents and businesses, it divides Fitzrovia, to the east, from Marylebone to the ...

. Orczy attended West London School of Art and then the

Heatherley School of Fine Art The Heatherley School of Fine Art is an independent art school in London. The school was named after Thomas Heatherley who took over as the school's principal from James Mathews Leigh (when it was named "Leigh's"). Founded in 1845, the school ...

. Although not destined to be a painter, it was at art school that she met a young illustrator named Henry George Montagu MacLean Barstow, the son of an English clergyman; they were married at St Marylebone parish church on 7 November 1894. It was the start of what she described as a joyful and happy marriage, "for close on half a century, one of perfect happiness and understanding, of perfect friendship and communion of thought."

Writing career

They had very little money and Orczy started to work with her husband as a translator and an illustrator to supplement his meager earnings. John Montague Orczy-Barstow, their only child, was born on 25 February 1899 (died 1969). She started writing soon after his birth, but her first novel, ''

The Emperor's Candlesticks ''The Emperor's Candlesticks'' is an 1899 historical novel by Baroness Orczy. Written soon after the birth of her son John, it was her first book as an author rather than translator and was a commercial failure. As in the Scarlet Pimpernel, th ...

'' (1899), was a failure. She did, however, find a small following with a series of detective stories in the ''

Royal Magazine ''The Royal Magazine'' was a monthly British literary magazine that was published between 1898 and 1939. Its founder and publisher was Sir Arthur Pearson. ''The Royal Magazines first edition was published in November 1898. According to this i ...

''. Her next novel, '' In Mary's Reign'' (1901), did better. In 1903, she and her husband wrote ''

The Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...

'', a play based on one of her short stories about an English aristocrat, Sir Percy Blakeney, Bart., who rescued French aristocrats from the French Revolution. She had conceived the character while standing on a platform on the

London Underground The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or as the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England. The Undergro ...

. She submitted her novelisation of the story under the same title to 12 publishers. While the couple waited for the decisions of these publishers,

Fred Terry Fred Terry (9 November 1863 – 17 April 1933) was an English actor and theatrical Management, manager. After establishing his reputation in London and in the provinces for a decade, he joined the company of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree where he re ...

and

Julia Neilson Julia Emilie Neilson (12 June 1868 – 27 May 1957) was an English actress best known for her numerous performances as Lady Blakeney in ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'', for her roles in many tragedies and historical romances, and for her portrayal of ...

accepted the play for production in London's West End. Initially, it drew small audiences, but the play ran for four years in London, and broke many stage records, eventually playing more than 2,000 performances and becoming one of the most popular shows staged in Britain. It was translated and produced in other countries and underwent several revivals. This theatrical success generated huge sales for the novel. The couple moved to Thanet, Kent. Introducing the notion of a "hero with a

" into popular culture, the Scarlet Pimpernel exhibits characteristics that would become standard superhero conventions, including the penchant for disguise, use of a signature weapon (sword), ability to out-think and outwit his adversaries, and a calling card (he leaves behind a

scarlet pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It was written after her stage play of the same title (co-authored with her husband Montague Barstow) enjoyed a long run in Lo ...

at each of his interventions). By drawing attention to his alter ego, Blakeney hides behind his public face as a slow-thinking, foppish playboy, and he also establishes a network of supporters, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, who aid his endeavours. Orczy went on to write over a dozen sequels featuring Sir Percy Blakeney, his family, and the other members of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, of which the first, '' I Will Repay'' (1906), was the most popular. The last Pimpernel book, '' Mam'zelle Guillotine'', was published in 1940. None of her three subsequent plays matched the success of ''The Scarlet Pimpernel''. She also wrote popular mystery fiction and many adventure romances. Her '' Lady Molly of Scotland Yard'' was an early example of a female detective as the main character. Other popular detective stories featured ''

The Old Man in the Corner The Old Man in the Corner is an unnamed armchair detective who appears in a series of short stories written by Baroness Orczy. He examines and solves crimes while sitting in the corner of a genteel London tea-room in conversation with a female jo ...

'', a sleuth who chiefly used logic to solve crimes. Orczy was a founding member of the

Detection Club The Detection Club was formed in 1930 by a group of British mystery writers, including Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ronald Knox, Freeman Wills Crofts, Arthur Morrison, Hugh Walpole, John Rhode, Jessie Louisa Rickard, Baroness Orczy, ...

