107. Monsieur Beaucaire by Booth Tarkington (read fall of 1942) I claim to have at least a semblance of a review posted for every book I have read. I just noticed there was not a review posted for this book, which I read as a freshman in high school. That is 70 years ago and before I systematically kept notes on books I have read. However, I do recall I was not enthused by this book. Its prime quality was that it was not a big book and took little time to read. ( )

This short novel is mainly notable as being one of Tarkington's earliest (1900), one that predates both his fame and his common focus on life in the American Midwest. It is an historical novel, set in 19th century England. Monsieur Beaucaire is a French expatriate living as a professional gambler, and who humiliates the local Duke when he catches him cheating at cards. He blackmails the Duke into introducing him into British society. The Duke attempts to gain revenge and the action that follows involves duels, swordplay, fair ladies, and intrigue. What's more, the snobbish get their comeuppance when the true identify of the Frenchman is revealed.

The novel implicitly comments on stratified societies in which social status is valued over ability and character. However, the author doesn't sustain the theme, since at the denouement, royal rank trumps all else. The lesson seems to be not to judge a person by their appearance.

The plot is light and frivolous, and does not hold up well against such other period pieces as Prisoner of Zenda and The Three Musketeers. In addition, I found the heavy French- accented English used by the main character to be a distraction that makes the dialogue hard to follow, and hinders flow of the text. Nevertheless, it's clear from the Amazon reviews that several readers have enjoyed this book.

This book is among Tarkington's weaker works, and it may seem surprising that it has not been forgotten like so many of the author's other novels. However, it was made into a play (1904) and an operetta (1919), and has provided the basis for three movies. What's more, Heritage Press gave it new life when it reissued the book in 1960 as a collector's edition, with original colored illustrations and housed in a slipcase. ( )

A fairly tepid story that was a bit predictable.....my least favorite aspect of this was the written French accent of the main character and the constant references to characters social standing which can also be confusing if you are not familiar with that social structure.....quite different from the one Tarkington novel i have read set in the midwest US....will be anxious to read all the others on the shelf! ( )

http://geneg75075books.livejournal.com/1314.html ( )

Fiction