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Scaramouche (Scaramouche)

by Rafael Sabatini, Gary Hoppenstand (Introduction)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 2,716 ratings · 266 reviews

Once he was André-Louis Moreau, a lawyer raised by nobility, unconcerned with the growing discontent among France’s lower class—until his best friend is mercilessly struck down by a member of the aristocracy. Now, he is Scaramouche. Speaking out against the unjust French Government, he takes refuge with a nomadic band of acting improvisers where he assumes the role of Scar...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 1st 2001 by Signet Classics (first published January 1st 1921)

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May 15, 2013 Terry rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: lovers of swashbucklers, historical fiction and witty repartee

Shelves: swashbuckler, historical-fiction, audio-books, favorites

I wavered between four and five stars on this one, but I totally have to go with the five. It’s just that awesome. I was actually a little surprised at how much I loved this book. I mean, I love swashbucklers and historical fiction…Dumas père is my man, but the only other Sabatini novel I’ve read, Venetian Masque, I found to be a little underwhelming so I did not expect this from Sabatini. Speaking of Dumas, I almost think that _Scaramouche_ can be placed in the same company as that master’s gre...more I wavered between four and five stars on this one, but I totally have to go with the five. It’s just that awesome. I was actually a little surprised at how much I loved this book. I mean, I love swashbucklers and historical fiction…Dumas père is my man, but the only other Sabatini novel I’ve read, Venetian Masque, I found to be a little underwhelming so I did not expect this from Sabatini. Speaking of Dumas, I almost think that _Scaramouche_ can be placed in the same company as that master’s great work _The Count of Monte Cristo_, no small praise from me. It doesn’t quite have the same level of intricate plotting as the latter, and I will never give pride of place to any but Monsieur le Comte, but it is still an awesome read filled with exciting ups and downs as we follow the trials and triumphs of the title character aka Andre-Louis Moreau. I actually noticed that Moreau shared some similarities with Dantès as a character, at least in the fact that both of them seemed to have a Batman-like ability to adopt nearly any skill they required to further their own ends. For Moreau this leads him to start out as a lawyer with exceptional reasoning and speaking skills, become a brilliant actor, stage writer and theatre impresario, then move on to master the art of the sword and become a maître d'armes, and finally to enter the realm of politics all within a span of two years. That’s ok, I don’t mind it if my heroes are super and Moreau pairs his ability with an acerbic wit and keen insight I found both refreshing and awesome.

I have to add here that I ‘read’ this as an audiobook downloaded from Librivox. Now the narrators from Librivox, given that it is a free site, can be…how to put this delicately? Crappy. Not so this one. The narrator Gordon Mackenzie was fantastic. He had just the right pacing, didn’t stumble on his words (you’d think that would be a prerequisite for narrating an audio book, wouldn’t you?), and was able to voice each character differently without sounding completely ludicrous. He even managed the French phrases and Latin epigrams with no apparent effort. Excellent job Mr. Mackenzie! I really think his work on this added to my already superlative enjoyment of the text itself.

Given that this is a classic I imagine that many already know the plot, at least in broad strokes: Andre-Louis Moreau is a bastard of no name, taken in as the “godson” of the local seigneur of the village of Gavrillac (amidst the knowing glances and whispers of the locals). He is a young man of intelligence and wit, known primarily for his acerbic tongue and incisive reasoning, who acts as the legal representative of his godfather, M. de Kercadiou. His best friend, Philippe de Vilmorin, is a young seminarian who also happens to have revolutionary political leanings. When a local peasant is summarily killed by a local noble, the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr, Philippe tries to convince the nobleman to recompense the dead man’s family for the deed. Incensed, and sensing in the eloquent young man one who could stir the mounting discontent of the people that is beginning to raise its head in France, d’Azyr decides he must get rid of this possible thorn in the side of his class. An expert fencer, perhaps the best in France, d’Azyr forces the fledgling Philippe into challenging him to a duel and handily dispatches the young man, whose own abilities with the sword are non-existent. It is this act of bald-faced murder (and the subsequent inability of the young lawyer to gain any justice from the established powers) that sends young Bruce Wayne, er Andre-Louis, on his road of vengeance against the man, and the class, that killed his friend in cold blood.

As we follow Andre-Louis in his quest we see him taking up the mantle left by his dead friend and using his own eloquence to stir up the crowds against their unjust masters. Forced into hiding when his name and actions become know, Moreau manages to join a travelling band of actors who mount plays based on the fading style of the Commedia dell'Arte and, after establishing himself as not only an excellent actor and writer, but even a company manager of some skill Moreau takes on the role of Scaramouche (one that is uniquely suited to his outlook and abilities) and proceeds to lead the troupe to the verge of fame and fortune. Along the way he falls in love and ultimately finds himself once again crossing paths with his avowed enemy, seemingly driven by the hand of fate. Moreau encounters numerous dangers and escapes in his years of hiding which I won’t recount here…read the book and enjoy them to the full yourself! Suffice it to say that the nascent revolution turns the tables and thrusts Andre-Louis into a position of power. It is a position that is not so easily taken advantage of, despite Andre-Louis’ apparent single-mindedness in regards to his quest, and the conclusion of the tale is satisfying and much more complex than one might be given to expect from a work in this genre.

