Emma Orczy

Date of Birth: September 23, 1865

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: November 12, 1947

Biography

Baroness Emma Magdolna Rozália Mária Jozefa Borbála Orczy de Orci, better known as Emma Orczy, was a Hungarian-born British novelist, playwright, and artist. She was born into nobility on September 23, 1865, in Tarnaörs, Hungary. Orczy is best remembered for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, a daring English aristocrat who rescues individuals from the guillotine during the French Revolution. The first novel in the series, “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” was initially published as a play in 1903 before being adapted into a novel in 1905, achieving immense popularity. Orczy moved to London with her family in 1880 due to political turbulence in Hungary. She married Montague Barstow in 1894, with whom she collaborated on various artistic projects. Orczy’s works spanned multiple genres, including detective fiction and historical romance, and she continued to write prolifically until her death. Her contribution to literature was not confined to her novels; she was also an accomplished painter and had her works exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

5 Interesting Facts about Emma Orczy

1. Emma Orczy was a member of the Hungarian nobility, and her family had to flee Hungary due to political unrest, eventually settling in London.

2. “The Scarlet Pimpernel” was initially a play before it became a successful novel, and its success led to a series of sequels and spin-offs.

3. She collaborated with her husband, Montague Barstow, not only in writing but also in translating works into English.

4. Orczy was also a talented artist and had several of her paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

5. Her novel “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is considered one of the earliest examples of the “hero with a secret identity” trope, which has influenced countless characters in modern literature and media.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Emma Orczy

1. “They seek him here, they seek him there, those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? Is he in hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel.”

2. “We must prove to the world that we are worthy of the happiness which it holds in store for us.”

3. “The woman who loves always offers herself, her life, every fibre of her being, every moment of her time, to the man she loves.”

4. “The secret of life is to appreciate the pleasure of being terribly, terribly deceived.”

5. “The future is only the past again, entered through another gate.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While exact figures for her net worth at the height of her career are not well-documented, Emma Orczy achieved significant financial success through her novels and plays, with “The Scarlet Pimpernel” particularly contributing to her wealth.