Captain Blood

Apr 22, 2012 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 1900-1929, audiobook, swashbucklers, water-logged, historical-fiction, classics, classics-european, comfort-food

Old School, feel good, swashbuckling derring do, performed with style and panache, and featuring a larger-than-lifer whose battle savvy and intrepidity are matched only by his integrity, his keen intellect, and his imperturbable grace.

Captain Peter Blood...is the MAN...and the myth, and the legend, and the whole kit and caboodle, and he deserves VIP seating within the inner sanctum of literature’s most memorable heroic characters.

No wonder Errol Flynn became a star playing this singular figure...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Maureen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: somebody-awesome-mailed-this-to-me, 2012

oh heavens. i dislike admitting that am not 100% cynical about things, that life will all its ignominy and disappointments, vacillations and cupidity has not yet extinguished my ability to dream of freedom and unfettered joy, that there might still be a heart under all this bravado... but there it is, that little squeak that i cannot suppress. oh, captain blood! how you have undone me!

captain peter blood is a little wild. he loves the poetry of horace. he's sharp-witted, and impudent; a cunning...more oh heavens. i dislike admitting that am not 100% cynical about things, that life will all its ignominy and disappointments, vacillations and cupidity has not yet extinguished my ability to dream of freedom and unfettered joy, that there might still be a heart under all this bravado... but there it is, that little squeak that i cannot suppress. oh, captain blood! how you have undone me!

captain peter blood is a little wild. he loves the poetry of horace. he's sharp-witted, and impudent; a cunning strategist. he cuts a fine figure in black clothes and flashing eyes. he has the misfortune to lose his liberty for doing the right thing, and his heart to the niece of the reprehensible man ostensibly made his owner, a woman never wooed because she was too companionable and frank with men. he stands by his word and turns himself inside out to protect the men who serve under him and the woman he loves. to satisfy his unattainable lady's ideas of honour, he tries to give up the pirate life that was the only option left him, only to find that men pursuing outwardly honourable professions are in fact privateers in sheep's clothing. he is surrounded by hot-heads, morons, and avaricious s.o.b.s who somehow have the world in the palms of their hands and try as he might, he sees no way to escape his sorry fate. he decides to give up and get really stinking drunk. but then it all changes on a dime, as fate is wont to do, and he gets a chance to turn it all around (view spoiler). and so i squeak.

and should you fear that i have become an utterly romantic fool, i proffer this, in quick strokes: this novel is a boisterous tale set in the 17th century concerned with pirates and adventures on the high seas. the book breaks down into three parts -- the creating of a pirate, his success, and then his end. it's dated and contains some vile racial descriptions i could have done without (not from captain blood, thank heavens!) but the book generally reflects the attitude of the time, and while there is prejudice and nationalism rampant on the spanish main, the book doesn't dwell on it, and it is easy enough to acknowledge, disparage, and move on from this into the spirit of the book, and the heart of its protagonist, whose charms it's clear that i for one, could not resist. (less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: swashbuckling/pirate-themed adventure readers

Recommended to Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress by: A/A group read

Shelves: adventure, swashbuckling, classic, action-adventure-aficionados-2012-c, action-adventure-group-read-may-12, all-things-spring-challenge, 2012-kindle-reading-challenge, 2012-sky-s-the-limit-club, yearly-reading-challenge, pirate, antihero, admirable-hero, enslaved, caribbean-setting, nautical-fiction-or-non-fiction, irish-welsh-or-celtic-hero, 17th-century, dangerous-hero-2012-general-reading, hero-black-hair-blue-eyes, hero-i-loved, medical-profession, metafiction, miscarriage-of-justice, kindle-book

This is definitely a book to read if a reader likes pirate/swashbuckling novels. The setting, characters, scenes, and dialogue took me back to the 17th century in a time of political turmoil and wild seas and locales where the wars between countries play out in a very personal matter. And Peter Blood, the main character is one that claims your affection and doesn't let go. I sometimes find reading on the Kindle a chore, but with this story, I got so sucked in, that before I knew it, it was endin...more This is definitely a book to read if a reader likes pirate/swashbuckling novels. The setting, characters, scenes, and dialogue took me back to the 17th century in a time of political turmoil and wild seas and locales where the wars between countries play out in a very personal matter. And Peter Blood, the main character is one that claims your affection and doesn't let go. I sometimes find reading on the Kindle a chore, but with this story, I got so sucked in, that before I knew it, it was ending. And I had a smile on my face as I read the last sentence.

