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Beau Geste #2
Beau Sabreur
1925. Wren immortalized the French Foreign Legion in Beau Geste and many other novels of high adventure and romance. Beau Sabreur is the sequel to Beau Geste. Part Failure; The Making of a Beau Sabreur; Part Success; The Making of a Monarch. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. Other volumes in this set are ISBN(s): 0766194272, 1417914890.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1926
About the author
P.C. Wren
117 books48 followersPercival Christopher Wren (1 November 1875 – 22 November 1941) was a British writer, mostly of adventure fiction. He is remembered best for Beau Geste, a much-filmed book of 1924 involving the French Foreign Legion in North Africa, and its sequels, Beau Sabreur and Beau Ideal.
Born as plain Percy Wren, in Deptford, South London, England, Percy was the son of a schoolmaster. After graduation with a Master of Arts degree from St. Catherine's College, Oxford, a non-collegiate college for poorer students, Percy worked as a boarding school teacher for a few years, during which he married Alice Shovelier, and had a daughter (Estelle, born 1901). In 1903 he joined the Indian Education Service as headmaster of Karachi High School (now Pakistan). While in India, he joined the Poona Volunteer Rifles with the rank of Captain, before his service was terminated in October 1915 after sick leave. He resigned from the Indian Education Service in November 1917. It is presumed that his wife died in India, for no record of her return to Britain has been found; his daughter having died in England in 1910. From there it is claimed that he joined the French Foreign Legion for a single tour of five years though he would have been 42 years of age on enlistment, somewhat older that the usual recruit. He lived out the remainder of his life in England concentrating on his literary career. One of the few photographs of Wren known shows a typical British officer of the Edwardian era with clipped moustache, wearing plain dark blue regimental dress.
Wren was a highly secretive man, and his membership of the Legion has never been confirmed. When his novels became famous, there was a mysterious absence of authenticating photographs of him as a legionnaire or of the usual press-articles by old comrades wanting to cash in on their memories of a celebrated figure. It is now thought more likely that he encountered legionnaires during his extensive travels in Algeria and Morocco, and skillfully blended their stories with his own memories of a short spell as a cavalry trooper in England. While his fictional accounts of life in the pre-1914 Foreign Legion are highly romanticised, his details of Legion uniforms, training, equipment and barrack room layout are generally accurate. This may however simply reflect careful research on his part - the descriptions of Legion garrison life given in his work The Wages of Virtue written in 1914 closely match those contained in the autobiographical In the Foreign Legion by ex legionnaire Edwin Rosen, published Duckworth London 1910.
Born as plain Percy Wren, in Deptford, South London, England, Percy was the son of a schoolmaster. After graduation with a Master of Arts degree from St. Catherine's College, Oxford, a non-collegiate college for poorer students, Percy worked as a boarding school teacher for a few years, during which he married Alice Shovelier, and had a daughter (Estelle, born 1901). In 1903 he joined the Indian Education Service as headmaster of Karachi High School (now Pakistan). While in India, he joined the Poona Volunteer Rifles with the rank of Captain, before his service was terminated in October 1915 after sick leave. He resigned from the Indian Education Service in November 1917. It is presumed that his wife died in India, for no record of her return to Britain has been found; his daughter having died in England in 1910. From there it is claimed that he joined the French Foreign Legion for a single tour of five years though he would have been 42 years of age on enlistment, somewhat older that the usual recruit. He lived out the remainder of his life in England concentrating on his literary career. One of the few photographs of Wren known shows a typical British officer of the Edwardian era with clipped moustache, wearing plain dark blue regimental dress.
