Rafael Sabatini books

Rafael Sabatini was an Italian-British author of historical adventure novels, best known for Scaramouche and Captain Blood, two of the most popular swashbuckling novels of the twentieth century.

Captain Blood Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Captain Blood 1922 Buy
Captain Blood Returns 1931 Buy
The Fortunes of Captain Blood 1936 Buy

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Life of Cesare Borgia 1912 Buy
Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition 1913 Buy
The Historical Night’s Entertainment 1917 Buy
Heroic Lives 1934 Buy

Plays

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Tyrant 2021 Buy

Scaramouche Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Scaramouche 1921 Buy
Scaramouche The King Maker 1931 Buy

Short Stories/Novellas

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Treasure Ship 2004 Buy

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Justice of the Duke 1912 Buy
The Banner of the Bull 1915 Buy
The Nuptials of Corbal 1927 Buy
Turbulent Tales 1946 Buy
A Fair Head of Angling Stories 1989 Buy
The Fortunes of Casanova and Other Stories 1994 Buy
The Outlaws of Falkensteig 2003 Buy
The Collected Short Stories of Rafael Sabatini 2009 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Lovers of Yvonne / The Suitors of Yvonne 1902 Buy
The Tavern Knight 1904 Buy
Bardelys The Magnificent 1905 Buy
The Trampling of the Lilies 1906 Buy
Love-At-Arms 1907 N/A
The Shame of Motley 1908 N/A
St Martin’s Summer 1909 Buy
Mistress Wilding / Anthony Wilding 1910 Buy
The Lion’s Skin 1911 N/A
The Strolling Saint 1913 N/A
The Gates Of Doom 1914 Buy
The Sea-Hawk 1915 Buy
Snare 1917 Buy
Fortune’s Fool 1922 Buy
The Carolinian 1925 Buy
Bellarion the Fortunate 1926 Buy
The Hounds of God 1928 Buy
The Romantic Prince 1929 Buy
The King’s Minion / The Minion 1930 Buy
The Black Swan 1931 Buy
The Stalking-Horse 1933 Buy
Venetian Masque 1934 Buy
Chivalry 1935 Buy
The Lost King 1937 Buy
The Sword Of Islam 1939 Buy
The Marquis Of Carabas / Master-At-Arms 1940 Buy
Columbus 1941 Buy
King In Prussia / The Birth of Mischief 1944 Buy
Gamester 1949 Buy
Saga of the Sea 1953 Buy
The Marquis of Carabas 2022 Buy

Rafael Sabatini was born in Italy in 1875 to an Italian father and English mother, and he spent most of his adult life in England. He wrote in English, and his historical adventure novels made him one of the most popular authors of the early twentieth century. Scaramouche (1921) and Captain Blood (1922) are his best-known works, both set during periods of revolution and both featuring protagonists who reinvent themselves under pressure.

Sabatini’s output was enormous: over thirty standalone novels, multiple series, eight short story collections, plays, and historical non-fiction including biographies of Cesare Borgia and Torquemada. His novels span centuries of European history, from Renaissance Italy to the Napoleonic Wars, and they combine careful period detail with the pace and swordplay of the best adventure fiction. Several were adapted into classic Hollywood films, and Scaramouche and Captain Blood have never gone out of print.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Rafael Sabatini written?

Rafael Sabatini has written 50 books across seven series.

What was Rafael Sabatini's first book?

Rafael Sabatini’s first book is The Lovers of Yvonne / The Suitors of Yvonne, published in 1902.

When did Rafael Sabatini write, and why is he still read today?

Sabatini published from 1902 to the 1950s, with his peak popularity in the 1920s and 1930s. He remains read because Scaramouche and Captain Blood are among the best adventure novels ever written in English — fast, witty, and built on meticulous historical research. Several of his novels were adapted into Hollywood films, keeping his name in circulation long after his death in 1950.

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