Captain Blood is not a predictable read, at least for me. I literally didn't know what was going to happen from one scene to the next. I loved reading about Peter rely on his wits and face each obstacle with courage and determination, always working towards the end goal, even when it didn't seem in sight. He is a charismatic character who kept me captivated, through his quick thinking, and his powerful manner of expressing himself. Although Captain Blood is a pirate, he is very much a man of honor, for his profession. He is, in my opinion, the preferred antihero. One who doesn't let go of his sense of honor, even if it doesn't necessarily follow the established rules. And because of that, I rooted for him.

The one part that didn't sit right with me as I read, was how a distinction was made between Peter Blood and the English captives sold into slavery and the negro slaves. As though they were too good to be slaves when the negroes weren't. I realize that it was the ideas of race at the time, but that doesn't make it right. Slavery to me is wrong, period. It doesn't make it more wrong when the enslaved is a white man versus a black man. I wouldn't presume to call the author a racist. I think he was painting a realistic picture for the times, and I can't fault him for it. I personally find the idea of racial superiority offensive, and it can slap me in the face even in the context of a historical work. Overall it was a pebble in my shoe as I read, but not so much I couldn't read the book.

Otherwise, I enjoyed this novel. I've always had a yen for pirate stories, and it's great to go back and read a classic in the genre. Rafael Sabatini is an author who writes this type of story well, so I'll be back to read more of his books.(less)

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Apr 30, 2013 Pam (E.P. Scott) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An adventure that takes the reader from a battlefield, to a Jamaican plantation, a daring escape to the high seas and an exciting conclusion and thrown in the mix is a romance that touches the heart and frustrates the mind but certainly doesn’t overpower the story.

Peter Blood, a doctor, is caught up in a fight that was never his, as fate draws him to the rescue of a friend but lands him in jail accused of being a rebel in a twisted battle between two fools fighting for the right to be King. Inst...more An adventure that takes the reader from a battlefield, to a Jamaican plantation, a daring escape to the high seas and an exciting conclusion and thrown in the mix is a romance that touches the heart and frustrates the mind but certainly doesn’t overpower the story.

Peter Blood, a doctor, is caught up in a fight that was never his, as fate draws him to the rescue of a friend but lands him in jail accused of being a rebel in a twisted battle between two fools fighting for the right to be King. Instead of hanging, Peter is sent to the King’s plantations in Jamaica where his eventual escape sends him to the sea where he earns a fortune as the notorious, enigmatic, and arrogant but tantalizing Captain Blood. His adventure ends at Port Royal in a climactic well-orchestrated battle for love and liberty.

I could write forever and give too much away so I will stop and write about the writing. Sabatini’s style and verbiage, to me, is a mixture of romanticism, simplistic writing at times and expressive at others. Everything just meshes together perfectly. It took me a bit to understand some of his word usage but once there, the story flowed smoothly in my head. I liked his descriptive techniques and his ability to cultivate a great deal of imagery and emotion in me.

“A voice that could woo seductively and caressingly, or command in such a way to compel obedience. Indeed, the man’s whole nature was in that voice of his.”

This, along with other descriptors of Peter Blood, cemented an image in my mind of a handsome, swarthy, confident, passionate man who has more integrity in his little finger, even if he is a pirate, than most of the people he encounters during his adventures. I found myself cursing at him for his lack of vision and stubbornness in his struggle to capture a woman’s heart and then cheering him on as his piracy takes him into dangerous waters. Both his emotional and physical challenges lead me to empathize with a character that knows what he wants, is too stubborn to admit what he wants and struggles to achieve what he wants. The free spiritedness, bravery, intelligence, arrogance and deep desires of Captain Peter Blood created a character that, in my opinion, is truly unforgettable.

Although I’ve only touched upon the character of Captain Blood, Sabatini’s artful writing touches every word from the battle scenes, to the scenery, to the dialogue.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and as I’ve written this review, I realize how much I want to read it again and this is not something that happens too often. If you are looking for pure adventure with a charismatic character, Captain Blood will certainly satisfy that desire.

I give 5-stars to this emotionally charged high seas adventure.
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May 15, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Many of you who've read some of my reviews know that there is another Sabatini book that is a long time favorite of mine. But while this one isn't my top all time favorite it's still excellent...well, it's Sabatini of course.

Rafael Sabatini is one of the great adventure writers of all time (though it's not all he wrote, it's what we're discussing here). While the sea genre and the pirate genre in particular isn't one I routinely seek out there are books of this "type" I like immensely. For insta...more Many of you who've read some of my reviews know that there is another Sabatini book that is a long time favorite of mine. But while this one isn't my top all time favorite it's still excellent...well, it's Sabatini of course.

