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The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / General; Fiction / Literary; Fiction / Action ... Read more

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Pirates ... Read more

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This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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When La Boulaye recovered consciousness he was lying on his back in the middle of the courtyard of the Chateau de Bellecour. From a great stone balcony above, a little group, of which Mademoiselle de Bellecour was the centre, observed the scene about the captive, who was being resuscitated that he might fittingly experience the Seigneur's vengeance. ... Read more

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Subtitle: Being an Account of the Strange Wooing Pursued by the Sieur Marcel De Saint-Pol, Marquis of Bardelys, and of the Things That in the Course of It Befell Him in Languedoc, in the Year of the RebellionGeneral Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1905Original Publisher: Grosset ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Very early Sabatini, and it shows
Bardelys the Magnificent is a fairly good novel, one of Sabatini's earliest (my copy lists the copyright date as 1905).His writing isn't quite as polished as it would be later on and the story isn't told quite as smoothly as in other, later books.Still, it's a good and entertaining read.

The Marquis de Bardelys is a court favorite of Louis XIII who is goaded into a wager that he can woo and wed the country noblewoman Roxalanne de Lavédan, the wager being with his court rival who recently failed to win said fair maiden.Upon his arrival at the Lavédans' château, Bardelys is mistaken for someone else and initially unable to correct the mistake.As Roxalanne and he get along, he finds himself afraid of the consequences should he reveal himself to be the notorious libertine Bardelys (whose reputation is exaggerated, anyway).Others jealous of Bardelys for various reasons complicate matters further, and before all is finally resolved, he stands for a while in real danger of losing his head.

I give this three stars in comparison to Sabatini's other works (I have 26 of his novels), but it's still a book I'd recommend for fans of this author or those who enjoy this genre.

Very early Sabatini, and it shows
Bardelys the Magnificent is a fairly good novel, one of Sabatini's earliest (my copy lists the copyright date as 1905).His writing isn't quite as polished as it would be later on and the story isn't told quite as smoothly as in other, later books.Still, it's a good and entertaining read.

The Marquis de Bardelys is a court favorite of Louis XIII who is goaded into a wager that he can woo and wed the country noblewoman Roxalanne de Lavédan, the wager being with his court rival who recently failed to win said fair maiden.Upon his arrival at the Lavédans' château, Bardelys is mistaken for someone else and initially unable to correct the mistake.As Roxalanne and he get along, he finds himself afraid of the consequences should he reveal himself to be the notorious libertine Bardelys (whose reputation is exaggerated, anyway).Others jealous of Bardelys for various reasons complicate matters further, and before all is finally resolved, he stands for a while in real danger of losing his head.

I give this three stars in comparison to Sabatini's other works (I have 26 of his novels), but it's still a book I'd recommend for fans of this author or those who enjoy this genre. ... Read more

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Rafael Sabatini's Turbulent Tales is a masterful catalogue of extraordinary stories of bravery, honour, intrigue and adventure. With all the vitality of their colourful backdrops, they are stories to thrill and excite any lover of historical fiction. ... Read more

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Entertaining and well written
A group of short historical fiction stories, set in different countries and times. Well and smartly written. A pleasant and entertaining read. ... Read more

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Born of an Italian father and English mother, Rafael Sabatini was fluent in six languages but wrote in English. After SCARAMOUCHE, he was discovered by Hollywood and popular movies were made of several of his books, most notably CAPTAIN BLOOD and THE SEA HAWK. Deservedly, he was a self-made man.

SCARAMOUCHE is not only an exciting story of intrigue and romance in the early days of the French Revolution, it is also meticulously researched.