(1930). Orczy's novels were racy, mannered melodramas and she favoured historical fiction. Critic Mary Cadogan states, "Orczy's books are highly wrought and intensely atmospheric". In '' The Nest of the Sparrowhawk'' (1909), for example, a malicious guardian in Puritan Kent tricks his beautiful, wealthy young ward into marrying him by disguising himself as an exiled French prince. He persuades his widowed sister-in-law to abet him in this plot, in which she unwittingly disgraces one of her long-lost sons and finds the other murdered by the villain. Even though this novel had no link to ''

'' other than its shared authorship, the publisher advertised it as part of "The Scarlet Pimpernel Series".

Political views

Orczy held strong political views. She was a firm believer in the superiority of the aristocracy, as well as being a supporter of British imperialism and militarism. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Orczy formed the Women of England's Active Service League, an unofficial organisation aimed at encouraging women to persuade men to volunteer for active service in the armed forces. Her aim was to enlist 100,000 women who would pledge "to persuade every man I know to offer his service to his country". Some 20,000 women joined her organisation. Orczy strongly opposed the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

Later life

Orczy's work was so successful that she was able to buy a house in Monte Carlo: "Villa Bijou" at 19 Avenue de la Costa (since demolished), which is where she spent World War II. She was not able to return to London until after the war. Montagu Barstow died in Monte Carlo in 1942. Finding herself alone and unable to travel, she wrote her memoir ''Links in the Chain of Life'' (published 1947). She died in

Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames ( ) is a town status in the United Kingdom, town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish on the River Thames, in the South Oxfordshire district, in Oxfordshire, England, northeast of Reading, Berkshire, Reading, west of M ...

, Oxfordshire on 12 November 1947.

Name pronunciation

Asked how to say her name, Orczy told ''The Literary Digest'': "Or-tsey. ''Emmuska''—a diminutive meaning "little Emma"—accent on the first syllable, the ''s'' equivalent to ''sh'' in English; thus, ."

Works

Translations * '' Old Hungarian Fairy Tales'' (1895) translator with Montague Barstow * '' Uletka and the White Lizard'', Volume 1 of ‘The Queen Mab Series of Fairy Tales (1895) translator with Montague Barstow * '' The Enchanted Cat'', Volume 2 of ‘The Queen Mab Series of Fairy Tales’ 1895) translator with Montague Barstow * '' Fairyland's Beauty'', Volume 3 of ‘The Queen Mab Series of Fairy Tales’ (1895) translator with Montague Barstow Plays * ''

'' (1903) with Montague Barstow, as ‘Orczy-Barstow’ * ''The Sin of William Jackson'' (1906) with Montague Barstow * '' Beau Brocade'' (1908) with Montague Barstow. Written in 1905 * ‘’The Whip’’. With Montague Barstow * ''The Duke's Wager'' (1911) * ''The Legion of Honour'' (1918), adapted from '' A Sheaf of Bluebells'' Short story collections The Man in The Corner Series * '' The Case of Miss Elliott'' (1905) * ''

'' (1909) * '' Unravelled Knots'' (1925) Scarlet Pimpernel Series * '' The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1919) * '' Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1929) Other short story books * '' Lady Molly of Scotland Yard'' (1910) * ''The Man in Grey'' (1918) * ''Castles in the Air'' (1921) * '' Skin o' My Tooth'' (1928)

Novels

* ''

'' (1899) * '' In Mary's Reign'' (1901) later '' The Tangled Skein'' (1907) * ''

'' (1905) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' By the Gods Beloved'' (1905) later released in the US as '' The Gates of Kamt'' (1907) * '' A Son of the People'' (1906) * '' I Will Repay'' (1906) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ‘’A Tangled Skein’’ * '' Beau Brocade'' (1907) * '' The Elusive Pimpernel'' (1908) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' The Nest of the Sparrowhawk'' (1909). Serialised, The Imp Magazine, 1909 * '' Petticoat Government'' (1910). Serialised in ''The Queen Newspaper'', 1909, and previously released as ''A Ruler of Princes'' (1909), also known as ''Petticoat Rule'' (1910) * '' A True Woman'' (1911) * ''The Good Patriots'' (1912) * '' Fire in Stubble'' (1912). Serialised, John Bull, 1911 * '' Meadowsweet'' (1912). Serialised, The Queen Newspaper, 1912 * '' Eldorado'' (1913) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''Unto Cæsar'' (1914). Serialised, The Woman at Home, 1913 * '' The Laughing Cavalier'' (1914) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' A Bride of the Plains'' (1915) * '' The Bronze Eagle'' (1915) * ''Leatherface'' (1916) * '' Lord Tony's Wife'' (1917) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' A Sheaf of Bluebells'' (1917) * ''Flower o' the Lily'' (1918) * ''His Majesty's Well-beloved'' (1919) * '' The First Sir Percy'' (1921) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''

The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel'', first published in 1922, is a book in the series about the Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' is the first novel in a series of historical fiction by Baroness Orczy, published in 1905. It ...

