Captain Blood - Sabatini, Rafael

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Résumé :
Captain Blood: His Odyssey is an adventure novel by Rafael Sabatini, originally published in 1922. Sabatini was a proponent of basing historical fiction as closely as possible on history. Although Blood is a fictional character, much of the historical background of the novel is loosely based on fact. A group of Monmouth rebels was indeed condemned to ten years' hard labor in Barbados, though not chattel slavery as described in the book; and the shifting political alliances of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 are used in the novel as a plot device to allow Blood's return to respectability. Sabatini based the first part of the story of Blood on Henry Pitman, a surgeon who tended the wounded Monmouth rebels and was sentenced to death by Judge Jeffreys, but whose sentence was commuted to penal transportation to Barbados where he escaped and was captured by pirates. Unlike the fictional Blood, Pitman did not join them, and eventually made his way back to England where he wrote a popular account of his ordeal. For Blood's life as a buccaneer, Sabatini used several models, including Henry Morgan and the work of Alexandre Exquemelin, for historical details. Sabatini first introduced the character Captain Blood in a series of eight short stories in Premier Magazine as Tales of the Brethren of the Main, published from December 1920 to March 1921, and reprinted in Adventure Magazine from January to May 1921, with a novella Captain Blood's Dilemma, published in Premier Magazine in April 1921 (and Adventure Magazine in October 1921). The Odyssey-like story arc of these tales was then woven by Sabatini into a continuous narrative in novel form, published as Captain Blood: His Odyssey in 1922. (wikipedia.org)

Biographie:
Rafael Sabatini (1875-1950) was an Italian-English author best known for his swashbuckling historical novels filled with adventure, romance, and intrigue. Born in Jesi, Italy, to an Italian father and an English mother-both opera singers-Sabatini was raised in a multilingual environment, becoming fluent in several languages. This diverse cultural background influenced his literary style, marked by a blend of English wit and Italian passion. Sabatini began his writing career in the late 19th century, initially producing short stories before gaining widespread recognition with his novels. His most famous works include Scaramouche (1921), Captain Blood (1922), and The Sea-Hawk (1915), all of which were adapted into successful films. These novels are characterized by their vivid historical settings, complex characters, and fast-paced plots. Sabatini's works often explore themes of honor, loyalty, and the conflict between personal desires and larger societal forces. His protagonists are typically dashing, morally complex heroes who navigate turbulent political landscapes with a blend of cunning and courage. Despite his success, Sabatini lived a relatively private life, dedicating himself to writing until his death in 1950. His legacy endures as one of the great storytellers of historical fiction....