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theyearofthe_wolf 's review for:
Captain Blood
by Rafael Sabatini
"The Life of Captain Peter Blood" has a special place in my heart, from the times when I was a small 4-year old child, dreaming of becoming either a pirate or, barring this choice, a sea captain. Initially I was afraid to spoil the magic, rereading it as an adult, but suprisingly enough, 20 years later, and knowing a lot more about the real historical figures, incuding Blood's mentor - Michiel De Ruyter, who's unfortunately only a passing mention, appearing as cameos in it, brought more joy - in recognition of these by yours truly, and a deeper interest to the text. "Captain Blood" is Set during the tumultuous period ranging from the Monmouth rebellion to the rise of King William of Orange after the Glorious Revolution, it tells of the adventures of the piracy in the Caribbean where alliances were of temporary convenience and contracts were easily broken and ever so easily restored again with altered conditions.
The originality of this book probably lies in the well-wrought introduction to the characters, to a person already familiar with the Bloody Code which icidentally began its infamous existence in 1688 - would sound completely realistic, and to a novice of historical science - a plausible inception of a good story. Sabattini's subdued description of the triumphs, different from extreme romantism of the 19th century writers or the old-fashioned linearity of the Dumas's and other greats short novels and plays about a "sea dog life" as well as the realistic, but not flaunting portrayal of violence and the shortness of life of a pirate, despite its appeal, also make for a continued attraction; as we are never certain whether our dearest protagonists will survive, and while the romantic involvement arc is old-fashioned, it never detracts from the overal story and is never used as an ex-machina device, unlike so in many recent (I'm looking at you PoC: the series of movies) novels in the similar setting of the same time period.
Overall - I'm quite happy having found it in my parents' library 20 years ago, and content as well having re-read it now, with the adult's knowledge and experience of life.
The originality of this book probably lies in the well-wrought introduction to the characters, to a person already familiar with the Bloody Code which icidentally began its infamous existence in 1688 - would sound completely realistic, and to a novice of historical science - a plausible inception of a good story. Sabattini's subdued description of the triumphs, different from extreme romantism of the 19th century writers or the old-fashioned linearity of the Dumas's and other greats short novels and plays about a "sea dog life" as well as the realistic, but not flaunting portrayal of violence and the shortness of life of a pirate, despite its appeal, also make for a continued attraction; as we are never certain whether our dearest protagonists will survive, and while the romantic involvement arc is old-fashioned, it never detracts from the overal story and is never used as an ex-machina device, unlike so in many recent (I'm looking at you PoC: the series of movies) novels in the similar setting of the same time period.
Overall - I'm quite happy having found it in my parents' library 20 years ago, and content as well having re-read it now, with the adult's knowledge and experience of life.