Scaramouche (Paperback)

~ (Author), Gary Hoppenstand (Introduction) "HE was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad..." (more)
Key Phrases: very dangerous gift, theatre girl, Third Estate, Marquis de La Tour, André-Louis Moreau (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Delightfully courtly, flowery but not dated, Sabatini's period romances--Scaramouche unfolds over the years leading up to the French Revolution--were deservedly popular when originally published, during the 20s and 30s.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

All in all, this "sheer knight-errantcy" is a marvelous entertainment. -- Kirkus Reviews --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Signet Classics (June 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451527976
• ISBN-13: 978-0451527974
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,131 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Historical Novel, September 15, 2001

By	Kevin Hing (St. Petersburg, Florida United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Scaramouche is not only Rafael Sabatini's crowning literary achievement, it is one of the most engaging, thought-provoking and exciting historical novels ever written.

Andre-Louis Moreau, (or Scaramouche, as he later becomes known), is a fascinatingly complex protagonist. Courageous, intelligent, quick-witted and intensely moral, Moreau is a character whose personal quest for revenge against the villainous Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr is a masterfully-woven story of swashbuckling action, romance and social conflict during the turbulent years of the French Revolution.

Well-born lawyer. Fugitive. Dramatic actor. Expert swordsman. Impassioned, mob-inciting orator. Revolutionary politician. Sabatini sets Moreau upon an intriguing path of fate, development and discovery, a fictionalized yet compelling account of a single man's ultimate test of human character as the world around him spirals into madness.

Sabatini has often been compared to Alexandre Dumas (author of the Three Musketeers, the Count of Monte Cristo) as a master of historical fiction. Though I believe Dumas to be the finest action-adventure writer of all time, and though some of Sabatini's other works (which I have not yet read) have been criticized as overly melodramatic, Sabatini has created in Scaramouche an historical action-adventure novel that transcends Dumas (and all modern action-adventure writers, for that matter) in that Moreau, his protagonist, is a thoroughly multi-dimensional character. Though Moreau is driven by his hatred and his quest for revenge, the spirit of his character is not defined by them, and the conflict of these passions with his ideals brings depth and substance to his exploits on the Theatre Feydau, the fencing halls of Paris, the floor of the National Assembly and his pursuit of the beautiful Aline de Kercadiou.

Duels. Intrigue. Romance. More duels. Moral and political introspection. Its all here. Enjoy!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engrossing historical romance., October 20, 1999

By	Leonard L. Wilson (Springfield, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Scaramouche (Hardcover)

When his best friend, a young clergyman, is killed in a mockery of a duel by an arrogant noble, just to quiet his eloquent expressions of democratic ideals, Andre-Louis Moreau vows revenge. From that point, through meteoric careers as a consummate actor and scenario writer, then as a fencing master, and finally a politician, the brilliant Moreau keeps thwarting the aims of the aristocratic Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr. However, the nobleman causes pain to Moreau as well, and the time must come when the two will meet to settle their enmity once and for all. You are not likely to guess how their confrontation finally turns out. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this swashbuckling novel is exciting throughout, and it presents one of the most dashing heroes in fiction, a man who can fight equally well with his mind, his mouth, his pen, and his sword, a man who stirs up events wherever he goes. I can't decide whether I like this novel or CAPTAIN BLOOD better, but these two books of Sabatini's are among the very best adventure novels.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great adventure written by a master, April 29, 2000

By	"fiammetta" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scaramouche (Gateway Movie Classics) (Paperback)

Sabatini is ranked with the great adventure writers of all time, with Alexandre Dumas, Baroness Orczy, and Robert Louis Stevenson. With one of the best opening lines ever (right up there with "It was the best of times....") Scaramouche is his masterpiece.

Andre Louis vows revenge upon the wrongful death of a young clerical friend by the wicked Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr. Taking up his dead friend's cause, he is charged with treason when he incites a crowd to riot. He flees his home and his love, and joins a troup of old school actors. Needless to say, Andre Louis takes on the role of Scaramouche, the rogue, and this way continues to thwart his enemy. He later becomes a fencing master, and...I won't spoil the plot for you, but I have never read a book with such an effective climax. Andre Louis is one of the immortal heroes of all time.