Scaramouche

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This article is about the novel. For the stock comic character, see Scaramuccia.

For the historic Italian condottiere, see Scaramuccia da Forlì

Scaramouche is a historical novel by Rafael Sabatini, originally published in 1921 and subsequently adapted into a play by Barbara Field and into feature films in 1923 starring Ramón Novarro and in 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 at one point 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 novel has a memorable opening line: "He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad."

[edit] Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

André-Louis Moreau lives with his "godfather" (M. de Kercadieu) who refuses to disclose Moreau's parentage. One day, his friend is forced to duel with the Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr and loses. Moreau then vows to avenge the death, and sets off from his hometown of Gavrillac, France 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.

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 gives a convincing performance, leading to higher and higher profits.

Moving from town to town, Moreau attempts to exercise greater control over the group, but cannot, because Pantaloon, the leader, saw a poster offering a reward for Andrés-Louis, thus blackmailing him into working. 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 fires a gun onstage. He runs away, and then hides in a fencing academy. Over time, he develops his own style of fencing, and becomes an assistant to the owner. With the outbreak of the French Revolution, the owner dies, and Andrés-Louis inherits the school.

After several attempts at reconciliation, Moreau's godfather no longer wishes to see him. Moreau then takes up a seat in the new Congress, and kills, one by one, all of the senators (working for M. de la Tour d'Azyr) who duel him. Finally, the Marquis decides to duel André-Louis himself. Mme. de Plougastel, a relative whom he has seen only twice in his life, one day runs 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 Plousgatel throws herself in front of him and confesses that she and the Marquis are Moreau's real parents.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Scaramouche in popular culture

The rock group Queen refers to Scaramouche in the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" written by the late 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.

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 named Scaramouche.
In the opening chapter of the book Phule's Company by Robert Asprin, the main character Willard Phule uses Scaramouche as his alias.