Rafael Sabatini is one of the great adventure writers of all time (though it's not all he wrote, it's what we're discussing here). While the sea genre and the pirate genre in particular isn't one I routinely seek out there are books of this "type" I like immensely. For instance I'm a huge fan of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower books. Here we're discussing Captain Blood, possibly the premier pirate novel.

The book was not at the time it was first written Sabatini's most popular though it did ride the success he was currently enjoying (having been popular in Europe for a while and then being "discovered" by Americans). The book is today possibly his best known work largely because of the 1935 Movie staring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (justly by the way. This is one of those rare occasions when the movie comes close to doing the book justice. The book is better, but the movie is good. It follows the general story only collapsing one main plot point for time.) Today the movie still shows up regularly on Turner Classic Movies and is available to buy.

I think it's fair here to say that I can't recommend this book too highly. It's a good story told with a fairly solid historical background. If you've read Sabatini before you'll see some of the plot devices he likes to use, misunderstanding, judgmentalism backfiring...daring do.

Really this book has, "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles"...okay no giants per se and no obvious miracles, but there are people murdered by pirates. From the word go when Peter Blood is taken and wrongly condemned to the very final climax of the book it doesn't often slow down to take a breath. You get to know the characters and the book is driven by both them and it's plot. Peter may be a bit of an over achiever in the story...but hey doesn't the world need some over achievers?

So grab those flintlocks, strap on your sword, rapier or cutlas and pull on those swash top boots. Time to open this book and be part of high adventure. Enjoy. (less)

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Feb 17, 2009 Black Elephants rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. If you've been with B.E. since the beginning, then you're probably aware of how much I love a good novel full of pulp, specifically the kind that has aged so well that it masquerades as an example of "classic" literature.

Some of these books, I've reviewed for B.E., The Phantom of the Opera and Tarzan of the Apes. Why do I love them? I guess it's because they remind me of classic, B/W movies. In an era when heroes were heroes, damsels were damsels, and really dark and gruesome plots were candied...more

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Sep 23, 2007 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Swashing! Buckling! What a fun, light bit of entertainment. As a longtime ardent fan of the naval adventure stories of Patrick O'Brien, I was disposed to like this book. But still, it was a surprisingly enjoyable read. Or in my case listen, as I got this as an audiobook. Peter Blood is a former soldier retired to country life as a doctor in 17th century England. When called to treat a man wounded in the Monmouth Rebellion, he is arrested for treason by the king's men. Shipped to the Caribbean, h...more

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Jan 04, 2008 Mick rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Pirates and the people who love them.

Recommended to Mick by: My Grandfather - posthumously

Shelves: favorite

What a pleasure to read. Although I'm not very informed on these matters, I would hazard a guess that most readers would consider Captain Blood the definitive pirates tail - when told from the pirates perspective.

The story is one of war, slavery, love, conviction and morality whose plot I’ll not cheapen by summarizing here. The language inside is easily as beautiful and inspiring as the appearance of the book itself. I’ll quote a passage.

”Open the history of the past at whatsoever page you will,...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, suspense, historical-fiction, romance

Peter Blood, doctor, soldier and all around good guy during the reign of King James II makes the mistake of tending to a wounded soldier of the enemy. For this he is convicted of treason and sold into slavery in hot island of Barbados. His plantation slave master the evil sadistic Col. Bishop hates the kind and clever Blood. But Blood is the favored physician of the gout suffering Governor of Barbados so this wins Blood some liberties. On the side, Blood has the hots for Bishop's niece Arabella...more

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Jan 05, 2010 Bettie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: published-1922, pirates-smugglers-wreckers, historical-fiction, seven-seas, winter20092010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Born 9 April 1649
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died 15 July 1685 (aged 36)
Tower Hill, London, England
Title Duke of Monmouth
Duke of Buccleuch
Earl of Doncaster
Baron Scott of Tynedale
Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
Spouse(s) Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch
Parents Charles II of England
Lucy Walter

The Prince of Orange lands at Torbay
Other names Revolution of 1688
War of the English Succession
Bloodless Revolution
Participants English society
Lo...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, favorites, historical-fiction

The physician Peter Blood is unjustly arrested for treason under unfortunate circumstances, and sold into slavery in Barbados. In the beginning of the book, before the trial, he doesn't even take sides in the ongoing political debate, but the circumstances changes him. When he and the other slaves escape the sadistic Colonel Bishop, they are desperate and adapt to their new life.

Spoiler's alert!

