Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Top ten books with secret signs

In 2008 Justin Scroggie named a top ten list of books with secret signs for the Guardian. One title on his list:
The Scarlet Pimpernel

In Baroness Orczy's play and novels, The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel is a secret society of English aristocrats, dedicated to rescuing French nobility from the guillotines of the French Revolution. The League is led by the mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel (aka arch-fop Sir Percy Blakeney) who signs his messages with a drawing of the little flower. The plant is itself a secret sign of bad weather, as its petals close up when atmospheric pressure drops.
Read about the other titles on his list.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of Peter Millar's six top spy books.

--Marshal Zeringue