"He had a gift for laughter and a sense that the world was mad."

The opening line of Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini, Italian-born English author of about 70 novels, mostly historical adventure. One of his more famous characters is Captain Blood. Sabatini researched the historical backgrounds of his novels very carefully, and he integrated that history into the novels, building his plots around what was actually going on at the time.

Scaramouche, starting on the eve of the French Revolution, is one helluva novel! And, no, Scaramouche did not gallivant around in a cape and mask, brandishing a sword like Zorro. Much more subtle and grown up than that.

Hollywood made a mockery of the story in the 1952 movie with Stewart Granger and Janet Leigh (although Janet Leigh was a good bit of casting as the lovely Aline). And the shocking secret in the novel about André-Louis Moreau's true identity—which even he didn't know—is even more of a shocker than the rather limp one they tried to bung in at the end of the movie.

And—the duel scene between André-Louis and the Marquis was downright stupid. Chasing each other along the railings of theater balconies and swinging like Tarzan on velvet ropes. Hollywood at its most gawdawful!.

If you like historical adventure and intrigue, read the novel. Sabatini's writing style is a bit Victorian, but it doesn't really get in the way. No more than, say, with Charles Dickens.

By the way, a bit of trivia:   Sabatini's father was an opera singer and in his later years taught voice. He was John McCormack's teacher.

Don Firth