Scarron’s “comic novel” in brief
The action takes place in the modern author of France, mainly in Mansa, a city that is located two hundred kilometers from Paris.
“Comic novel” is conceived as a parody of fashionable novels of “high style” – instead of wandering knights, its heroes are wandering comedians, countless fights replace fights, and the scenes of kidnapping that are mandatory in adventure novels are extraordinarily amusing. Each chapter is a separate comic episode, strung on the core of an uncomplicated story. The novel is distinguished by a whimsical composition, it abounds with plug-in episodes – as a rule, it is novels told by one of the characters, or memories of heroes. Plots of short stories are taken mainly from the life of noble Moors and Spaniards. Especially I want to say about the novel “My own judge” – the history of the Spanish cavalry-girl: the young Sofia is forced to hide in a man’s dress. Once in the military camp of Emperor
Scarron managed to complete two parts of the novel. The third after his death wrote Offray, hastily finished the plot.
In the market of Mans appear three quaintly dressed people – an elderly woman, an old man and a handsome youth. This is a wandering troupe. The comedians provoked the wrath of the Governor of Tours and, during the flight, lost their comrades. But they and the three of them are ready to give a performance in the upper room of the inn. A local judge, Mr. Rappinier, orders the innkeeper to lend the actors left for the preservation of the clothes of young people playing ball during the performance. The handsome comedian Destin strikes everyone with his skill, but are the players in the ball, see the actors on their dress and are taken to beat the judge, who ordered them without the knowledge of the hosts. The fight becomes universal, and Destin is destined to once again delight the inhabitants of Mans: he mercilessly strikes people who prevented the performance. When leaving the tavern on Rappinier with swords attack friends beaten. Life Judge saves again Desten, he and the sword
During the search, Leonora’s mother dies. The robbers steal from Destin’s diamond-studded portrait of his beloved father – proof of her origin. In addition, Saldan attacks them. The need to hide and the need to compel young people to impersonate their brother and sister and under false names to join the troupe of comedians. In Tours, Saldan again meets them, he tries to kidnap Leonora-Etoile. The story takes several evenings. In the meantime, the acquaintance of a visiting doctor, his Spaniard wife, who knows a myriad of fascinating stories, and a widow’s lawyer, Ragoten, brings together comedians. This little man is impudent, stupid and poorly educated, but has a unique talent to always fall into the ridiculous alterations, described in detail in the novel. He decides that he is in love with Etoile. Rankuun agrees to help the lawyer achieve her favor, but while she eats and drinks at his expense. The troupe is invited to the city – they celebrate the wedding. Comedians come, but the show is not destined to take place – Anzhelika is kidnapped. Cavern is sure that the kidnapper is Leander, this is clear from her love letters. Destin rushes in pursuit. In the hotel of one of the villages he finds the wounded Leandra and listens to his story. Leander entered the troupe only out of love for Angelica. He is a nobleman, and a great inheritance awaits him, but his father does not agree to the marriage of his son with the comedian. He chased the kidnappers, joined them in a fight – the villains beat him and threw him half dead on the road. Cavern is sure that the kidnapper is Leander, this is clear from her love letters. Destin rushes in pursuit. In the hotel of one of the villages he finds the wounded Leandra and listens to his story. Leander entered the troupe only out of love for Angelica. He is a nobleman, and a great inheritance awaits him, but his father does not agree to the marriage of his son with the comedian. He chased the kidnappers, joined them in a fight – the villains beat him and threw him half dead on the road. Cavern is sure that the kidnapper is Leander, this is clear from her love letters. Destin rushes in pursuit. In the hotel of one of the villages he finds the wounded Leandra and listens to his story. Leander entered the troupe only out of love for Angelica. He is a nobleman, and a great inheritance awaits him, but his father does not agree to the marriage of his son with the comedian. He chased the kidnappers, joined them in a fight – the villains beat him and threw him half dead on the road.
After some time, Angelica herself appears in the hotel – she was taken away by mistake. It turned out when the kidnappers met Etoile on the way. She tried to lure Rappinier into her networks with the help of a bribed servant. The servant was beaten, Angelica was thrown in the forest, and Etoile was taken away to no one where. There is no doubt that these are the tricks of Saldan. However, with the help of the time appeared Verville Destin helps her beloved, it is all the more easy that under Saldan fell a horse and he was terribly hurt. It is given to bring to the clear water of Rappinier, the judge is forced to return the portrait of Leonora’s father: it’s because he and his late servant robbed Destin in Paris. The comedians are moving from Mans to Alençon. Ragoten, in order not to part with the object of his love and to show off his talents, joins the troupe. But Leander leaves his comrades-the news has come, that his father is dying and wants to say goodbye to his son. The first performance in the new place could end badly – restless Saldan recovered from injury and again tried to kidnap Etoile. But theater fans from among local nobles take sides with comedians. Saldan dies in a shootout, which he himself provoked. Leander inherits from the father of the baron’s title and status, but is not going to part with the theater and remains in the troupe. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern. The first performance in the new place could end badly – restless Saldan recovered from injury and again tried to kidnap Etoile. But theater fans from among local nobles take sides with comedians. Saldan dies in a shootout, which he himself provoked. Leander inherits from the father of the baron’s title and status, but is not going to part with the theater and remains in the troupe. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern. The first performance in the new place could end badly – restless Saldan recovered from injury and again tried to kidnap Etoile. But theater fans from among local nobles take sides with comedians. Saldan dies in a shootout, which he himself provoked. Leander inherits from the father of the baron’s title and status, but is not going to part with the theater and remains in the troupe. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern. But theater fans from among local nobles take sides with comedians. Saldan dies in a shootout, which he himself provoked. Leander inherits from the father of the baron’s title and status, but is not going to part with the theater and remains in the troupe. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern. But theater fans from among local nobles take sides with comedians. Saldan dies in a shootout, which he himself provoked. Leander inherits from the father of the baron’s title and status, but is not going to part with the theater and remains in the troupe. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern. Two weddings decided to play simultaneously. On the eve of a joyful day, Cavern meets his brother, also a comedian, with whom they were separated by children. So, everyone is happy, except for Ragotten. He tries to play suicide, and then sinks in the river, trying to get the horse to drink. An evil joker Rankyun also leaves the troupe – his place will be occupied by Brother Cavern.
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