I thought Sabatini’s prose was great. His turns of phrase, especially in the mouth of Moreau, were sublime and the text is littered with an abundance of bon mots. His characters also shine and often manage to attain a level of complexity that goes beyond the one dimensional duality of good-guy/bad-guy one might expect. While I was always cheering for Moreau and loved his character, he is not always an eminently likeable guy and even the sneering and vain arch-rival the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr manages to show himself to be something more complex than a mustachio-twirling villain. Bottom line: this book was great. I don’t know why I took so long to read it, but I’m very glad I finally did. I’ll be revisiting this one many times in the future.

Highly recommended.

Also posted at Shelf Inflicted (less)

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Jan 13, 2009 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy-and-scifi, owned, goth-goth-baby, tres-francais, 20th-century-early-to-mid

Andre-Louis Moreau is the Scaramouche of fame. I am delighted with this knowledge, as it finally helps me to solve one of the many mysteries of Queen. But more than that, I am absolutely delighted with the work in general. Sabatini's evocation of the heady, tense, uncertain, firecracker days before the beginning of the French Revolution of 1789 is beautifully done. I classified this as fantasy because I believe that it is painted brightly enough to sear into my imagination as much as any Middle...more Andre-Louis Moreau is the Scaramouche of fame. I am delighted with this knowledge, as it finally helps me to solve one of the many mysteries of Queen. But more than that, I am absolutely delighted with the work in general. Sabatini's evocation of the heady, tense, uncertain, firecracker days before the beginning of the French Revolution of 1789 is beautifully done. I classified this as fantasy because I believe that it is painted brightly enough to sear into my imagination as much as any Middle Earth would do. This is a swashbuckling adventure novel, make absolutely no mistake about that. (There's a lot more swashing than there is actual buckling, but it is very entertaining swashing about, so I don't take issue with it.) However, the sweeping, majestically romantic story conceals a wonderfully interesting historical document of the events that lead up to the storming of the Bastille, the dissolving of the Estates General, the bread riots, and the march to Versailles. To be sure, it is no mere recitation of events, but for our hero to get from one adventure to the next is dependent upon the historical events of the time. It gives the novel a depth that I was not expecting. The hero and various other characters spend a good chunk of their time reciting the beliefs of the period from all sides and having debates on philosophy. You find yourself getting very involved with their viewpoints, not merely the awesomely over the top insults and duels that follow.

The novel follows Andre-Louis Moreau from his start at comfortable home as the godson of a small-time, hardworking aristocrat and a country lawyer. After the murder of his best friend, a firebrand revolutionary priest, Andre-Louis swears vengeance upon the proud, ridiculously vile Marquis who committed this act. Unfortunately, he ends up with a warrant for his arrest fairly soon on in the novel, and is forced to go into hiding in a number of guises. The most entertaining of these disguises is Scaramouche, the Shakespearean fool character of the commedia dell'arte, a role which he is more or less forced into, but ends up suiting him quite perfectly. There are several very nice 'All the world's a stage' parallels drawn, as people tie on and shed masks of all kinds throughout the novel, sometimes confusing their own identities with the characters they play, sometimes being perceived as those identities by others when really they are absolutely no such thing inside. It is simply much easier and more comfortable to sit in those roles, and so they do. But the revolution will not let Andre-Louis sit still hiding from himself, and he's drawn along through a series of alternately hilarious and gothically awful scenes towards the dizzying end.

SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT:
****
I was inclined to give this novel five stars about halfway through. There are several reasons that I did not:
1) Andre-Louis, our hero, is a Mary Sue. He is brilliant at everything he turns his hand to, succeeding first as a brilliant political orator, a playwright, an actor, a fencing master... the list goes on. There is nothing that he is not equal to, and more than that, that he will not be better at than anyone else within a remarkably short amount of time. It didn't bother me for the first 200 pages or so, but then I started really wearying with how in love Sabatini was with his hero the he absolutely /had/ to have every character marvel endlessly at his talent, and moon over his perfection. Sure, they call him heartless, some people are afraid of him, but it is only because he is such a God, you see! They are merely intimidated by his lack of weakness! Yes, I get that this is a gothic adventure novel and characters are projections and fantasies and meant to represent things and not be entirely realistic, but it is hard to really get into the suspenseful, *gasp, shock, awe!* aspect of the book if you never feel the slightest anxiety for the hero's safety. You never even feel the slightest anxiety for a slight embarrassment, because you just /know/ that he'll have the perfect one-liner to get himself out of the situation. The character tries to excuse this Mary Sue-ism in the last ten pages of the book, by saying that he's not really perfect because he's ended up running away from every good situation he's made for himself. But you see, it only makes him even more perfect, because he is troubled! And won't let his honor be compromised enough to stay!
2) The book is just too long for what its trying to be. And if its trying to be something else, then I have problems with it.
3) I felt like the end reveal was really cheap, and undermined one of the great points of the book. Sabatini takes up classism, and the nature v. nurture arguments. One of the cool things about Andre-Louis is that he's largely a self made man (if to an annoying degree), and from the lower classes, and a great example of why Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite should flourish. And then I felt like they took that all away when the big reveal at the end is that he's actually the son of two nobles, and they both make a point of telling him that whatever is good in him comes from them. The main character rejects it verbally, but belies this by his actions when he saves them both, succumbing to that "animal" sentimentality that he worked so hard to stay away from the whole book. Its both touching and kind of irritating. I hope that the point was that his self-made manhood and opinions were what mattered most, but I'm just not sure. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but Sabatini spent far too much time talking about class and the nature of the upper and lower classes for me to not think that he meant something by it.

... anyway, though. Otherwise a greatly enjoyable bit of escapism that I would highly recommend... if you don't over analyze like me.(less)

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Wealhtheow SPOILERS:
Ooh, I like your rationale for his fatherless state--very litcrit of you! His parentage still works, thought, because although he came from n...more
Feb 02, 2009 04:48pm

Kelly Ooh, and I like yours. That rationale also works. It had occured to me about the nobles abandoning him, etc, but I decided maybe that was too patroniz...more
Feb 03, 2009 09:07am

Feb 29, 2012 Wealhtheow rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of the Scarlet Pimpernell, In the Name of the Wind, or the Princess Bride

Recommended to Wealhtheow by: Kelly

Shelves: historical, battle-of-wits

Written in the 1920s but set directly before the French Revolution, this is the story of a young lawyer from the provinces, Andre-Louis. Raised and educated among the nobility, he has not the wealth, parentage, or hypocrisy needed to remain in their midst. When the Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr viciously and cold-bloodedly kills Andre-Louis's best friend, a naive priest, Andre swears vengeance. The corrupt system of laws is no help, and Andre is turned from his home and profession for his trouble-ma...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, classics, rereading

I couldn't actually find the edition I read...but I loved this book. Find it read it you won't regret it. High adventure, romance, intrigue, betrayal.... So buckle on you swash and sally forth.

Set in the midst of the French revolution this is a very satisfying "high adventure" of swordplay and romance... (of course it's by Sabatini, what else should we expect?)

Enjoy.

***UPDATE****

I just reread this...again. I've read it several times and like it immensely, it rates among my favorite novels.

I'm a...more I couldn't actually find the edition I read...but I loved this book. Find it read it you won't regret it. High adventure, romance, intrigue, betrayal.... So buckle on you swash and sally forth.

Set in the midst of the French revolution this is a very satisfying "high adventure" of swordplay and romance... (of course it's by Sabatini, what else should we expect?)

Enjoy.

***UPDATE****

I just reread this...again. I've read it several times and like it immensely, it rates among my favorite novels.

I'm also a fan of Rafael Sabatini. He was an incredibly prolific writer who for most of his life wrote at the rate of a book a year. He's probably best know today for this books, Captain Blood, The Sea-Hawk and to a slightly lesser extent The Black Swan because of the movies based on or by the same titles as these books. It can be difficult to track down other of his titles but on the whole he is a reliable writer.

I like this book especially (of course I haven't read all his books but I live in hope). There is a movie based on this novel, and it's a good movie. It's not really the same story as the novel though it is loosely based on it.

Here is a story that has a nice intricate plot line, it's got depth, humor and a action. Set in (during) the French Revolution we follow Andre-Louis Moreau who has been cared for raised and schooled by his godfather. Everyone assumes he's the "by-blow" of some member of the gentry (the assumption is it's probably his godfather M. de Kercadiou though not by Moreau). His life follows a path he himself never would have planed or expected. After his best friend is slain in a set up duel (his friend has no knowledge of the sword while the man who kills him is a master) Andre is drawn from his more or less shallow life into the political life that had cost his friend his life. Holding his best friend's body he swears vengeance.

From there the lives of Andre and the man who slew his friend are strangely entwined. Constantly crossing and recrossing one another's path they are each like the Nemesis of the other.

As noted I've read this many times and the twists are no longer surprises to me but the storytelling, the sardonic humor and the depth of the story still keep it fresh for me.

