Scaramouche (novel) Scaramouche (novel) Scaramouche is an historical novel by Rafael Sabatini, originally published in 1921. A romantic adventure, "Scaramouche" tells the story of a young lawyer during the French Revolution. In the course of his adventures he becomes an actor portraying "Scaramouche" (a roguish buffoon character in the "commedia dell'arte"). He also becomes a revolutionary, politician, and fencing-master, confounding his enemies with his powerful orations and swordsmanship. He is forced by circumstances to change sides several times. The book also depicts his transformation from cynic to idealist. The three-part novel opens with the memorable line: "He was born with a gift
History of the World (book) History of the World (book) History of the World is a compendium written by a collection of noted historians. It was edited by William Nassau Weech, M.A., a former Headmaster of Sedbergh School (and a very early aficionado of downhill skiing who also wrote "By Ski in Norway", one of the first British accounts of the sport). First published by Odhams in 1944, "History of the World" ran to three editions, the second edition in 1959, and the third in 1965. The editor, W.N. Weech, wrote in the Preface:"This book is designed for the ordinary man or woman, who should