The Greatest Works of Emma Orczy (eBook)

Baroness Emma Orczy, born Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy on September 23, 1865, in Tarnaörs, Hungary, was a distinguished novelist and playwright. Orczy moved with her family to London in 1880 where she attended the West London School of Art and later pursued her artistic studies at the Heatherley School of Fine Art. Although she exhibited artistic talent, her enduring fame comes from her literary endeavors. Orczy's most notable work is 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' (1905), which introduced the prototype of the disguised rescuer hero to the literary canon, influencing countless iterations in subsequent adventure stories (Orczy, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel'). Her creation marked the inception of a successful series detailing further exploits of Sir Percy Blakeney and his alter ego. Orczy's writing, characterized by its romantic and adventurous undertones, solidified her reputation as an adept storyteller in the early 20th century. Her corpus, captured comprehensively in 'The Greatest Works of Emma Orczy,' showcases her penchant for historical fiction and mystery, and encapsulates the breadth of her literary style, from the intrigue of 'The Old Man in the Corner' (1908) to the historical romances like 'The Laughing Cavalier' (1914). Her literary oeuvre, composed of over 35 novels, numerous short stories, and plays, continues to captivate readers with its blend of suspense and romanticized historical settings. Orczy passed away on November 12, 1947, leaving behind a rich legacy in historical adventure literature.