This is pure entertainment, and I really like the main protagonist for his sharp-witted, arrogant and...more The physician Peter Blood is unjustly arrested for treason under unfortunate circumstances, and sold into slavery in Barbados. In the beginning of the book, before the trial, he doesn't even take sides in the ongoing political debate, but the circumstances changes him. When he and the other slaves escape the sadistic Colonel Bishop, they are desperate and adapt to their new life.

Spoiler's alert!

This is pure entertainment, and I really like the main protagonist for his sharp-witted, arrogant and ironic manner and the way he treats his pompous superiors and other people of high rang who think themselves important. When he loses his motivation, when Miss Bishop calls him a thief and a pirate, the only thing which will set him straight is a condescending glance from the M. le Baron Rivarol, and he is back in business. If he is going to be a thief and a pirate, he is going to be an excellent one.

One minor problem I found a little irritating is that the pirate museum in Nassau states that pirates had a certain codex to follow, and that included treating women gentlemanly. Either Nassau has it wrong, or Sabatini had a strong imagination, because most pirates in the book, except the main characters, seemed morally detached. Other flaws I found bothersome was in some of the encounters at sea where the victories seemed just a bit incredible. A third thing worth mentioning is Peter's somewhat naive characteristic, but this latter complaint might be a rather good description of a man, whose destiny forces him to change into someone he doesn't want to be. Peter isn't fit for piracy, but with a dominant authoritative manner and brains sharper than all the governors of the islands, he succeeds, never-the-less.

Even though Captain Blood is entertaining and adventurous, it has other qualities as well. It describes the social classes and conventions of the time, as well as the less fortunate states. Slavery and piracy were just different sides of the coin of unfortunate destiny back in the 17th century, the one not so different from the other. Both are a kind of imprisonment and detachment from the world, and when forced upon you, it's already too late to do anything about it to justify or redeem yourself. And despite Peter trying to come back to a normal life, prejudices, greed and jealousy in other men prevent him from reaching that goal, until the last chapter. What saves him in the end has ironically nothing to do with a change of mind by those men, or some agreement between them, but purely that the political alliances of the Glorious Revolution shift, and Peter goes from traitor to respectable in a matter of hours. This emphasizes the fact that our perception of the world, our view of right and wrong depends almost entirely on our surroundings. Peter is the exception, but it's only because he is open-minded, challenging and without much prejudice. This reminds me of Edmund Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo.

What I like best in this adventure novel is that Peter Blood maintains his honor, dignity and moral throughout the book, despite being treated unjustly, and that his strong-minded persistence pays off.(less)

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Mar 24, 2009 Terence rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: period fiction/swashbucklers

Shelves: historical-fiction, audio-books

Audio CD – 3 stars
Book – 5 stars

Just an adaptation (sigh)…As such, it’s not bad. The actors are good, particularly the one playing Arabella Bishop – her voice is perfect. I now have a beautiful voice to match the beautiful woman pictured on the inside cover of my printed edition. The only complaint I have is with the narrator. It’s hard to describe the nasal whine and stentorian intonation he adopts but it’s an all-around poor choice. Fortunately, much of the disc is dialog.

Ah…Captain Peter Bloo...more Audio CD – 3 stars
Book – 5 stars

Just an adaptation (sigh)…As such, it’s not bad. The actors are good, particularly the one playing Arabella Bishop – her voice is perfect. I now have a beautiful voice to match the beautiful woman pictured on the inside cover of my printed edition. The only complaint I have is with the narrator. It’s hard to describe the nasal whine and stentorian intonation he adopts but it’s an all-around poor choice. Fortunately, much of the disc is dialog.

Ah…Captain Peter Blood! I don’t know exactly when I picked up my copy of this novel. I know it was sometime between late high school and early undergraduate (1984-1986). No matter – it merits 5 stars from me because I had so much fun reading it. Sabatini’s other great characters Scaramouche and the Seahawk are suitably roguish, swashbuckling and heroic but they pale in comparison to the incomparable Peter Blood – soldier, physician and brilliant ship’s captain. Even the quintessential D’Artagnan can’t measure up for in addition to his martial virtues and honor, Blood embodies a basic core of decency and humanity.

The story is simple enough: The year is 1685 and Peter Blood has settled at Bridgewater to enjoy a quiet life and a small medical practice. Unfortunately, Charles II’s bastard son has risen in revolt against his uncle James II and many of Bridgewater’s men have joined him. Though not among that number, Blood finds himself arrested and accused of treason for attending to the wounds of a rebel nobleman, brought to him by his young friend Jeremy Pitt. He and Pitt are sentenced to be transported as slaves to the Crown’s colonies in the West Indies, where they become the property of the vicious, cowardly Colonel Bishop. Here Blood makes the acquaintance of the colonel’s niece, Arabella Bishop – beautiful, intelligent, and blessed with a powerful personality. The perfect companion to a man like Blood. It will not surprise readers of this genre that pair’s relationship does not start off well but that all things come around in the end.

