Eldorado

[madeleinestjust]

In the spirit of rosemaryinwheat's reviews of C. Guy Clayton's books, I thought I would open a dedication to my favourite Orczy Scarlet Pimpernel novel, Eldorado, which I am currently savouring again (this time on MP3 - I now know how to pronounce St Germain l'Auxerrois!)

Comments

[madeleinestjust]

I have a beautiful copy that contains a 'photo' of the 'original letter' written by Sir Percy at Chauvelin's dictation!

Moi aussi! It's my 'best' copy - I have another hardback 'reading' book that I would risk slamming about in the bottom of my bag and brandishing on public transport. One question, though - who is it supposed to be in the little illustration on the front cover? Armand and Jeanne?

She is still the same woman but she is more self-possessed, more in control of her impulses and I find that both admirable and heart-breaking.

Yes, exactly - that she has matured, but also that she has had to. For all her advantages in life, I admire that Marguerite lives for others - she put Armand before any consideration for the safety of the St Cyrs in TSP, and she would sacrifice everything for Percy.

I feel some fanficcing coming on :O (Oh no!!!)

*rubs hands with glee, in Chauvelin-esque fashion* Not that this whole post is a prompt in disguise, it isn't - but yay! In fact, I just thought of another spin-off myself ...

'You are

[dame_grise]

I read this one a lot. I am glad to know that while you can see Percy had a perfect right to be angry with Armand, you don't hate him. This book breaks my heart in many ways because even I don't think Jeanne was all that worthy of his attention, and his foolish stupidity for her sake has pretty much doomed him to spend the rest of his life with her; no one (esp. Jeanne herself who was already jealously guarding her possession before he left her house that day) will let him out of his comittment to her.

I need to finish listening to it. I got about halfway through before I had to stop that first weekend I discovered it, and I've been working or ill too much since then to listen to more.

And I am so jealous of those of you who have copies of it. I don't yet, though I am working hard to get one for my birthday this year (only about 3 more weeks now).

[madeleinestjust]

This book breaks my heart in many ways because even I don't think Jeanne was all that worthy of his attention, and his foolish stupidity for her sake has pretty much doomed him to spend the rest of his life with her; no one (esp. Jeanne herself who was already jealously guarding her possession before he left her house that day) will let him out of his comittment to her.

Yes, that's it, that's my problem with her - she's not worth any of the trouble and pain she causes. (Where did I get the impression you were as much a fan of her as Armand?) I'm not sure if the Baroness intended her to fall short, or if Jeanne just doesn't measure in comparison to Marguerite, but I like to imagine that Armand didn't go back to Paris for her after all. Only your unfinished fan fiction and a line in 'Triumph' makes me wonder 'what if?' ;)

I need to finish listening to it.

Oh, same here. Does it take longer to listen than read, or is it just me? I do love Librivox's Karen Savage, though - excellent pronunication and fitting accents.

[dame_grise]

It does take longer. I can read it to myself in a few hours. I listened all afternoon and only got about halfway. Having to slow down and listen to the parts where Armand is arguing with Percy and Percy thinks of Marguerite made me cry like a baby. Those are hard to listen to.

I try to give her the benefit of the doubt, though it's hard. And I really like Louise in the movie. Figuring out how to make myself write Jeanne sympathetically is why I am currently STUCK on the fic.

That line in Triumph irks me. Because of the timing of it, I can't imagine it being anyone but Jeanne to whom he's married. Stupid, silly Armand, how I love you.

[madeleinestjust]

Figuring out how to make myself write Jeanne sympathetically is why I am currently STUCK on the fic.

Don't write her sympathetically, make her a slightly dubious character (building on the impression I got from the Baroness myself!) I always think that Jeanne is better connected in revolutionary Paris than she lets on, and that's why she is so blase about Heron and the rest! ("You know where she lodges, of course!") I love a good anti-heroine, and it would make Jeanne so much more convincing if she were different to Marguerite.

[romantic_envy]

Yes, this book rocked in so many ways. It's my second favorite of the adventures in the series. I love how Orczy has woven fact and fiction in her books. It had made me more interested in the French Revolution.

[madeleinestjust]

Where did you get an MP3? I'd love to have that! :D

You can download the chapters here: http://librivox.org/el-dorado-by-baroness-orczy/

I bought it on a CD, along with TSP and The Old Man in the Corner, because I'm lazy, but it's the same recording!

[madeleinestjust]

I'm not scientifically inclined, so I can't regurgitate all the facts of how they have advanced in the science, but I did read about it once.

That's my level of expertise on the subject of the Dauphin - I read about it Deborah Cadbury's book, The Lost King of France! I tend to believe the most likely explanation, too, and - as the Scarlet Pimpernel is sadly a fictional creation - it's more than likely that the poor boy did die, alone, neglected, abused, in the Temple prison. No wonder the Baroness made him the Pimpernel's most famous rescue!