My highest recommendation.(less)

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Jan 10, 2013 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookmooch, hf-18th-century, historical-fiction, read-2009, 3ms, book-and-movie

First line: "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad."

According to Wiki, "Scaramouche" also called Scaramuccia, means a roguish buffoon character in the commedia dell'arte.

A great novel, it reminds me Dumas pere books, with a lot of twisting plots, duels and plenty of historical figures, like Marat, Danton , Marie Antoinette and so on.

A decade later after Scaramouche publication, Sabatini wrote a sequel, Scaramouche the Kingmaker text , which was not as well rece...more

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May 25, 2012 Gary Hoggatt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-fiction, classics, audiobooks

Published in 1921, Scaramouche was swashbuckling historical novelist Rafael Sabatini's breakout novel, after over two decades of writing. My first encounter with Sabatini, however, was reading his 1922 release Captain Blood last year, and so many of my thoughts on Scaramouche are in comparison to Captain Blood, which I enjoyed immensely.

In Scaramouche, Sabatini introduces as our hero Andre-Louis Moreau, a provincial lawyer of uncertain parentage, raised by his godfather (wink wink, nudge nudge,...more Published in 1921, Scaramouche was swashbuckling historical novelist Rafael Sabatini's breakout novel, after over two decades of writing. My first encounter with Sabatini, however, was reading his 1922 release Captain Blood last year, and so many of my thoughts on Scaramouche are in comparison to Captain Blood, which I enjoyed immensely.

In Scaramouche, Sabatini introduces as our hero Andre-Louis Moreau, a provincial lawyer of uncertain parentage, raised by his godfather (wink wink, nudge nudge, say the locals), a minor noble. Andre-Louis' best friend Philippe de Vilmorin, a clergyman with a revolutionary bent and - unfortunately - a horrible swordsman, is goaded into a duel by the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr, since - this being 1788 France - the nobles aren't keen on revolutionary talk. The Marquis easily kills Philippe, and thereby earns the role of antagonist for this novel. Andre-Louis, though not a revolutionary himself, swears to take up his friends cause to overthrow the likes of the evil Marquis. Along the way to his eventual final confrontation with Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr, Andre-Louis takes on many roles - orator, actor, swordsman, politician - as his fortunes rise and fall, while France itself is in turmoil.

The adventures Andre-Louis finds himself are intriguing and entertaining on their own. However, at times they seem to take him fare afield from his quest and the main thread of the narrative before eventually circling back around to it. They do eventually tie into things, and they have a part in making Andre-Louis the man he is at the end, but they nonetheless felt a bit tangential to me.

Andre-Louis himself is a fun character. He has a sharp wit and a clever tongue. At times he's almost too capable, but he almost as often is held back by his flaws, which help keep him more human and believable than he might otherwise be.

The setting itself is a great choice by Sabatini. There's a lot going on in revolutionary France, and Andre-Louis as often as not finds himself in the thick of it.

Overall, Scaramouche is a good book, and I enjoyed it. My main problem with it is, really, that I liked Captain Blood quite a bit more. Peter Blood and his pirate adventures were more fun, more consistently entertaining, and more action-packed, while still having much of the political intrigue found in Scaramouche. Had I, like the reading public of the 1920's, read Scaramouche first and then Captain Blood, I probably would have enjoyed Scaramouche more. But, as it was, it kept coming up a bit shot of Captain Blood for me. If you're only going to read one, read Captain Blood. If you want to read both, I'd suggest Scaramouche first, so you can enjoy it without the comparisons to Sabatini's next novel.

I listened to Scaramouche as read by Robert Whitfield (who also records as Simon Vance, audio book fans). Whitfield is up to his usual standards of audio excellence, bringing Andre-Louis and the rest to life, and putting on a good French accent when using the occasional French phase included by Sabatini. Whitfield is always a pleasure to listen to.

Overall, I recommend Scaramouche. However, it just isn't quite as good as Sabatini's Captain Blood. Still, I remain a fan of Sabatini, and plan to read The Sea Hawk and other books from Sabatini, because - in the end - Sabatini's great at historical fiction, intrigue, swashbuckling, and is a lot of fun.(less)

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Apr 29, 2008 Kori rated it 5 of 5 stars

"He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad," so begins Scaramouche, Rafael Sabatini's 1921 novel set during the French Revolution. That single and unforgettable sentence propelled me back to my childhood and awoke in me nostalgia for the excitement and adventure I once held for books and movies.