Through a series of admittedly fantastic accidents, Blood, Pitt & several other slaves from the plantation manage to save Barbados Town from Spanish raiders and flee in their ship. Hunted by the English and the Spanish, Blood and his crew find refuge in the French colony of Tortuga and are forced to become pirates – though Blood conducts himself with all honor and only preys on the Spanish (for the most part). Soon ship (rechristened Arabella) and crew are renowned throughout the Spanish Main for their exploits (particularly Blood’s zenith as a pirate – the raid on Maracaibo).

Come 1688, James II is deposed and the Glorious Revolution puts William and Mary on the English throne. Recognizing talent when they see it, William’s government sends Lord Julian with a pardon and commission for Captain Blood. It should again come as no surprise that, despite a few close calls, Blood wins everything in the end – pardon, commission and the girl – and the villains get the punishments they richly deserve.

And while we’re on the subject: I’d also recommend Errol Flynn’s film adaptation – it remains remarkably faithful to the novel; and the role of Blood plays to all of Flynn’s acting strength. And Olivia de Havilland is radiant (as the DVD cover says) as Arabella.
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Mar 20, 2009 Terence rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: period fiction/swashbucklers

Shelves: historical-fiction

Audio CD – 3 stars
Book – 5 stars

Just an adaptation (sigh)…As such, it’s not bad. The actors are good, particularly the one playing Arabella Bishop – her voice is perfect. I now have a beautiful voice to match the beautiful woman pictured on the inside cover of my printed edition. The only complaint I have is with the narrator. It’s hard to describe the nasal whine and stentorian intonation he adopts but it’s an all-around poor choice. Fortunately, much of the disc is dialog.

Ah…Captain Peter Bloo...more Audio CD – 3 stars
Book – 5 stars

Just an adaptation (sigh)…As such, it’s not bad. The actors are good, particularly the one playing Arabella Bishop – her voice is perfect. I now have a beautiful voice to match the beautiful woman pictured on the inside cover of my printed edition. The only complaint I have is with the narrator. It’s hard to describe the nasal whine and stentorian intonation he adopts but it’s an all-around poor choice. Fortunately, much of the disc is dialog.

Ah…Captain Peter Blood! I don’t know exactly when I picked up my copy of this novel. I know it was sometime between late high school and early undergraduate (1984-1986). No matter – it merits 5 stars from me because I had so much fun reading it. Sabatini’s other great characters Scaramouche and the Seahawk are suitably roguish, swashbuckling and heroic but they pale in comparison to the incomparable Peter Blood – soldier, physician and brilliant ship’s captain. Even the quintessential D’Artagnan can’t measure up for in addition to his martial virtues and honor, Blood embodies a basic core of decency and humanity.

The story is simple enough: The year is 1685 and Peter Blood has settled at Bridgewater to enjoy a quiet life and a small medical practice. Unfortunately, Charles II’s bastard son has risen in revolt against his uncle James II and many of Bridgewater’s men have joined him. Though not among that number, Blood finds himself arrested and accused of treason for attending to the wounds of a rebel nobleman, brought to him by his young friend Jeremy Pitt. He and Pitt are sentenced to be transported as slaves to the Crown’s colonies in the West Indies, where they become the property of the vicious, cowardly Colonel Bishop. Here Blood makes the acquaintance of the colonel’s niece, Arabella Bishop – beautiful, intelligent, and blessed with a powerful personality. The perfect companion to a man like Blood. It will not surprise readers of this genre that pair’s relationship does not start off well but that all things come around in the end.

Through a series of admittedly fantastic accidents, Blood, Pitt & several other slaves from the plantation manage to save Barbados Town from Spanish raiders and flee in their ship. Hunted by the English and the Spanish, Blood and his crew find refuge in the French colony of Tortuga and are forced to become pirates – though Blood conducts himself with all honor and only preys on the Spanish (for the most part). Soon ship (rechristened Arabella) and crew are renowned throughout the Spanish Main for their exploits (particularly Blood’s zenith as a pirate – the raid on Maracaibo).

Come 1688, James II is deposed and the Glorious Revolution puts William and Mary on the English throne. Recognizing talent when they see it, William’s government sends Lord Julian with a pardon and commission for Captain Blood. It should again come as no surprise that, despite a few close calls, Blood wins everything in the end – pardon, commission and the girl – and the villains get the punishments they richly deserve.

