Literary Birthday – 23 September – Emmuska Orczy

Emmuska Orczy was born on 23 September 1865 and died on 12 November 1947.

Emmuska Orczy Quotes

1. The weariest nights, the longest days, sooner or later must perforce come to an end.
2. It is only when we are very happy, that we can bear to gaze merrily upon the vast and limitless expanse of water, rolling on and on with such persistent, irritating monotony, to the accompaniment of our thoughts, whether grave or gay. When they are gay, the waves echo their gaiety; but when they are sad, then every breaker, as it rolls, seems to bring additional sadness, and to speak to us of hopelessness and of the pettiness of all our joys.
3. ‘Money and titles may be hereditary,’ she would say, ‘but brains are not,’…
4. A woman’s heart is such a complex problem – the owner thereof is often most incompetent to find the solution to this puzzle.
5. No man who has played a role on the world stage has ever been without his detractors, and only a few have been without their apologists.

Emmuska Orczy was a Hungarian-born British novelist, artist, and playwright. She is known for her series of novels featuring The Scarlet Pimpernel, one of the greatest popular successes of the 20th century. The Scarlet Pimpernel exhibited characteristics that would become superhero conventions, including the penchant for disguise, use of a signature weapon (sword), ability to out-think and outwit his adversaries, and a calling card (he leaves behind a scarlet pimpernel at each of his interventions). She also wrote several detective stories, including Lady Molly of Scotland Yard (1910) and Unravelled Knots (1925). Orczy was a founding member of the Detection Club (1930).

Image: Bassano Ltd, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baroness_Emma_Orczy_by_Bassano.jpg

by Amanda Patterson
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