He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad, the most famous opening line of any of Sabatini's novels, sums up this story of friendship, love, betrayal, political intrigue, and swashbuckling thrills, all presented against the background of the turbulent times of the French Revolution. This is Sabatini's grand homage to the Theatre, the Rights of Man, Swordplay, and the twists of Fate. By turns joyful, sad, terrifying, and absorbing, this is the novel that Sabatini most wished to be remembered for.