Scaramouche is a tale of revenge, an astonishing tour de force - every single page seethes with incident, color, and detail. How could it no be? It is the story of a man bo...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you happen to be in the market for a great summer read, here you are. Originally published by Rafael Sabatini in 1921, the book tells the story of Andre-Louis Moreau. Andre-Louis is a man of illigitimate birth who is raised with almost all the privilages of his nobleman godfather. The book is set at the cusp of the French Revolution and tries to explain the attitudes of the different classes of people and how the revolution turned into the blood bath that it became. In the middle of all that...more

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Mar 18, 2008 Johnny Waco rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure

I came to read this novel after stumbling across the 1952 swashbuckler film based on it, and I discovered a forgotten gem. Sabatini may have been the last great author of the golden age of the adventure novel, an era beginning with Stevenson, Haggard, and Kipling, and fading away by the Twenties. Andre-Louis, a provincial lawyer with no strong political views, turns vehemently against France's aristocracy when a haughty marquis trumps up a duel with his bumbling but egalitarian friend so he coul...more

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Nov 20, 2007 Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: adolescents and adults

Shelves: older-books, romances

This is a terrific story about the adventures of a young man during the French Revolution. He is a laissez-faire and rather apathetic lawyer at the beginning, very sure that no effort he exerts on behalf of good morals will do any good at all, until his young friend is killed in a duel, simply because he was too outspoken about the truth. It sets the young man in a rage, and he avenges his friend as he holds his dead body in his arms. With such a goal, he becomes the most outspoken lawyer and ac...more

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Jan 31, 2008 Jeanine rated it 5 of 5 stars

My uncle gave me a stack of old books and this one piqued my interest because I love everything French. And then I saw the last half of the (1950s) movie on TV and I became even more interested. (By the way, the movie and book differ quite a bit.)
So I loved it and if you like stories with fencing duels and romance and revenge, you will too. There's a history lesson in there too because the story takes place during the French Revolution. And I think there were some literary references in there th...more

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May 10, 2008 Gavin rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you've never read any Rafael Sabatini, then I urge you to do so. He writes historical novels that are at least as good as Sir Walter Scott's, if not slightly better. This particular one concerns Andre-Louis's adventures as a part of the french Revolution, its build-up and subsequent events.

Scaramouche is a character from the Comedia dell' Arte whose characteristics fit the protagonist to a T. Sabatini has an easy style and keeps the interest up throughout the novel. There's a second one with...more

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Jun 28, 2008 Caitlincrowley rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm currently reading 'Captain Blood', and I can tell you that Sabatini writes some of the best classic adventure stories you will encounter. His mix of historical fiction, romance, action and political intrigue in Scaramouche will keep you turning pages. Highly recommended if you enjoy Dumas. Also, Andre-Louis is a very interesting protagonist, which is more than can be said for the heroes in most adventure novels. You'll be surprised by the different roles Andre-Louis plays in the story, as we...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Gale rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure-young-adult, british-classics, world-history

“Jack of Hearts in Revolutionary France”

Sabatini’s 1923 swashbuckler epitomizes the turbulent years preceding the French Revolution—which of necessity imposes literary restrictions on the plot development. Despite uneven pacing in places the story unfolds with dramatic excitement, intrigue and the requisite ploy of hidden identity. The protagonist is depicted as somewhat callous at first, but we wonder how much of his cool heartlessness is just a facade. This adventure novel is a romantic piece...more “Jack of Hearts in Revolutionary France”

Sabatini’s 1923 swashbuckler epitomizes the turbulent years preceding the French Revolution—which of necessity imposes literary restrictions on the plot development. Despite uneven pacing in places the story unfolds with dramatic excitement, intrigue and the requisite ploy of hidden identity. The protagonist is depicted as somewhat callous at first, but we wonder how much of his cool heartlessness is just a facade. This adventure novel is a romantic piece historical fiction, which also educates in that it encourages readers to reflect on the legitimate grievances of the French people in the face of the arrogance and limitless authority of both the Monarchy and Nobility.

Young Andre-Louis Moreau, an illegitimate orphan raised by a kindly landowner in Brittany, is shocked at the swaggering indifference
of the local Marquis, who deliberately provoked and murdered Andre’s best friend in an unequal duel. Swearing personal vengeance upon this hated representative of Monied Privilege, Andre pledges to espouse the very views he formerly ridiculed. Refusing to permit his friend’s libertarian ideas to be silenced, he becomes a talented rabble-rouser.
Once discovering his amazing powers of oratory Andre is forced into hiding from regional authorities by joining a troupe of traveling actors who specialize in Comedia del’Arte—based on the Italian style of improvisation. In this guise he can travel around France in cognito.

Quickly becoming embroiled in many passionate intrigues—both amorous and political—Andre is swept up as frenzied Paris rushes headlong into emotional fervor over the wisdom and efficacy of a constitutional monarchy. Alternately plying his trade as an actor/ author/manager and even as a fencing master, the godson of Gavrillac ultimately if forced to return to the seething political arena. All throughout his Parisian sojourn Andre is fiercely motivated to prove himself the nemesis of the cruel marquis--an ambition which unfortunately causes great anguish among female hearts. This fascinating tale transports readers to the prelude of the French bloodbath of over two centuries ago. En Garde!! You are just a swords point away from becoming hooked!

