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The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
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Pink Carnation: Book 1

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (2005) (edit title/settings)

by Lauren Willig (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Nothing ever goes right for Eloise. The day she wears her new suede boots, it rains. When the subway stops short, she's the one thrown into some stranger's lap. And she's had her share of misfortune in the way of love. So, after deciding that romantic heroes must be a thing of the past, Eloise... read more

Summary edit see section history

Eloise Kelly is in England chasing down leads for her dissertation and fleeing from the end of a disastrous relationship. While looking for information on the espionage of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian, she discovers a third less-well-known spy, the Pink Carnation. Eloise... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Eloise Kelly is in England chasing down leads for her dissertation and fleeing from the end of a disastrous relationship. While looking for information on the espionage of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian, she discovers a third less-well-known spy, the Pink Carnation. Eloise decides to do additional research and stumbles on a cache of papers owned by the Selwick family that may shed light on the Carnation's identity. She also stumbles on Colin Selwick, who wants to keep her in the dark. Eloise's tale serves as the backdrop to the story of half-English, half-French Amy Balcourt, who returns to France to avenge her father, executed during the Revolution. Amy's goal is to connect with the Gentian and bring the monarchy back to power.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Eloise Kelly: A modern graduate student writing a dissertation on spies of the French Revolution
  • Arabella Selwick-Alderley: Elderly descendent of the Purple Gentian, a British spy during the French Revolution, who allows Eloise the use of her family papers
  • Colin Selwick: Nephew of Arabella Selwick-Alderley, somewhat less agreeable about the use of said papers
  • Amy Balcourt / Aimee de Balcourt: An idealistic young woman in 1803 who fantasizes about becoming a spy to help the British cause during the Revolution as she travels to France to visit her brother
  • Jane Wooliston: Amy's cousin, who accompanies her to France. She is very smart and crafty. She's also the smartest character in the whole book.
  • Gwendolyn "Gwen" Meadows: Jane and Amy's spinster chaperone. Wields a lethal parasol and aspires to write a highly sensational three-volume novel.
  • Richard Selwick: An antiquarian in the employment of Napoleon Bonaparte - also a dashing British spy known as the Purple Gentian
  • Gaston Delaroche: The sinister French Assistant Minister of Police, who seeks to capture the Purple Gentian
  • Edouard de Balcourt: Amy's rather foppish and degenerate elder brother, residing in Paris
  • Miles Dorrington: Member of the League of the Purple Gentian, employee of the War Office, and one of Richard's best friends. Prone to floppy hair and a rather enthusiastic demeanor.
  • Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe: Member of the League of the Purple Gentian and Richard's other best friend. Tends to be reserved and serious.
  • Georges Marston: One of Edouard's rather shady and ill-mannered friends. He is suspected to be the Purple Gentian.
  • Marchioness of Uppington / Honoria Selwick: Richard's mother that wants to get him married off, and end the business of being the Purple Gentian. She is very much in love with her husband and wants the same for her son.
  • Henrietta Anne Selwick: Richard's younger sister
  • Vicomte de Balcourt: Amy's Papa that the Scarlet Pimpernel attempted to rescue from prison.
  • Sir Percy Blakeney: The Scarlet Pimpernel
  • Mary: A Wooliston family maid
  • Marquess of Uppington: Richard's father who wants desperately to be included in a mission. Is crazy about his wife.
  • Henry Meadows: A neighbor and Derek's father.
  • Derek Meadows: His mother snad Aunt Prudence are pushing Derek and Amy together. Derek likes Amy but she wants nothing to do with him.
  • Bertrand Wooliston: Amy's uncle and Jane's father. He owns a sheep farm.
  • Prudence Wooliston: Jane's mother and Amy's aunt.
  • Ned Wooliston: The youngest of the Wooliston children.
  • Agnes: Jane's younger sister.
  • Robbins: Richard's driver
  • Stiles: Richard's butler. He is not 80 years old, but is an actor pretending to be.
  • Augustus Whittlesby: A romantic poet suspect of being the Purple Gentian.
  • Vivant Denon: in charge of setting up Bonaparte's new museum in the Louvre Palace.
  • Mme de Kremy: Denon's mistress
  • Josephine Bonaparte: Napoleon's wife. She knew Amy's mother before the Revolution.
  • Hortense de Beauharnais Bonaparte: Josephine's duaghter by her first marriage, and Hortense married Napoleon's younger brother, Louis.
  • Pauline Leclerc: Napoleon's young sister. She is a widow and has her sights set on Richard for a bit of fun.
  • Pammy: A childhood friend of Eloise. She moved to London and has wealthy friends.
  • Serena: A friend of Pammy's and is seen with Colin.
  • Deirdre: A French lady that Richard fell in love with six year ago and lost a friend because of it.
  • Joseph Fouche: The Minister of Police
Show all 36 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “I never stop flirting with your father. That's why we have such a happy marriage. And I hope that all of you find spouses with whom you can happily flirt for the rest of your lives.”
    Marchioness of Uppington / Honoria Selwick
  • “I feared as much. There's nothign worse than an incorruptible madman.”
    Lord Uppington
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • It is a truth universally acknowledged that one only comes up with clever, cutting remarks long after the other party is happily slumbering away.
    Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
  • LIPID (Last Idiot Person I Dated) syndrome: a largely undiagnosed but pervasive disease that afflicts single women.
    Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
  • Hence, LIPID syndrome. As everyone knows, lipids are fats, and fats are bad for you, and therefore ex-boyfriends must be avoided at all costs.
    Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers
  • me think his sister was his girlfriend? To be fair to him, I was the one who had leaped
    Highlighted by 3 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Contemporary London and 1803 France
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Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

The Tube had broken down. Again.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. Prologue
2. Chapters One to Forty-One

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 9 in Pink Carnation. (standard series)

Followed by The Masque of the Black Tulip.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Lauren Willig (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Dutton
Country: United States
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN: 0525948600
Page Count: 388

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3623.I575 S43 2005
  • Dewey: 813

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • The Odyssey
  • Henry V
  • The Mysteries of Udolpho

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