I read Rafael Sabatini's Scaramouche when I was about thirteen and have reread it several times since.

Sabatini was famous for setting his historical novels in carefully researched backgrounds, and Scaramouche covered a wide area. The abuses of "privilege" that led to the French Revolution, much of the politics of the time, even the hero's hiding out with a troupe of travelling Comedia del Arte players from those who would silence him because of his "dangerous gift of eloquence"—and taking the name, "Scaramouche." Again, forced to flee from the comedy troupe, he takes refuge as the assistant of a fencing master in Paris, profits by the master's tutelage, eventually inherits the academy when the master is killed in a mob riot (leading up to the Revolution)—then is pressed into service to provide a nasty surprise to the aristocratic "bully swordsmen" who force political opponents into duels and kill them to get them out of the way.

In the milieu of the Assembly, he encounters his old enemy, the Marquis who killed his best friend because of his populist political views.

The novel has one helluva surprise ending!

The Fifties movie with Stewart Granger was a pale, deeply flawed attempt and didn't even come close.

I don't know how many times I've read this novel. It is one whacking good adventure story!

In fact most of Sabatini's novels are excellent reads, several of which have been made into movies. Early on, Errol Flynn made his career playing Sabatini heroes such as "Captain Blood" and "The Sea Hawk." Tyrone Power did similarly in "The Black Swan." Sabatini's novels are well-known for their carefully research historical backgrounds being woven into the fabric of the plots.

There are many other books I reread, but right now I have an urge to pull my copy of Scaramouche off the shelf and at least give it a thumb-through. . .  .

Don Firth