美人如玉剑如虹 Scaramouche

"Hewasbornwithagiftoflaughterandasensethattheworldwasmad."ThankstothatfamousopeningsentencetheswaggeringheroofScaramoucheboundsontothebook'scenterstagewithconsid-erablepanache.Andforhardlyamomentthereafterdoes/Uldr&LouisMoreaulosehischarismaticcool,displayingatahnosteveryturninthetumultuousconrseofhispicaresqueadventurestheverve,thewit,theintellectualandphysicaladroitness,andtheinstantmasteryofcir-cumstancethatarehisbirthright.Giventhetimeandplace,itisindeedaninvaluablepatrimony,forthoughwhenwemeethimAndreLouisisayonnglawyerinaquietFrenchcounuTtown,Franceatlargeisonthebrinkofrevolution,thenation'smassesrisingupagainsttheentrenchedtyranniesoftheprivileged.Quicklytheera'swhirlwindsweepsourheroawayonaproteanprogress:transforminghimselfasoccasiondictates,Andre-Louisbecomesforexample,"OnnlesOmnibus,"incendiarvoratorofthepeople'scause;later,he'splain"AndreLouis,"masterofafencingacademyanddeath-dealingartistofthesword;andinbetweenhe's"Scarainouche"himself,actorwith--andbrilliantscenaristfor--atroupeoftravelingplayers.With-allthesecolorfulset-piecesplayingagainstabackdropofhighhistoricaldrama,it'snowondersomanyofRafaelSabatini'sreadersthroughtheyearshavejudgedthisthebestofhisnovels.