in 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' there was the key line, 'That demmed elusive Pimpernel'; and, of course, 'demmed' would never do, so Mother substituted 'awful'. I think she deliberately chose a word which did not scan and which obviously was not the original one... 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', incidentally, was another great favourite of Mother's...
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Beer Print: Book
[analysis of a female respondent in Arnold Freeman's 1918 Sheffield Survey] 'Machine file cutter, age twenty-five... Has read The Old Curiosity Shop, Innocents Abroad, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and the Bible'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: questionaire respondent Print: Book
'Her reading as a child was voracious, although her late start in learning to read for herself left her with a cosy taste for being read to. Her governess hads read aloud to her the story of Perseus and "Jungle Jinks" and most things in between. Once she read for herself, she had a passion for George Macdonald: his Curdie was one of her heroes. She loved Baroness Orczy's "Scarlet Pimpernel", and E. Nesbit's books. She read Dickens exhaustively as a child and, as a result, could not read him as a young adult: "There is no more oxygen left, for me, anywhere in the atmosphere of his writings".'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Elizabeth Bowen Print: Book
'Wrote a letter home asking for statement of accounts ... Many Fr. and Russians (Baltic) arrived. Read Scarlet Pimpernel.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: William Thomas Print: Book
'Mon. 9-11 Tennis[.] Weak. Then read Eldorado by Baroness Orczy. No letter. [Thomas then lists debts incurred in that day's round of roulette games.]
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: William Thomas Print: Book
‘When I clamp-clump-clamp-clumped into the Poetry Bookshop on Thursday,
the poetic ladies were not a little surprised. The Readings were from
Rabindranath Tagore, read by a Lady without much insight into the Hindu
spirit. I could not speak to Monro, but he smiled sadly at my khaki … Did I
tell you I got in half-price at “the Strand” to see the Scarlet Pimpernel. Fred
Terry was indisposed, but I could hardly imagine a better impersonation
than was done by the Understudy. I have just read "El Dorado", the last
tale of the S. Pimpernel—not very readable.’
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Wilfred Owen Print: Book
'Young Corbishley's letter in the Advertiser was
interesting about his march into Palestine. I
wrote to Mr Corbishley a week or so back for the
address of the ones out there. I must write to Mrs
Davies the baker! I will send a PC of the place I
now work in. We are allowed to do so, I believe.
Have this last few days been reading a splendid
book by Baroness Orczy, called "The Tangled
Skein." If you come across it, read it. The boy at
the piano is now playing an old Dreamy Waltz ...'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Wainwright Print: Book
'Each night when I lie down I read a book until
lights go out. Am reading the end of one called
"By the Gods Beloved" by Baroness Orczy. Last
night I slept poorly and so did many of my mates,
for it was bitter cold and draughty.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Wainwright Print: Book