'' (1922) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' Nicolette: A Tale of Old Provence'' (1922) * '' The Honourable Jim'' (1924) * '' Pimpernel and Rosemary'' (1924) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''A Question of Temptation'' (1925) * ''The Celestial City'' (1926) * '' Sir Percy Hits Back'' (1927) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''Blue Eyes and Grey'' (1928) * ''Marivosa'' (1930) * ''A Joyous Adventure'' (1932) * '' A Child of the Revolution'' (1932) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''The Scarlet Pimpernel Looks at the World'' (1933) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1933) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * '' A Spy of Napoleon'' (1934) * '' The Uncrowned King'' (1935) * ''The Turbulent Duchess'' (1935) * '' Sir Percy Leads the Band'' (1936) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''

The Divine Folly ''The Divine Folly'' is a novel by Baroness Orczy, creator of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Plot introduction Two English brothers travel across Europe as members of a secret society that is plotting the assassination of Napoleon III Napoleon I ...

'' (1937) * ''No Greater Love'' (1938) * '' Mam'zelle Guillotine'' (1940) (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''Pride of Race'' (1942) * ''The Will-O'-The-Wisp'' (1947)

Short stories

* " The Red Carnation" (First published in ''Pearson’s Magazine'', June 1898, reprinted in ''Everybody's Magazine'', June 1900) * The Traitor (1898) * Juliette (1899) * Number 187 (1899) * The Trappists Vow (1899) * The Revenge of Ur-Tasen (1900) * ''The Murder in Saltashe Woods'' Windsor Magazine, June 1903 (Skin o’ My Tooth) * ''The Case of the Polish Prince'' Windsor Magazine, July 1903 (Skin o’ My Tooth) * ''The Case of Major Gibson'' Windsor Magazine, August 1903 (Skin o’ My Tooth) * ''The Duffield Peerage'' Case Windsor Magazine, September 1903 (Skin o’ My Tooth) * ''The Case of Mrs. Norris'' Windsor Magazine, October 1903 (Skin o’ My Tooth) * ''The Murton-Braby Murder'' Windsor Magazine, November 1903 (Skin o’ My Tooth) * ''The Traitor'' Cassell’s Magazine of Fiction, May 1912. Collected in The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''Out of the Jaws of Death'' Princess Mary’s Gift Book, 1914. Collected in The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''A Fine Bit of Work'' The New Magazine, Christmas 1914. Collected in The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel (The Scarlet Pimpernel) * ''In the Rue Monge'' (1931) (The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Omnibus editions

* The Scarlet Pimpernel etc. (1930) collection of four novels * The Gallant Pimpernel (1939) collection of four novels * The Scarlet Pimpernel Omnibus (1957) collection of four novels

Non-fiction

* ‘’If I Were a Millionaire’’. Young Woman, August 1909 * ''Les Beaux et les Dandys de Grand Siècles en Angleterre'' (a lecture delivered at the Société des Conférences, Monte Carlo) (1924) * ''Links in the Chain of Life'' (autobiography, 1947)

The Scarlet Pimpernel Chronology

# '' The Laughing Cavalier'' (1914) # '' The First Sir Percy'' (1921) # ''

'' (1905) # '' Sir Percy Leads the Band'' (1936) # '' The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1919) - short story collection # '' I Will Repay'' (1906) # '' The Elusive Pimpernel'' (1908) # '' The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1933) # '' Lord Tony's Wife'' (1917) # ''

El dorado El Dorado () is a mythical city of gold supposedly located somewhere in South America. The king of this city was said to be so rich that he would cover himself from head to foot in gold dust – either daily or on certain ceremonial occasions � ...

'' (1913) # '' Mam'zelle Guillotine'' (1940) # ''

'' (1922) # '' Sir Percy Hits Back'' (1927) # '' Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1929) - short story collection # '' A Child of the Revolution'' (1932) # '' In the Rue Monge'' (1931) - short story # '' Pimpernel and Rosemary'' (1924) # '' The Scarlet Pimpernel Looks at the World'' (1933) with Montague Barstow

Filmography

* 1916: '' Beau Brocade'' (dir.

Thomas Bentley Thomas Bentley may refer to: * Thomas Bentley (director) Thomas Bentley (23 February 1884 – 23 December 1966) was a British film director. He directed 68 films between 1912 and 1941. He directed three films in the early DeForest Phonofilm sou ...

) * 1917: '' The Laughing Cavalier'' (dir.