And while we’re on the subject: I’d also recommend Errol Flynn’s film adaptation – it remains remarkably faithful to the novel; and the role of Blood plays to all of Flynn’s acting strength. And Olivia de Havilland is radiant (as the DVD cover says) as Arabella.
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Oct 29, 2011 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-favorites, 2011-reads

I am of an age that remembers spending Saturday afternoons at my local movie theater with a bag of popcorn and a box of milk duds and a coke that in total cost me about a dollar. The movies (and there were always two of them----with a cartoon just to get you going) were 50 cents. Those hours were magical and movies have never been better. They say you can't go back home again; but reading Captain Blood took me right back to being 10 years old. The hero is larger than life, as good with his brain...more

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Feb 19, 2009 Liz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, books-read-in-2009, adventure, pirates, swashbuckling

After spending the majority of his life as a solider and adventurer, Peter Blood retires to the bucolic English town of Bridgewater in pursuit of a quiet life. Here he takes up practice as a doctor, and settles into a pleasant routine. When the Duke of Monmouth stages his rebellion against King James, Peter steadfastly refuses to become involved, despite the disapproval this garners him from the townsfolk. However, when one of the rebels is gravely wounded, Pete feels that it is his duty as a do...more After spending the majority of his life as a solider and adventurer, Peter Blood retires to the bucolic English town of Bridgewater in pursuit of a quiet life. Here he takes up practice as a doctor, and settles into a pleasant routine. When the Duke of Monmouth stages his rebellion against King James, Peter steadfastly refuses to become involved, despite the disapproval this garners him from the townsfolk. However, when one of the rebels is gravely wounded, Pete feels that it is his duty as a doctor to aid the man. The government doesn’t see it quite the same way, and is quick to brand him a traitor and sentence him to ten years of slavery on the sugar plantations of Barbados. Here, he finds himself under the ownership of the inhumanly cruel Colonel Bishop. At the same time, he is captivated by the Colonel’s beautiful niece, Arabella, who is the complete opposite of her uncle. Soon, Peter effects a daring escape to the high seas, where he resorts to a life of piracy, the only avenue open to an escaped convict and slave. This results, of course, in scenes of high adventure, in which Peter, now known as the infamous Captain Blood, demonstrates his bravery and cunning as he combats his enemies. Despite his success, he has yet to face his greatest challenge – redeeming himself in the eyes of the beautiful Arabella, and winning her love.

This was a fun, rollicking tale of adventure involving everyone’s favorite…pirates! It is everything a good adventure novel should be. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, the action scenes are perilous, but the good guys always escape just in the nick of time. Peter Blood is the quintessential romantic action hero, he is handsome and brave, is cunning and has a roguish streak, but always conducts himself honorably. The plans he devises to outwit his enemies are ingenious, and always leave the reader on the edge of their seat. It’s no wonder this was so popular in its time, and that it endures even today as one of the foremost of the genre. At 262 pages, it’s a quick read, but one that packs a punch. I highly recommend it!(less)

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Jan 04, 2009 Eric_W rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nautical-fiction

McBooks Press began some years ago issuing a new “Classics of Nautical Fiction” series (pant! pant!) No doubt related to the success of the O’Brian books. Sabatini wrote several swashbuckling tales during the early twentieth century. Captain Blood was one turned into a famous movie starring Errol Flynn. Typical of many books written before the enlightened days of political correctness, it suffers from racism and sexism. The romance is a bit mushy, but what the heck, it’s a rousing good story. Pe...more McBooks Press began some years ago issuing a new “Classics of Nautical Fiction” series (pant! pant!) No doubt related to the success of the O’Brian books. Sabatini wrote several swashbuckling tales during the early twentieth century. Captain Blood was one turned into a famous movie starring Errol Flynn. Typical of many books written before the enlightened days of political correctness, it suffers from racism and sexism. The romance is a bit mushy, but what the heck, it’s a rousing good story. Peter Blood is a doctor in England who makes the mistake of aiding a rebel fighting King James. He is charged with treason, comes within an inch of hanging, is sent to Jamaica as a slave, then sold to the treacherous and meanspirited Colonel Bishop. The colonel’s niece Arabella — ravishingly beautiful, of course — takes a special interest in Blood, who manages to escape bondage with numerous of his fellow slaves when Spaniards ransack the town. Blood takes a Spanish ship by force and becomes a pirate, preying only on the wicked Spanish, mind you; after all, he’s still a noble Englishman at heart, and he names his new ship. . . well, you guess. In the end he . . . well, you guess. It’s all in rousing good fun and is saved from being completely trivial by Blood’s character, who has some wicked ripostes and dialogue. Faced with an obnoxious French admiral who demands that Peter’s captains be more obsequious, Blood responds: “I am happy to assure you that the reminder is unnecessary. I am by way of accounting myself a gentleman, little though I may look like one at present; and I should not account myself that were I capable of anything but deference to those whom nature or fortune may have placed above me, or to those being placed beneath me in rank may labour under a disability to resent my lack of it.” Beats television any day. No commercials either. Try it instead of the Super Bowl, no wait, I guess that’s already over or is it?(less)

