Sabatini has a more complex story to tell, and he tells it well. Except, nothing is quite that simple here. All the while, the story is moving toward its inevitable climax when he must confront the despicable nobleman who killed his friend at the beginning of the book. Later, he becomes a fencing master, which certainly comes in handy. First, he joins an acting troupe and is quickly writing their scenarios and becoming their star-thus his assuming the identity of Scaramouche. But the fun in the story is how the hero (although he is a hero with some obvious flaws) has to reinvent himself as he is fleeing arrest. We get to meet, in passing, some of the historical personages of the revolution such as Danton. All this is very educational and quite well done. We see France during the inception of the French Revolution as the protagonist, seeking to avenge the death of a friend, becomes a spokesman for the third estate-the ordinary people who are trying to put an end to the unquestioned power of the nobles and the clergy. The characterization, at least of the title character, the adopted son of a minor nobleman, is much deeper and this is truly a piece of historical fiction rather than an adventure novel. I was expecting a real thriller like Captain Blood, but this isn't that type of book. This made it much easier to look up some of the odd words or French passages the author frequently uses.Scaramouche is a story that takes its time getting to where it is going. After my 13-year old daughter finished Scaramouche for the second time, and highly recommended it, I started reading her paperback copy, then switched to a Kindle version downloaded from Amazon. His very paternity was obscure, although the village of Gavrillacs had long since dispelled the cloud of mystery that hung about it.I read Sabatini's wonderful Captain Blood some time ago and have been meaning to return to his work.
The novel has a memorable start (Book I: The Robe, Chapter I, 'The Republican'): "He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad. The later film version includes one of the longest, and many believe, best swashbuckling sword-fighting scenes ever filmed. His successive endeavors as a lawyer, politician, actor, lover, and buffoon lead his enemies to call him "Scaramouche" (also called Scaramuccia, a roguish character in the commedia dell'arte), but he impresses many with his elegant orations and precision swordsmanship. Scaramouche is a romantic adventure and tells the story of a young aristocrat during the French Revolution. Download cover art Download CD case insert Scaramouche
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