Scaramouche

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 1952's remake Scaramouche with Stewart Granger. It is a romantic adventure and tells the story of a young aristocrat 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 in the course of the novel a lawyer, politician, and lover, confounding his enemies with his elegant orations and precision swordsmanship. The later film version includes one of the longest, and many believe, best swashbuckling sword-fighting scenes ever filmed. 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.

Plot summary

The robe

André-Louis Moreau, educated as a lawyer lives with his godfather, M. de Kercadieu, who refuses to disclose Moreau's parentage. One day, his friend Philippe de Vilmorin is forced to duel with the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr and is killed for his "gift of eloquence" on the matter of the Third Estate and the Privileged. Moreau then vows to avenge the death, and sets off from his hometown of Gavrillac for Rennes to complain to the King's lieutenant. After being brushed off, he joins a large political gathering, and, much to the surprise of his peers, he delivers convincing rhetoric, leading to further protests across the countryside. This sets the stage for the French Revolution, and makes Moreau a wanted man.

The buskin

Escaping south, he stays overnight in a barn, and is awoken by two young lovers frantically talking about avoiding a disapproving father. As the scene unfolds before him, Moreau realizes that they are actually actors, practicing a skit. He then approaches the troupe, and introduces himself as a lawyer from Gavrillac. He agrees to work as a stagehand and carpenter, and goes into town with them. One night, he is asked to fill in for another actor, and at first declines. He is however forced to do it because Pantaloon, the leader, saw a poster offering a reward for André-Louis, thus blackmailing him into working. He gives a convincing performance, leading to higher and higher profits. Moving from town to town, Moreau exercises greater control over the group due to his creative talents which exceed those of the leader, Pantaloon, who becomes rather jealous. One day in Nantes, Moreau sees his Godfather's daughter, Aline, and finds out that la M. de la Tour d'Azyr - to whom she is engaged - is in town and going to see André-Louis' play. That night, during a monologue, Moreau delivers another revolutionary speech and causes a riot.

The sword

Moreau is now forced to go into hiding. He finds a fencing academy seeking "a young man of good address with some knowledge of swordsmanship". Moreau bluffs his way into apprenticeship with M. des Amis, the Maître en fait d'Armes (Master of Arms). Over time, he develops his own style of fencing, based on calculations of different moves. With the outbreak of the French Revolution, M. des Amis dies, and André-Louis inherits the school. When he is established at the school, he attempts a reconciliation with his godfather. The reconciliation, however, was brief. For when Moreau took a seat in the new Congress, Moreau's godfather renounced him again and forbade him to come near the house. The whole purpose of his taking a seat in the Congress was to kill the noble senators who, being more familiar with the sword than the lawyers of the Third Estate, would force them into duels. He succeedes in killing or disarming all who challenge him. Finally, André-Louis manages to goad the Marquis to challenge him to a duel. Finally he can confront the murderer of his childhood friend, Philippe de Vilmorin. Having heard of this, Mme. de Plougastel, a relative whom he has seen only twice in his life, rides into Nantes with Aline to stop the duel. She does not arrive in time, and later finds out that the Marquis was wounded, though not fatally.
Mme. de Plougastel and Aline are forced to hide in an apartment during the war, and one night, both the Marquis and Moreau end up in the room. La Tour d'Azyr draws a pistol, and Mme. de Plougastel throws herself in front of him and confesses that she and the Marquis are Moreau's real parents.

Scaramouche in history

Historically, Scaramouche (real name was Tiberio Fiorilli) was an actor born in Naples, Italy in 1608. He was a member of Commedia dell'Arte and was a contemporary of Molière. He died in 1694.

Scaramouche in popular culture

• The rock group Queen refers to Scaramouche in the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" written by Freddie Mercury:

I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening me ...

Scaramouche is also the name of the lead female role in the Queen musical We Will Rock You.

• The poet Wallace Stevens uses the name Scaramouche in the poem "The Weeping Burgher":

And ah! that Scaramouche
Should have a black barouche.

• Scaramouche is the name of a suite for Saxophone and Cabaret orchestra or, in a transcription, for two pianos by the French composer Darius Milhaud. Milhaud first composed the piece for saxophone and cabaret orchestra as music for a theatre piece.
• Scaramouche is one of the iconic characters in the Punch and Judy puppet shows (a performative art with roots in commedia dell'arte). In some scenarios, he is the owner of The Dog, another stock character. During performances, Punch frequently strikes Scaramouche, causing his head to come off of his shoulders. Because of this, the term scaramouche has become associated with a class of puppets with extendable necks.
• The Democratic candidate for the 2004 US presidential election, Senator John Kerry, owns a yacht formely named Scaramouche. According to U. S. Coast Guard records, he changed her name to the "Let it Be" in November 2006.
• In the opening chapter of the book Phule's Company by Robert Asprin, the main character Willard Phule uses Scaramouche as his alias.
• The name of Toronto's well known, top restaurant, Scaramouche [1]

External links

• Scaramouche, available at Project Gutenberg.
• Scaramouche movie info from IMDb
• Scaramouche - Audio Book — Free, public domain, Librivox audio recording of Scaramouche (complete text)