Wren was a highly secretive man, and his membership of the Legion has never been confirmed. When his novels became famous, there was a mysterious absence of authenticating photographs of him as a legionnaire or of the usual press-articles by old comrades wanting to cash in on their memories of a celebrated figure. It is now thought more likely that he encountered legionnaires during his extensive travels in Algeria and Morocco, and skillfully blended their stories with his own memories of a short spell as a cavalry trooper in England. While his fictional accounts of life in the pre-1914 Foreign Legion are highly romanticised, his details of Legion uniforms, training, equipment and barrack room layout are generally accurate. This may however simply reflect careful research on his part - the descriptions of Legion garrison life given in his work The Wages of Virtue written in 1914 closely match those contained in the autobiographical In the Foreign Legion by ex legionnaire Edwin Rosen, published Duckworth London 1910.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 22, 2009
This is an amazingly delightful and witty book; a wonderful discovery that my Grandfather led me to. The first half was enjoyable ... all the delight of a swashbuckling romance with a noble hero ... the second half turned everything in the first half on its head, with multiple surprises I never saw coming. The dialogue had me laughing out loud ... Wren has a cleverness about him that I liken to Wodehouse, but for him the stakes are higher, and the climax is more satisfying. A truly lovely book that I will enjoy reading again in a few years. Thanks, Grandfather! I had no idea I would enjoy it so much! If only I could find a copy of the silent film made around the same time the book was written, I would love to see that.
March 8, 2018
The continuation of the Beau series and the series of amazing coincidences. This time the focus is on Major de Beaujolais, who found the fort of dead soldiers in Beau Geste, his enlistment and years of service culminating in a great proposal to a local Emir. The Major’s exploits would put Lawrence of Arabia to shame, but even the Major was over-shadowed by the revelation of who the Emir and Vizier were.
There some humour but plenty more of misogamy and racism (not just White on Black but between the French and the Americans). It’s an old style yarn of a tall story.
There some humour but plenty more of misogamy and racism (not just White on Black but between the French and the Americans). It’s an old style yarn of a tall story.
September 23, 2014
This book should be, along with Beau Geste and Beau Ideal, required reading for all boys in every school in the world. This book in particular focuses on duty and morals. Sometimes the two can conflict, other times they go hand in hand. It strains the importance of the two for being essential elements of being a good soldier, or Beau Sabreur which translates into literally "good swordsman," hence the name.
January 6, 2013
Reread Dec 2012. And as a footnote to the brief review below, my 10 (now 13) did read all of these books and LOVED them as have all the young men I've recommended them to.
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Cracking great story. Not as suitable for young boys as Beau Geste (only because there's a bit of smooching in one part and I can't see my 10yo getting in to that ((nor do I wish it:)))
Fabulous fun. P.C. Wren was a funny guy. Love the humor.
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Cracking great story. Not as suitable for young boys as Beau Geste (only because there's a bit of smooching in one part and I can't see my 10yo getting in to that ((nor do I wish it:)))
Fabulous fun. P.C. Wren was a funny guy. Love the humor.
October 4, 2016
It ends the story jus about over 1/2 way & then changes persons & perspectives & goes back to a prior event......
Upto then it was about a fellah who joins the French Army & works his way through being a cavalry officer, to spy, to envoy in the North African theatre of the French Empire. The writing borders on a farce or what was once called a screwball comedy if it was a film & its alright in that respect as a change of pace for me but in truth Im probably revealed at the get-out clause of the change as above.....
This is NOT Beau Geste part 2 in any shape or form, even Doug Mc Clure would have avoided this script......
Upto then it was about a fellah who joins the French Army & works his way through being a cavalry officer, to spy, to envoy in the North African theatre of the French Empire. The writing borders on a farce or what was once called a screwball comedy if it was a film & its alright in that respect as a change of pace for me but in truth Im probably revealed at the get-out clause of the change as above.....
This is NOT Beau Geste part 2 in any shape or form, even Doug Mc Clure would have avoided this script......
July 24, 2023
A doozy of a sequel! We part from the Geste family to explore africa with some of the other characters introduced in the first volume. Clever as the story ends halfway through the book, but then is re-told from another perspective with a blind-side plot twist.
There are some words/phrases that are considered in poor taste by modern standards, so younger readers should have guidance.
There are some words/phrases that are considered in poor taste by modern standards, so younger readers should have guidance.