It is "a plot of cunning construction, filled with suspense and deeds of great imagination." (B-O-T Editoral Review Board) ... Read more

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As in the case of the narratives that made up the first volumeI set out again with the same ambitious aim of adhering scrupulously in every instance to actualrecorded facts; and once again I find it desirable at the outset to reveal how far the achievement may have fallen short of the admitted aim. ... Read more

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This volume collects 14 rare Sabatini short stories (most appearing for the first time in book form). Included are: "The Sword of Islam," "The Tapestried Room," "The Baker of Rousillon," "The Blackmailer," "The Curate and the Actress," "The Foster-Lover," "The Ordeal," "Wirgman's Theory," "The Wedding Gift," "Annabel's Wager," "The Dupes," "The Fool's Love Story," "Gismondi's Wage," and "Intelligence." ... Read more

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With France undergoing mounting treachery and murder in her bloody Revolution, she was not a land where honour and loyalty could be relied upon. But this political atmosphere was to prove the ultimate test - where only the most determined would survive. ... Read more

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Bellarion, a young man set on joining the priesthood, is diverted from his calling to serve the Princess Valeria. He remains with her for five years, serving her faithfully despite her cold response. Yet when the time comes for him to leave, they both find that the passion and romance of Italy has left its mark. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I Love This Book!
This is a great book!It has a great hero, who thinks circles around his enemys: Bellarion is the brilliant boy raised in a monastary, who is always the chivalrous gentlemen, protects ladies and always does what is right.The whole book keeps you guessing at the plot, and is very well written.I have read several other books by this other and so far this is my favorite.It is my present favorite book right now, up there with "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Freckles".This is not a quick read;it is a story you will want to savor.I highly recommend this book!

One of Sabatini's best
I agree with the other reviewer (ralo91) about what makes the title character so interesting, and I would add that this is one of the author's three or four best works.Bellarion begins as a scholar out of a monastery and in the world for the first time, ending up a nobleman and the leading mercenary in early fifteenth century Italy.All throughout, he prevails through strategy and cleverness instead of brawn or force of arms.As one character observes, Bellarion never aims where he looks.

The glory and honors he accumulates are the last thing on his mind, though.Every step he takes is to advance the cause of Princess Valeria of Montferrat--"sheer knight-errantry" as Sabatini calls it--made all the more interesting because Valeria wants to believe that Bellarion isn't the venal opportunist she perceives him to be, but for the longest time she can't get beyond appearances.

Highly recommended, especially if you enjoyed Captain Blood, Scaramouche, or The Sea-Hawk.

Bellarion the Fortunate
Wnen I was a girl, I read all of Sabatini's novels, and this was my favorite.Sometimes Jane Austen's Fitzwilliam Darcy was my ideal man, and other times Bellarion was.I just reread Bellarion more than fifty years later, and I still love him.He was fortunate, always escaping by the skin of his teeth, but also misunderstood.So brave, so self-effacing, so brilliant.Of course, it turns out all right.But on the way, one worries so about that strange but loveable boy who sets out to walk to school in Padua in the fifteenth century and ends up in all kinds of fixes, meanwhile becoming the leading condottiere in Italy.The most fascinating part about him is his inventive and slippery mind.A really good read. ... Read more

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A gentlemanly Irish physician is innocently condemned to a life of slavery in the English colonies across the sea. There, on a Caribbean Island plantation, the good Dr. Peter Blood, toils as a slave. A chance raid by Spaniards affords Blood his opportunity to escape into a life of piracy and crime upon the high seas. But Blood is a pirate with a sense of honor. How Blood distinguishes himself against his enemies, is the tale in this enjoyable historical adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Every Emotion Midst Roaring Battles
Captain Blood is historically accurate and takes place in the late 1600's. I won't spoil any of this intricately woven story by discussing the outcome or even circumstances of the plot; the storyline is simply too good to meddle with in a review!

I will simply say that Rafael Sabatini is absolute master of the high storytelling that draws the old ones from the hearth and children from play; yet, it is done with such depth, with such intrigue that I was left asking, "what will happen next" all through this novel of every emotion midst roaring battles and human struggle.

I, however, still favor Sea Hawk over Captain Blood; for, Sea Hawk, I feel, is his seminal work.

