Sir Percy Blakeney maintains a precarious double life as a foppish aristocrat in England and a daring operative rescuing French nobles from the guillotine. The protagonist must navigate the social expectations of the British elite while orchestrating complex extraction missions across the English Channel. His primary opposition comes from the ruthless French agent Chauvelin, who seeks to expose the Pimpernel's true identity. The narrative framework utilizes a third-person perspective that emphasizes the tension between public perception and secret heroism, complicated by the protagonist's strained relationship with his wife, Marguerite.

Readers and critics frequently identify this work as the foundational text for the modern secret identity trope found in contemporary superhero fiction. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the protagonist's transformation from a seemingly vapid socialite to a calculated master of espionage. The pacing is noted for its consistent momentum, which balances character-driven domestic drama with high-stakes action sequences. Critics highlight the novel's reflection of turn-of-the-century British anxieties regarding political refugees and internal threats. The work remains a subject of study for its influence on the development of the swashbuckler genre and its enduring impact on popular literature.