Character guide

Marguerite Blakeney

major

Also known as Marguerite St. Just, Lady Blakeney, Margot, fair Marguerite Blakeney

A celebrated French actress turned London society queen, she wields wit like a blade — and may have handed her own husband to the guillotine.

Sir Percy Blakeney

major

Also known as Percy Blakeney, Blakeney, the Scarlet Pimpernel

London's most fashionable fop, all cream satin and drawled bons mots — and the one man revolutionary France would pay any price to kill.

Chauvelin

major

Also known as M. Chauvelin, Citoyen Chauvelin, Monsieur Chauvelin

A cool, patient agent of the French Republic who has crossed the Channel to trade pleasantries by day and close a trap by night.

Sir Andrew Ffoulkes

supporting

Also known as Sir Andrew, Ffoulkes, Bart

A young baronet whose eyes light up at his leader's name, sworn to secrecy and ready to risk his life for strangers.

Armand St. Just

supporting

Also known as St. Just, Armand

Marguerite's beloved brother, a Frenchman whose safety is the lever that moves her — and the price of her silence.

Lord Tony Dewhurst

supporting

Also known as Tony, Lord Antony Dewhurst, Lord Antony

A jovial, loud-voiced Englishman who calls rescuing aristocrats from the guillotine the finest sport he has ever encountered.

Suzanne de Tournay

supporting

Also known as Suzanne, little Suzanne, Mademoiselle Suzanne

Suzanne moves through English drawing-rooms as a radiant refugee bride-to-be, her happiness shadowed only by her father's captivity in revolutionary France. Her innocent prattling about the Pimpernel's mission lands on Marguerite like a death sentence, making her the unwitting instrument of the story's central crisis. She matters because her love story and her father's peril are the human stakes that force Marguerite to confront what her own betrayal may cost.

Comtesse de Tournay

supporting

Also known as Madame la Comtesse, the Comtesse, Madame

The Comtesse holds court in London drawing-rooms and theatre boxes, her thin-lipped dignity a shield against grief and displacement. Her open hostility toward Marguerite—rooted in old scandals and revolutionary politics—sharpens the social tension just as Marguerite's private guilt deepens. She matters because her husband's rescue is the errand on which the Pimpernel stakes his life, and her distrust of Marguerite makes the heroine's isolation almost total.

Mr. Jellyband

minor

Also known as Jellyband, honest Jellyband, worthy Mr. Jellyband

The innkeeper of the Fisherman's Rest in Dover.

Brogard

minor

Also known as Citoyen Brogard, friend Brogard, The Mére Brogard

The surly innkeeper of the Chat Gris in Calais.

Desgas

minor

Also known as Citoyen Desgas

Chauvelin's assistant and fellow agent.

Sergeant Bibot

minor

Also known as Bibot, Citoyen Bibot

A French sergeant guarding the Paris barricades.

Vicomte de Tournay

minor

Also known as the Vicomte, de Tournay, the young Vicomte

The young son of the Comtesse de Tournay, also rescued.

Citoyen Grospierre

minor

Also known as Grospierre, fool Grospierre

A French official outwitted by the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Reuben Goldstein

minor

Also known as Reuben, Goldstein

A Jewish peddler who aids the Pimpernel's escape.

Lord Grenville

minor

Also known as Grenville

A British nobleman who hosts a ball in the story.

Miss Sally

minor

Also known as Sally, pretty Sally, Mistress Sally

Mr. Jellyband's daughter and barmaid at the inn.

Marquis de St. Cyr

minor

Also known as St. Cyr, the Marquis de St.

A French aristocrat whose death haunts Marguerite's past.

Lord Fancourt

minor

A minor nobleman mentioned in the story.

Lady Portarles

minor

Also known as honest Lady Portarles

A friend of Marguerite's in London society.

Benjamin Rosenbaum

minor

Also known as Benjamin

A Jewish man who assists the Pimpernel.

Briggs

minor

Also known as old Briggs

A servant at Sir Percy's estate.

Comte de Tournay

minor

Also known as le Comte de Tournay de Basserive, the old Comte de Tournay

The elderly French nobleman rescued from the guillotine.

Mr. Hempseed

minor

A local man at the Fisherman's Rest inn.

Jimmy Pitkin

minor

Also known as Pitkin

A minor character at the Fisherman's Rest.

Mr. Harry Waite

minor

Also known as Mr. Waite, Waite, Harry Waite

A local man at the Dover inn.

Captain Jutley

minor

Also known as Jutley

A sea captain involved in the escape plans.

Père Blanchard

minor

Also known as Blanchard, The Père Blanchard

An old Frenchman whose hut becomes a hiding place.

Old Jemima

minor

Also known as Jemima

An elderly woman at the Chat Gris inn.

Frank

minor

A minor character mentioned in passing.

Glück

minor

Also known as Herr Glück

A German musician mentioned in the story.

Sultan

minor

Sir Percy's horse.

Selina Storace

minor

An opera singer mentioned in the narrative.

Sir Algernon Blakeney

minor

Also known as the late Sir Algernon Blakeney

Sir Percy's deceased father, mentioned in backstory.

Martha

minor

A servant at the Blakeney household.

Peppercorn

minor

Also known as Mr. Peppercorn

A minor character at the Fisherman's Rest.

Mr. Burke

minor

Also known as Burke

A historical figure mentioned in the narrative.

Mr. Pitt

minor

Also known as Pitt, old Pitt

The British Prime Minister, mentioned in passing.

Hastings

minor

Also known as Lord Hastings

A minor nobleman mentioned in the story.

Foucquier-Tinville

minor

Also known as Citoyen Foucquier - Tinville

The French revolutionary prosecutor, mentioned briefly.

Robespierre

minor

The French revolutionary leader, mentioned in the narrative.