(October 8, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Smcleish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

Originally published on my blog here in January 2000.

Like his contemporary Jeffrey Farnol, Sabatini was an immensely popular author of historical thrillers. Sabatini, however, seems today to be less dated, possibly because his novels are more literary and better researched, giving a greater sense that they are anchored in the periods in which they are set than Farnol's. His dialogue in particular is not so artificial.

Scaramouche is probably Sabatini's best known novel (though a couple of others...more

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Apr 15, 2012 Peggy Zdila rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What an exciting,entertaining,swash buckling and fun historical novel! I read this Barnese & Noble ed. which has a lot of fun extras, though one of the sections at the end, called "Inspired By Scaramouch" had 2 of the important female characters confused. Oh well.There are also a few goofy graphic novel style illustrations. All in good fun. I particularly enjoyed the discussion at the end of the book of some of Sabatini's books which were made into movies from the silent era into the 50's. S...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Thom Swennes rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my first Sabatini novel I’ve read without a swashbuckling pirate. Scaramouche is a story set in France in the preamble of the French Revolution. Andre Louis Moreau, a provincial lawyer, incites the countryside against the aristocrats that kept the masses in poverty. This he does in reaction at the killing of a friend by one of that privileged class. When a price is put on his head he finds safety in the midst of a traveling group of improvisers (these differ from actors as the former imp...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Scott rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book almost lost me, but won me back again. I was put off by the flowery, often self-indulgent language used by the author, such ad:

"The venomous scorn it poured upon those worthless rapscallions afforded him a certain solatium against the discomforts of expatriation by which he was afflicted as a result of their detestable energies."

It's not really fair to judge an older book by current standards, and this book was written before the "show, don't tell" rule. It was very tell-y. For example...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s very rare that a book grabs me right from the beginning in such a way that I go out and buy it without even continuing to read the copy I’ve checked out from the library. Sabatini has a way of capturing you from the first chapter, even the first sentence at times, that is rarely seen in our modern age of literature. His character of Scaramouche, while a little off-putting at the beginning, grows to be someone you would respect and listen to just as the people of France do. He’s curiously fl...more

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Apr 16, 2011 maricar rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: classics, historical-fiction

“…it is human nature, I suppose, to be futile and ridiculous.”

Though I am first a reader of romance novels/novelettes ~~(bleeding hearts, unite!)~~, I must admit feeling sometimes that I could be drowning in oversaturation with the lovey-dovey stuff (Ms Judith McNaught, forgive me for I have sinned… eh, but really, I’ve no choice, you’ve whimpered out of existence in the years past and thus consigned our passionate affair into a sad, orphan-like recourse to unsatisfactory hollow imitations of your w...more

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Jan 06, 2010 K. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: French Revolution students

Shelves: blood-and-morality-tales

Interesting book. Went well with Les Mis as it deals with the beginnings of the French Revolution. Nicely fleshed out some historical names Hugo mentions but doesn't define.

Things I liked:
*Sabatini must have had an enormous personal vocabulary. There were so many words that I've never even seen before, and I've seen quite a few words. That's always fun, although I didn't take the time to look them up.
*High moral tone. Hero is the epitome of self-made man who pulls himself up by his own bootstr...more

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Dec 21, 2009 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYBODY

Recommended to Jason by: Orson Scott Card

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I’ve owned a copy of Scaramouche for a couple of years, but what little I knew of the plot didn’t interest me (despite my love of Captain Blood and Bardelys the Magnificent). A recent review by Orson Scott Card, in which he compared it superior to The Scarlet Pimpernel led me to finally sitting down and reading it.

Summary
Set in the years preceding the French Revolution and proceeding into the initial violence of those dark days, the story centers on one Andre-Louis Moreau, a resolute young law...more

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Feb 18, 2011 Diane Wallis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Robert Whitfield's excellent narration of this classic surely heightened my enjoyment of this unabridged audio version of Scaramouche. The book begins on the eve of the French Revolution. The central character, André-Louis Moreau, is a young man of uncertain birth but fortunate enough to have had his life and education overseen by his godfather.
The story starts thus:

He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad. And that was all his patrimony. His very paternity was obsc

...more Robert Whitfield's excellent narration of this classic surely heightened my enjoyment of this unabridged audio version of Scaramouche. The book begins on the eve of the French Revolution. The central character, André-Louis Moreau, is a young man of uncertain birth but fortunate enough to have had his life and education overseen by his godfather.
The story starts thus:

He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad. And that was all his patrimony. His very paternity was obscure, although the village of Gavrillac had long since dispelled the cloud of mystery that hung about it. Those simple Brittany folk were not so simple as to be deceived by a pretended relationship which did not even possess the virtue of originality. When a nobleman, for no apparent reason, announces himself the godfather of an infant fetched no man knew whence, and thereafter cares for the lad's rearing and education, the most unsophisticated of country folk perfectly understand the situation. And so the good people of Gavrillac permitted themselves no illusions on the score of the real relationship between André-Louis Moreau – as the lad had been named – and Quintin de Kercadiou, Lord of Gavrillac, who dwelt in the big grey house that dominated from its eminence the village clustering below.
Andre-Louis had learnt his letters at the village school, lodged the while with old Rabouillet, the attorney, who in the capacity of fiscal intendant, looked after the affairs of M. de Kercadiou. Thereafter, at the age of fifteen, he had been packed off to Paris, to the Lycée of Louis Le Grand, to study the law which he was now returned to practise in conjunction with Rabouillet. All this at the charges of his godfather, M. de Kercadiou, who by placing him once more under the tutelage of Rabouillet would seem thereby quite clearly to be making provision for his future.

(view spoiler)[At twenty-four André-Louis is a cynic, apolitical and a source of frustration to his friends who are all fired by the social and economic injustices of the period just prior to the French Revolution. His passions, however, are just below the surface and unleashed in full force when an idealistic friend and seminarist, Phillipe de Vilmorin, is despatched in a sword-fight on a bowling-green behind an inn by Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr. Phillipe had spoken out publicly about the death of Mabey, a poacher, at the hands of Marquis's gamekeeper, Benet. The Marquis saw this outcome as an acceptable deterrent to those who hold in contempt his absolute and inviolable rights as a landowner and aristocrat. Phillipe was appalled:

"Are there in the world no laws but game laws?" he demanded, angrily. "Have you never by any chance heard of the laws of humanity?"
The Marquis sighed wearily. "What have I to do with the laws of humanity?" he wondered.
M. de Vilmorin looked at him a moment in speechless amazement.
"Nothing, M. le Marquis. That is – alas! – too obvious. I hope you will remember it in the hour when you may wish to appeal to those laws which you now deride."

In the following exchange, the aristocrat provokes the cleric and offers an insult to Phillipe's mother. André-Louis senses a trap but too late. In an uncharacteristic show of anger, the gentle idealist slaps the Marquis and according to custom, a duel has to follow. M. de La Tour d'Azyr was a brilliant swordsman, Phillipe an eloquent and persuasive orator and no fighting match for the landowner and aristocrat.
André-Louis is overcome with emotion, calls the victor a cowardly murderer and invites the Marquis to finish him off too in order to ensure his own safety.

"Do you ask? Do you understand of life and humanity nothing but how to wear a coat and dress your hair – oh, yes, and to handle weapons against boys and priests? Have you no mind to think, no soul into which you can turn its vision? Must you be told that it is a coward's part to kill the thing he fears, and doubly a coward's part to kill in this way? Had you stabbed him in the back with a knife, you would have shown the courage of your vileness. It would have been a vileness undisguised. But you feared the consequences of that, powerful as you are; and so you shelter your cowardice under the pretext of a duel."

When the body of the young priest was carried into the inn and laid on a bed, the former cynic knelt beside the bed and,

…he swore to him out of his impotent rage that M. de La Tour d'Azyr should pay a bitter price for this.

And it is this promise that shapes the next four years of André-Louis's life and the remainder of the story. He is now outspoken about the evils of inherited privilege much to the consternation and concern of his godfather and is soon pursued by the authorities.
André-Louis decides on evasive action and walks away from his village of Gravillac. After seven miles, he beds down for the night in a barn to be woken the next morning by a curiously stilted dialogue between a young woman and man. When a third person joins the scene and then a fourth, he realizes that he has come upon a troupe of travelling players, of doubtful quality, in rehearsal. The scene is cut short by the arrival of marshals on horseback who threaten everyone with trespassing. André-Louis offers a bribe for the thirsty marshals that they may drink the health of the landowner (none other than M. de la Tour d’Azyr) at the nearest inn. Naturally, the lawmen are seeking André-Louis Moreau for the crime of sedition and the fugitive himself gives them false directions for their quarry.
The grateful players accept him into the company where he discovers his talents for writing and acting. He becomes Scaramouche, a master commedia dell'arte manipulator who is sly, adroit, supple and conceited and it is in this character that André-Louis hides and awaits his opportunity for revenge on his friend’s killer. Unable to resist the chance to denounce de la Tour d'Azyr from the stage, he must escape again.
So off he goes to Paris to become a fencing instructor. André-Louis excels at everything he attempts but his one flaw is getting it wrong, and terribly wrong, about love and relationships. He’s not insightful about women, perhaps because he had been raised by old men. With all the women he knows and meets, he continually misconstrues silences, chance remarks, a downcast look and a tableau of characters and reads into them the wrong meaning.
In the early days of the French Revolution after becoming a master swordsman with his own highly successful fencing school, Moreau again is presented with an opportunity to confront his enemy, this time as a representative in the States General. But, his fate and that of the Marquis are intertwined and the action builds to a climax and conclusion. (hide spoiler)]
A long-time reader of detective fiction, I correctly guessed the double surprise ending quite early in the story. And although I rather revelled in the rich language, the use of French and some obscure words, I imagine that others might find the style a bit verbose. Towards the end, André-Louis did tend to preach too much about his reasons for doing what he did (I listened to Scaramouche on several long car journeys and my husband, at this stage, was making wind-up motions with his hand) but I expect this is something to do with the era in which the book was written. Perhaps there was more time to conclude a story in 1921 when this book was first published. These days, I think we hanker for a car chase and a gunfight at the end of an adventure.
(less)

