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Scaramouche

By: Rafael Sabatini
Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
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Publisher's summary

With swordfights and romance, adventure and treachery set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this is the book that made Sabatini famous. Andre-Louis Moreau has good prospects as a young lawyer, but an unfair duel with the ruthlessly cruel Count de La Tour d'Azyr leaves Andre-Louis' best friend dead and Andre-Louis himself a fugitive from the King's justice.

While incognito, he becomes both a wildly popular actor and a firebrand of the Revolution. His vow to avenge his friend's murder leads him deeper into the political intrigues that surround the Revolution, and to a position of power. But there are secrets to be revealed that will stun all of Paris.

One of the best historical romances of all time, Scaramouche was a best seller upon its original publication in the US in 1921.

Public Domain (P)2006 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"All in all, this 'sheer knight-errantry' is a marvelous entertainment." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Scaramouche

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well read!

As always, Robert Whitfield, aka Simon Vance, does a superb job.

The story is fraught with twists and turns - some predictable, others not. Definitely worth a listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A classic of Serious Historical Fiction

Nowadays it seems that historical novels are a subgroup of bawdy Romance, but once upon a time, writers like Rafael Sabatini (who also penned the immortal Captain Blood) dealt with serious issues and created deft and morally subtle fiction like Scaramouche. This novel of the French Revolution takes the issues seriously - but never leaves you long without action, suspense, and intrigue. Robert Whitfield brings it to such vivid life that you feel as if you've watched a wonderful movie version. It is so much better than most new novels that you owe it to yourself to listen to this, if only to realize how poorly so many contemporary writers do by comparison.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Good But Not Great, Real Swashbuckler

If you liked 3 Musketeers (which I did) you might like this almost as well. Start with the other, and then get this if you have a yearning for more romantic, swashbuckling adventure.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Wonderful French Revolution Tale!

This was recommended to me after listening to an absolutely dreadful telling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, which was a book that I loved in my youth but found repetitive and unimaginative by comparison to Scaramouche. Sabitini's skill with words and depth far surpass the Baroness Orczy and provide a fast paced, enjoyable perspective of The Republic's beginnings via André-Louis. The narrator was excellent. If you love well written historical fiction, look no further!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great writer, good reader

Scaramouche has always been one of my favorite novels. It has everything good escape fiction should have- great characters, an interesting setting, twists and turns, ups and downs and surprises. I've probably read the book three or four times but it all seemed fresh again with this reading. The reader does a very good job with most of the characters and keeps the action moving very fast. Several times I sat in my car continuing to listen (I listen to books in my car via my Ipod) even though I had arrived at my destination- always a mark of a good audiobook. I only have one complaint. Some of the older female characters were made to seem a bit too pompous and ridiculous through the reading.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly entertaining

This novel is a gem. Well written and beautifully constructed, with human, pathos and drama all thrown in.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Angel in Devil's clothing

The classic scoundrel hiding from the law and in plain sight as an actor. I loved this tale just because it was so engaging. You know the type where you are deep in the story before you even know you've committed to read it. Characters we know from the panacea of movies that smile and wave good bye, then reappear reborn as another ruse. Bravo! Bravo!..

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

This book is in my top ten favorites along with Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Harry Potter, The Moonstone, etc. It is a superb action-adventure story told in the very best style. Scaramouche contains all the 'essentials'-- a dashing hero, sword fights, love, revenge, mystery, great dialogue, and clever plot twists. You will find yourself cheering and sighing by turns. Don't miss this book.

If you enjoy this one then read/listen to Captain Blood, Sabatini's next-best book. Honestly I think that his other books are lousy by comparison. Some authors only have one or two books in them, and that is the case here. But Captain Blood is great fun-- pirates, sea battles, romance, etc.

The recording and narrator are fair/good. Whitfield sometimes lacks the emotion a scene requires, and his character voices are not always perfect. But I'm being hypercritical-- it is one of my favorite books, after all.

10/10

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

How To Spend a Sunday Night

Settle into your favorite chair beside the fire and surrender yourself to a whirlwind adventure, filled with characters you will grow to care about and truly like. I absolutely loved this story and the narrator is superb!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Smart, intriguing and enlightening.

Well written, well narrated.
A smart, always progressing fun romp through pre revolutionary France.
Historically Informative and certainly entertaining.
Highly recommended.

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