Petticoat Government

In Petticoat Government, Baroness Orczy transports readers to the dazzling yet treacherous court of Louis XV, where love, ambition, and intrigue entwine beneath the glitter of Versailles. At the center is a young woman whose wit and beauty draw her into the dangerous orbit of princes, ministers, and schemers, all vying for power in a world where influence is as perilous as it is intoxicating. With secret plots, political betrayals, and unexpected romance, Orczy paints a portrait of a society ruled not by kings alone, but by the women who whisper in their ears. A tale of manipulation, courage, and passion, Petticoat Government is a sparkling mix of historical fiction and courtly drama that reveals the hidden power of women in history.

Baroness Emmuska Orczy (1865–1947) was a Hungarian-born British novelist, playwright, and artist, best remembered as the creator of the legendary hero The Scarlet Pimpernel. Born in Tarnaörs, Hungary, she moved to London in her youth and established herself in literary circles with her flair for romantic adventure and historical drama. Orczy's groundbreaking novel The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905) introduced readers to Sir Percy Blakeney, the daring English aristocrat who, in disguise, rescued French nobles from the guillotine during the Revolution—an archetype that inspired countless masked and double-identity heroes in popular culture, from Zorro to Batman. Beyond the Pimpernel series, she penned detective stories such as The Old Man in the Corner, historical romances, and even works on Hungarian life and folklore. Her works combined suspense, wit, and a deep love for heroism, earning her international acclaim. Orczy continued writing until her final years, leaving behind a legacy as one of the pioneers of modern adventure and mystery fiction