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Apr 17, 2012 Gary Hoggatt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, all-fiction, favorites, audiobooks, pirates

Captain Blood, originally published in 1922, is, like Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, a classic pirate tale. However, while most are at least passingly familiar with Treasure Island these days, few have heard of Captain Blood, and that's a shame. As much as I love Treasure Island, I would have to say that I enjoyed Captain Blood even more.

The novel begins with Doctor Peter Blood, an Irishman living in England in 1685 after ten years adventuring as a soldier on the Continent, observing,...more Captain Blood, originally published in 1922, is, like Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, a classic pirate tale. However, while most are at least passingly familiar with Treasure Island these days, few have heard of Captain Blood, and that's a shame. As much as I love Treasure Island, I would have to say that I enjoyed Captain Blood even more.

The novel begins with Doctor Peter Blood, an Irishman living in England in 1685 after ten years adventuring as a soldier on the Continent, observing, but electing not to join, a rebellion against King James II. However, he provides medical aid to the rebels after the battle, and is arrested, tried, and sentenced to be hanged as a rebel himself. His sentence is instead commuted to ten years of slavery in the Caribbean. Finding himself on Barbados, he puts his skills as a doctor to use to better his lot, though his condition still chaffs at him. Whilst in bondage, he develops an affection for the niece of his owner. Blood engineers an escape for himself and his fellow rebels convict and, for lack of any other options, takes to the sea as a pirate, despite his still-present sense of honor.

Once at sea, Captain Blood undertakes a variety of daring, exciting adventures, becoming deeply involved in the fortunes of the Caribbean as the English, French, and Spanish all vie for supremacy in area. The reader is treated to battles at sea, raids of cities, and politics and intrigue, not to mention matters of honor, justice, vengeance, and romance.

Blood is developed as a very interesting, very deep character, whose intelligence, bravery, charisma, and honor are all believable and understandable. His varied adversaries are all well written, too, and the varied ways he overcomes each of them flow from the foe and Blood's interactions with them.

Adding to the depth and intrigue of the novel is that many of the events and personages referred to are historically factual, and these events have a significant impact on Blood's tale. There was a lot of intrigue in the real history of the late 1680's, and Sabatini makes very good use of it.

To compare Captain Blood a bit to the more well-known pirate tale Treasure Island, Treasure Island focuses on searching for pirate treasure, and has a superior antagonist to any of Captain Blood's adversaries in Long John Silver. Captain Blood gives the reader the sea-faring, ship-to-ship combat, city-plundering side of the pirate genre, and Peter Blood is a much more interesting protagonist than Treasure Island's Jim Hawkins. Finally, Captain Blood includes a romantic plot line that is completely lacking in Treasure Island's coming of age story, and I know for many readers a good story needs its romance. For more of my thoughts on Treasure Island itself, see my review here on Amazon.

I listened to Captain Blood as read by Robert Whitfield. Whitfield does an amazing job with the presentation. He crafts excellent voices and accents for Blood and each of the large cast of international characters. The Irish, English, French, Spanish, and Dutch characters all have appropriate accents, but Whitfield keeps each distinct and memorable, so that the listener never has to guess who's speaking. Whitfield has earned a place amongst my favorite audio book readers with this performance, and I'll certainly seek out more of his work. I see he's narrated a great many James Bond novels, and given his fantastic performance with Captain Blood, I'm sure he'll be just as enjoyable to listen to with modern international intrigue as his is with the 1680's version.

