The Red Carnation

The Red Carnation is a poignant and atmospheric tale that reveals Baroness Orczy's early gift for romance and suspense. Set against the turbulent backdrop of Revolutionary France, the story follows a young aristocrat whose fate becomes entwined with a single, symbolic flower — the red carnation. In a world where love is as fragile as it is dangerous, the bloom becomes a token of courage, passion, and sacrifice, standing out vividly against the terror of the guillotine. Short but powerful, this story brims with Orczy's hallmark blend of romance, danger, and historical atmosphere, foreshadowing the timeless appeal of her later masterpiece, The Scarlet Pimpernel.