|
For other uses, see Scaramouche (disambiguation). Cover of the English e-book edition Scaramouche is a historical novel by Rafael Sabatini, originally published in 1921. It was subsequently adapted into a play by Barbara Field and into feature films, first in 1923 starring Ramón Novarro, Scaramouche (1923), and a remake in 1952 with Stewart Granger. It is a romantic adventure and tells the story of a young lawyer during the French Revolution. In the course of his adventures he becomes an actor portraying "Scaramouche" (also called Scaramuccia, a roguish buffoon character in the commedia dell'arte). He also becomes a revolutionary, politician, and fencing-master, confounding his enemies with his powerful orations and swordsmanship. He is forced by circumstances to change sides several times. The book also depicts his transformation from cynic to idealist. The later film version includes one of the longest, and many[who?] believe, best swashbuckling sword-fighting scenes ever filmed.[citation needed] The three-part novel opens with the memorable line, "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." This line was to become Sabatini's epitaph, on his gravestone in Adelboden, Switzerland. Contents [hide] 1 Plot summary 1.1 The robe 1.2 The buskin 1.3 The sword 2 Scaramouche the Kingmaker 3 External links // Plot summary The robe André-Louis Moreau, educated as a lawyer, lives in Britanny with his godfather, M. de Kercadiou, who refuses to disclose Moreau's parentage. He refers to a girl named Aline, Kercadiou's niece, as his cousin, and because he loves her as a cousin, he warns her against marrying the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr but she is ambitious and wishes to marry high, so she ignores him. A peasant, Mabey, is shot by the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr for poaching. Moreau's closest friend, the idealistic Philippe de Vilmorin, denounces the act as murder. He is provoked to a duel with the Marquis and killed for his "gift of eloquence" which the Marquis fears would set the Third Estate against the privileged estates. Moreau then vows to avenge the death, and sets off from his hometown of Gavrillac for Rennes to the King's lieutenant in Brittany, to see justice done. After being brushed off by the arrogant official, who refuses to act against a man of the Marquis' status, he discovers a large political gathering, and, much to the surprise of his peers, he delivers convincing rhetoric, using Vilmorin's arguments. He goes on to Nantes and whips up the crowds there. These events set the stage for the French Revolution, and make Moreau a wanted man. The buskin To hide from the law, Andre-Louis joins a troupe of travelling Commedia dell'Arte actors under M. Binet. He takes on the role of Scaramouche, the scheming rogue. He discovers an aptitude for acting and writing, which propells the troupe from near-poverty to success which takes them to the Feydau theatre in Nantes. Binet, who plays Pantaloon, grows
|