ScaramoucheScaramouche
Score Classic
What it's about
A young lawyer in the French Revolution sets out on a path of revenge, and along the way becomes an actor playing Scaramouche, a roguish clown of the old Italian comedy.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a classic swashbuckler about how revenge can turn into idealism.
You'll love it if you liked
Captain Blood
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Three MusketeersGood to know
It's an old-fashioned adventure, full of sword fights and reversals.
By the numbers
- Readers44 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller2 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #362 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #731 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2329 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
More by Rafael Sabatini
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
The Master and Margarita
Beloved
The Tin Drum
Medea
Mythos: The Greek Myths RetoldExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Scaramouche worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,329 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Scaramouche about?
A young lawyer in the French Revolution sets out on a path of revenge, and along the way becomes an actor playing Scaramouche, a roguish clown of the old Italian comedy.
How long does it take to read Scaramouche?
About 9 hours (350 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Scaramouche?
If you liked it, try Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas or The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.