August 9, 2018
This book was written in 1926 and it is a very good adventure story concerning France’s colonial empire in Africa. Frances’s army, diplomats and Legionaries are all involve in this classic tale of intrigue with plenty of danger, dilemmas, escapes and con jobs to keep you entertained and guessing what’s next. It is a story with several very unexpected twists and turns. A little off-putting is the many strange locals and names. It is tough to follow the geography which when I’m reading such as adventure story of historical fiction, I like to understand where the general locations are and the story is taking place. A few well-placed maps by the publisher would have been nice and enhanced the experience for me. But that difficulty doesn’t really take anything away from the adventure.
May 19, 2018
I loved "Boy's Own" classic Beau Geste but Beau Sabreur is just too much: too preposterous, too racially arrogant and too obsessed with masculinity (as expressed by butchering everyone in sight- particularly the unfortunate locals). The two main characters are both saved by almost the same extraordinary fortune- and there is a ghastly narrative technique where the book is split into two to conceal the ridiculous conceit that the author carries on all the way through the first half, which (I suppose) would be a spoiler to reveal. Just re-read Beau Geste!
July 30, 2018
I read Beau Jest a long time ago and, as I recall, really enjoyed it.
I wasn't even aware that it was the first of a trilogy, so when that came to light I was excited, but this book wasn't nearly as exciting. That might be because of my advancing years, but the whole thing was very confusing.
I wasn't even aware that it was the first of a trilogy, so when that came to light I was excited, but this book wasn't nearly as exciting. That might be because of my advancing years, but the whole thing was very confusing.
April 10, 2024
The adventures of Major Henri de Beaujolais when he becomes a French cavalry officer at his uncle's behest. He joins the Foreign Legion, goes to North Africa, faces bloody uprisings, escapes across the desert, saves damsels in distress, negotiates with fake sheiks and doe sit all with witty aplomb! A genuinely enjoyable read with a lot of plot twists. Highly recommended.
June 8, 2021
Still as dated and dripping with colonialism as Beau Geste, but an equally wild ride with twists and "reveals" that make it well worth the eyerolls. I might notch this one ahead of Beau Geste since there's a bit more intrigue, plus, there's Maudie and her Hollywood sheikh obsession.
September 5, 2021
What's interesting about Wren's Foreign Legion novels is that despite the transparent plots (a modern reader can see the devices being used and easily anticipate what's going to happen), over-reliance on coincidence and casual racism, the books manage to still be entertaining and a fun, easy read.
November 21, 2024
The sequel to “Beau Geste” is only half as good as the first book. This one gets preposterous quickly. It is a weird narrative that changes protagonists half way through to hide a fairly obvious plot twist.
September 27, 2019
Just amazing. Even better than Beau Geste
July 30, 2018
This book is incredible! The author’s sarcasm comes through his writing in the best way and he had me laughing out loud many times. The first part of the book ends in a huge plot twist and the second half of the book is a whirlwind of deceit and more plot twists. Just when the reader thinks everything is wrapping up, the author throws in another plot twist on the last page just for kicks. Great read!
May 26, 2011
I believe I enjoyed this one more than the first, perhaps because no movies have been made of it and it was new to me as a result. The absolute idolatry of the British upper class in this one grew tiresome and it certainly falls into the unpolitically correct bin filled with Buchan, Haggard, and more of that ilk. (I've always wanted to meet an ilk.) Still they have their charms and this one does as well. Onward to the third volume in the series now. Excelsior!
March 10, 2020
This is a book I couldn't put down. I was reading it while traveling in Germany and spent hours in my hotel just finishing the book, which is so unlike me when I'm traveling. It was spellbinding for me and I absolutely loved it.
September 23, 2012
well i liked this book a lot it was great i recommend reading beau geste first that is another great book.
October 7, 2011
I remember seeing the movie Beau Geste when i was a child and decided to read the book. After reading beau Geste I picked up other books by Wren and have enjoyed them all.
September 21, 2023
I was a big fan of the author when I was at school so I probably first read this in 1966. I read it again in 1986 and felt a little disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews