BARONESS ORCZY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 17

BARONESS ORCZY

Baroness Orczy, who has been writing English bestsellers for 30 years and whose/latest "Scarlet Pimpernel" novel, "Sir Percy, Leads the Band," has just been published, is like Conrad in her late acquaintance with the language in which she was to make her literary name. Of ah old Hun garian family, she knew no English until she was 16.

" She originally intended to be an artist, and succeeded so far in her intention as to have had pictures hung for three years running at the Royal Academy. Arid in companionship with those of other' writers whose names are too numerous Ho mention her earlier literary works which later took readers by storm wandered friendlessly among publishers for many weary months.

"The Scarlet Pimpernel" is a case in point. The idea of her- famous character came to her when she was waiting for a train in the London underground station," the Temple, "then the most dreary, depressing station on the face of the earth." When the book was finished she sent it in turn-to 12' publishers, and' not one' of them"would'ldok at it. '; '<

Finally if was'produced as a play in 1905. Her books have sold like hot cakes ever since, and, so far as French Revolution literature is - concerned among the generality of British readers, one might almost'agree with the -title of her latest book that "Sir Percy Leads the Band." • ' ' .