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Sep 23, 2008 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Chelsea by: Todd Denning

If you like Dumas, you'll like this book. It really reminded me of The Counte of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers...except that it didn't have real boring crap in between action scenes. Not to say that this book is all action, just that I was never bored. I really enjoyed that it was set during the time of the French Revolution. It added an ineteresting historical flavor to the story, without overwhelming the actual highlight of the book--the characters.

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Oct 04, 2011 John rated it 5 of 5 stars

Best swashbuckler ever! Scaramouche is one of those rare classics that also qualifies as a riveting page-turner. It's more sophisticated than The Three Musketeers, more intriguing than The Scarlet Pimpernell. It boasts a perfect blend of philosophy, action, history, romance and politics, and the last 150 pages were so riveting that I blew through them in a single sitting. I love it when a gifted writer and a consummate story-teller are both embodied by the same person, as with Sabatini. As a rev...more

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Nov 19, 2010 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, adventure, classics, sabatini

In the years just before the French Revolution, Andre-Louis Moreau is openly critical of his idealistic peers who seek to change the country. Andre-Louis isn't a gentleman, but he was starting a career as a lawyer thanks to help from his aristocratic godfather. A harsh experience makes him realize that the law is of little use against the powerful, so Andre-Louis takes matters into his own hands. His quest for revenge leads him through adventure, drama, political intrigue, and personal revelatio...more

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Mar 23, 2008 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of historical adventures

Great swashbuckling member of the troupe of classical adventure novels. (Think Scarlet Pimpernel and Prisoner of Zenda.) Talk about 2nd - and 3rd and 4th - careers! Lovely prose (albeit a bit older in style), charming protagonist, interesting (and surprisingly nuanced) history, and great villain (which makes the difference between a common versus a great adventure book). Some clever plot twists - albeit somewhat predictable. Wonderful entertainment!

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Jan 17, 2013 M. Milner rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rafael Sabatini's tale of a swordsman/lawyer/actor/teacher in the French Revolution is a bit of a potboiler, but it's fun in parts. Andre-Louis, the Scaramouche of the title, is the bastard some of French nobility, spurred into action when his friend is killed in a duel. He more or less rides the waves of history, helping spur the proletariat into revolution. He's a master orator, swordsman and actor, but also moody, cold and pretty remorseless in killing more than a few people. Somehow the wome...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Nschafer rated it 4 of 5 stars

My view of this book and the validity of the French Revolution kept changing throughout the book. In the beginning, when the arrogant Marquis killed a young and idealist revolutionary, I was incensed because his death was so unnecessary. Anytime a death that is caused by differences in ideology is unnecessary. The young revolutionary's good friend, Andre-Louis (and also the main character of the book), vowed to avenge his death by taking on his cause, even though his own political view was diffe...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

A beautifully constructed plot. Our hero Andre-Louis is prey to his own faults as often as he is witness to others' faults. But what really makes Sabatini's masterful stroke is his historical accuracy. Scaramouche takes place in the midst of the beginnings of the French Revolution, the early 1790s when Marat and Robespierre were just beginning to sew the seeds of unrest. Andre-Louis Moreau's involvement slots perfectly into the reality of the Revolution, meeting with actual figures of the time,...more

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About Rafael Sabatini

Rafael Sabatini (1875 - 1950) was an Italian/British writer of novels of romance and adventure. At a young age, Rafael was exposed to many languages. By the time he was seventeen, he was the master of five languages. He quickly added a sixth language - English - to his linguistic collection. After a brief stint in the business world, Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the...more

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“He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.” — 1,836 people liked it

“...it is human nature, I suppose, to be futile and ridiculous.” — 31 people liked it

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