A. V. Bramble Albert Victor Bramble (1884–1963) was an English film actor, actor and film director. He began his acting career on the stage. He started acting in films in 1914 and subsequently turned to directing and producing films. He died on 17 May 196 ...

Eliot Stannard Eliot Stannard (1 March 1888 – 21 November 1944) was an English screenwriter and director. He was the son of civil engineer Arthur Stannard and Yorkshire-born novelist Henrietta Eliza Vaughan Palmer. Stannard wrote the screenplays for as ...

) * 1919: '' The Elusive Pimpernel'' (dir.

Maurice Elvey Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He a ...

) * 1923: '' I Will Repay'' (dir.

Henry Kolker Joseph Henry Kolker (November 13, 1874 – July 15, 1947) was an American stage and film actor and film director, director. Early years Kolker was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1874. (Some sources say 1870.) He came to America at age five and w ...

) * 1928: '' Two Lovers'' (dir.

Fred Niblo Fred Niblo (born Frederick Liedtke; January 6, 1874 – November 11, 1948) was an American pioneer film actor, director and producer. Biography He was born Frederick Liedtke (several sources give "Frederico Nobile", apparently erroneously) in Yo ...

) * 1928: ''

'' (dir.

T. Hayes Hunter Thomas Hayes Hunter (December 1, 1884 – April 14, 1944) was an American film director and Film producer, producer of the silent film, silent era. He directed a total of 34 films between 1912 and 1934. Early career Hayes was born on Decemb ...

) * 1934: ''

'' (dir. Harold Young) * 1936: ''

'' (dir.

Karl Hartl Karl Hartl (10 May 1899 – 29 August 1978) was an Austrians, Austrian film film director, director. Life Born in Vienna, Hartl began his film career at the Austrian Sascha-Film company of Alexander Kolowrat and from 1919 was assistant to the H ...

) * 1936: '' Spy of Napoleon'' (dir.

) * 1937: ''

'' (dir.

George Fitzmaurice George Fitzmaurice (13 February 1885 – 13 June 1940) was a French-born film director and Film producer, producer. Career Fitzmaurice's career first started as a set designer on stage. Beginning in 1914, and continuing until his death in 1940 ...

) * 1937: ''

Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel ''The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel'' is a 1937 British film directed by Hanns Schwarz and starring Barry K. Barnes, Sophie Stewart, Margaretta Scott and James Mason. It is a sequel to the 1934 film ''Scarlet Pimpernel (1934 film), The Scarlet ...

'' (dir.

Hanns Schwarz Hanns Schwarz (11 February 1888 – 27 October 1945) was an Austrian film director. He was born in Vienna on 11 February 1888. Biography He directed twenty four films between 1924 and 1937 in both English and German. During the late silent a ...

) * 1950: '' The Elusive Pimpernel'' (dir.

Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company Powell and Pressburger, The Archers, they together wrote, produced ...

Emeric Pressburger Emeric Pressburger (born Imre József Pressburger; 5 December 19025 February 1988) was a Hungarian-British screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for his series of film collaborations with Michael Powell, in a collaborat ...

) * 1982: ''

'' (dir.

Clive Donner Clive Stanley Donner (21 January 1926 – 6 September 2010) Ronald Berganbr>Obituary: Clive Donner ''The Guardian'', 7 September 2010 was a British film director who was part of the British New Wave, directing films such as '' The Caretaker'', ...

)

Notes

External links

* * * *
Works by Baroness Orczy
a
Blakeney Manor
* *
Baroness Emmuska Orczy Collection
at

Harry Ransom Center The Harry Ransom Center, known as the Humanities Research Center until 1983, is an archive, library, and museum at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in the collection of literary and cultural artifacts from the Americas and Europe ...

* * * * ''The Legion of Honour'' by Baroness Orczy at th
Great War Theatre website

Baroness Orczy's ''The Liverpool Mystery'' audiobook at Libsyn

Listen ''The Bronze Eagle: A Story of the Hundred Days'' by Baroness Orczy on Youtube
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orczy, Emma 1865 births 1947 deaths People from Heves County British women novelists British historical novelists Hungarian women novelists Members of the Detection Club Hungarian nobility British anti-communists Emma 19th-century British novelists 19th-century English women writers 19th-century British translators 20th-century British novelists 20th-century English women writers British women short story writers English women dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights Women mystery writers 20th-century British translators Writers from London Emigrants from Austria-Hungary to England British women historical novelists 19th-century British short story writers 20th-century British short story writers 19th-century Hungarian novelists 19th-century Hungarian women writers Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period Writers of historical fiction set in the modern age 20th-century Hungarian novelists 20th-century Hungarian women writers