The Scarlet Pimpernel · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy.
Skim names here — open a free preview to see character cards and Character Web beside the page as you read.
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.