I have yet to find an author who excels the writing of Sabatini.

Consider different edition
This particular edition is less expensive, but NuBooks printed a summary on the back of it that does not match the story - it's for a completely different book! Would have preferred to spend more for quality and extras. ... Read more

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This Students' Edition has been published especially for students, teachers, and libraries. It contains most of the major works of Rafael Sabatini. The book begins with a detailed biography of the writer.

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"You are not a coward, Monsieur," said the dark lady. "I have been accounted many unsavory things, Madame, but my bitterest enemies never dubbed me that." "Why, then, did you run away?" "Why? Ma foi! because in the excessive humility of my soul I recognized myself unfit to die." It was a day that set events in motion that shaped history for centuries to come. ... Read more

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romantic (non-explicit) swashbuckler
What a pleasure to read a book written in 1902, and find a fast moving, pulse pounding adventure story written for adults. If your taste runs to adventurous tales of old like 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' or the entertaining historical romances of Georgette Heyer you will be pleased by the pen of Rafael Sabintini. Mr. Sabintini wrote dozens of historical novels including 'Captain Blood' and 'The Sea Hawk', so this is just the first offering of many from a master storyteller. ... Read more

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A short story by Rafael Sabatini. ... Read more

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The King of England is Dead! Murdered by a treasonous Parliament, beheaded and buried in a desecrated grave. His son, the rightful King Charles II, is a fugitive, living in exile in Scotland surrounded only by his closest friends and retainers. One of these is Lionel Faversham, loyal Cavalier and swordsman, handsome and elegant, the toast of what passes for society among the dour Scottish Presbyterians and the court-in-exile. His adventures, escapades, and his greatest romance make up the six stories of this book. Out of print for more than eighty years, and never before collected in book form, the -Lal- stories form the second of our new e-book editions of -unknown- Sabatini stories. Edited, and with an introduction by, Sabatini scholar Jesse F. Knight. Classic adventures, of the kind that only Sabatini could write. Be with Lal on his joyful return, as a desperate nation begs its King to come home and reign; follow Lal as he defeats his enemies and exposes the treacheries that endanger the King; as he wins, and then loses, and now finally comes to happiness with the great love of his life. ... Read more

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A collection of twenty of the best swashbuckling short stories by the author of Scaramouche and Captain Blood includes a series of colorful tales about Casanova, told with the author's characteristic zest and wit. ... Read more

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Classic Sabatini
From a few motifs (the housebreaker overhearing something he shouldn't, the trickster tricked, etc), Sabatini works his usual magic and creates a collection of stories that keeps you happily reading, and sad (but not disappointed!) when you turn the last page--which in my mind are the best criteria for fiction. The first half presents a 'rogue's gallery' of various one or two-shot characters in historical dress with all the snazzy repartee and swashbuckling you could imagine.You have everything from a highwayman to a French revolutionary to a Muslim pirate. The second half is the 'fortunes of Casanova' proper--a connected sequence of tales fictionalizing (and Sabatini-izing) Casanova.Strangely absent from his Casanova is...well...the attractions of women.Sabatini, save for the last tale, which is a love affair gone horribly awry, focusses on more 'adventures'--escaping from a notorious and inescapable prison, exposing a false prince, and the like.Absolutely wonderful stuff, and a must-have if you're a Sabatini fan. If you're not, the only reason I can think is that you've never read him.If you like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise but wished they bathed a bit more, you will LOVE this man!

Great Omnibus
An outstanding omnibus which collects eleven of Sabatini's "lost" short stories and nine stories which are based on events from the historical Casanova's memoirs. Sabatini's short stories aremasterful in their pace and ability to immediately immerse the reader in anadventure (invariably featuring a rascally hero) which ends in totalsatisfaction for the reader, if not the hero. The stories are all set fromthe 16th-18th centuries in various European locales and are shiningexamples of the craft of historical adventure writing. ... Read more