Beau Geste

Beau Geste is a 1924 novel by Percival Christopher Wren. It details the adventures of the orphaned brothers Michael (also known as Beau), his twin Digby, and their younger brother John. This novel is most known for its popularization of the French Foreign Legion. It has been adapted for theater, cinema (in 1926 starring Ronald Colman, 1939 starring Gary Cooper, and 1966 starring Guy Stockwell), radio (in 1939 starring Orson Welles), and television (in 1982 starring Benedict Taylor).

The novel is in the public domain in Canada; a copy is available at FadedPage.


 * The Ace: Michael, especially in the eyes of his idolizing brothers.
 * Angsty Surviving Twin:, but of a more subdued manner
 * Badass Army: The French Foreign Legion, as romanticized by the book.
 * Bittersweet Ending:
 * Drill Sergeant Nasty: Though he's not a drill sergeant, Lejaune's personality fits. To the point where the Legionnaires mutiny.
 * Eagle Land: Hank and Buddy are primarily type 1.
 * Homage: given in Peanuts
 * Honor Before Reason: rather an extreme version.
 * Legion of Lost Souls
 * Meaningful Name: Beau Geste, meaning "beautiful gesture" in French. Takes on Fridge Brilliance once the truth about the Blue Water is revealed.
 * Mineral MacGuffin: The sapphire, Blue Water.
 * Of Corpse He's Alive: The climax of the book. Taken seriously, however.
 * Shout-Out: The whole "leave dead guys firing" plot resembles that in The Three Musketeers.
 * Sibling Team : The Gestes.
 * Undying Loyalty: The Geste's to each other. Also Hank and Buddy.
 * Vigilante : When a thief is found looking for the "Blue Water" in the middle of the barracks he is spread on a table and crucified with bayonets by the soldiers. The officers rescue the victim before he dies but make no investigation, this being apparently felt a "public service torture".
 * We are given to know that it is considered acceptable to steal gear-even though that lets a soldier in for punishment-but not personal property. In a way it all makes sense or at least is less disturbing. Not only is it impossible for any individual soldier to defend against a thief, some are political fugitives, and have the only remainder of liquidated properties on their persons. Even worse, identifying markers.