I'm very happy to have read Captain Blood, and I'll certainly seek out Sabatini's other work, including Scaramouche (also available narrated by Whitfield) and The Sea Hawk. I highly recommend Captain Blood to anyone who appreciates tales of pirates, daring adventure, intrigue, or historical novels. If you're familiar enough with modern pirate tales to recognize Port Royal and Tortuga, both of which appear in Captain Blood, you'll enjoy this novel. (less)

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Jun 23, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rafael Sabatini is one of the most underrated and ignored authors of the 20th century, yet "Captain Blood" might be one of the masterpieces of historical fiction.
He connects his characters with the historical situation of the time--in this case, the Monmouth Rebellion. Sabatini creates a character completely indifferent to either side of the highly violent rebellion. But when misunderstandings cause Peter Blood to be arrested along with a few actual traitors to the Crown, he casts himself out f...more Rafael Sabatini is one of the most underrated and ignored authors of the 20th century, yet "Captain Blood" might be one of the masterpieces of historical fiction.
He connects his characters with the historical situation of the time--in this case, the Monmouth Rebellion. Sabatini creates a character completely indifferent to either side of the highly violent rebellion. But when misunderstandings cause Peter Blood to be arrested along with a few actual traitors to the Crown, he casts himself out from all land society.
After being shipped to Barbados as a slave on a plantation, Blood leads a slave rebellion, commandeers a vessel, and sails into the Caribbean to wreak havoc on Spanish merchantmen and other pirates alike.
The best part of Captain Blood isn't Sabatini's wry and sarcastic tone with which he writes, although it lends to the entertainment of the story. And it isn't the realistically and tastefully treated romance between Blood and spirited, brave heroine Arabella Bishop. It's the influence the time period in which he wrote the novel had upon his hero. Published in 1922, it reflects a post-war European disillusioned attitude towards government and society. Blood himself is a proponent of piracy, breaking away from the civil war in his homeland, leaving behind the seemingly corrupt laws and lawmakers. Once on sea, he creates a new moral code, one that he clings to throughout the novel.
In Peter Blood, Rafael Sabatini built a man 1922 society could embrace as a hero, despite his unlawful tendencies (he's a pirate, for God's sake!). In fact, it is this revolutionary decision to go on the account that perhaps most appealed to Sabatini's readers. A man rebelling against tyranny, while keeping his own moral code...
Pretty attractive to a mass of people sick of war-torn society and corrupt officials, is it not?
Story-wise, the plot is without loopholes, the characters are realistically and beautifully built. The hero is not quite as faultless as the Hollywood version with Errol Flynn makes him out to be (though I love that film!). Arabella is not the fainting damsel in distress you'd expect from a pirate adventure. And there are multiple antagonists, all of whom have their own voices expressed.
The writings is decadent and fun to read.
Sabatini put a ridiculous amount of research into the time period and areas, and it shows.
In all, this might be my most favorite book. And that's saying a lot.(less)

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May 13, 2011 Matthew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've always been a sucker for a certain kind of swashbuckling adventure. As an awkward middle-school student, I found a kind of refuge in books like H. Rider Haggard's masterpieces King Solomon's Mines and Allen Quatermain; as an adult, the Tarzan books number among my guilty pleasures. So it's hardly surprising that, without knowing it, some piece of me was waiting forRaphael Sabatini's Captain Blood all along.

Captain Blood is, without question, one of the greatest pirate adventures ever writte...more
I've always been a sucker for a certain kind of swashbuckling adventure. As an awkward middle-school student, I found a kind of refuge in books like H. Rider Haggard's masterpieces King Solomon's Mines and Allen Quatermain; as an adult, the Tarzan books number among my guilty pleasures. So it's hardly surprising that, without knowing it, some piece of me was waiting forRaphael Sabatini's Captain Blood all along.

Captain Blood is, without question, one of the greatest pirate adventures ever written. A century before Jack Sparrow sashayed across the screen, Peter Blood was wreaking his own brand of stylish mayhem across the Caribbean. Sabatini's novel is a product of the same late-Victorian appetite for tales of adventure in foreign lands that gave us works like The Pirates of Penzance and Kim, but nothing about it feels imitative. Peter Blood is uniquely his own character (although he has spawned countless imitators): wrongfully convicted of treason and sold into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation, he man who is "at war with humanity" and yet has "some rags of honor." His barbed wit and rakish charm are tempered with just enough self-doubt, and occasional self-hatred, to make him a riveting leading man.

This isn't, of course, to claim that Captain Blood is a profound study in human nature. This is an action-movie of a book, but done with so much intelligence and style that its fundamental contrivedness never feels like a problem. Sabatini's writing is crisp, enjoyable, and fast paced; consider the following account of a duel between Levasseur, a rival pirate captain, and Captain Blood:

The brute strength upon which Levasseur so confidently counted, could avail nothing against the Irishman's practiced skill. When, with both lungs transfixed, he lay prone on the white sand, coughing out his rascally life, Captain Blood looked calmly at [Levasseur's first mate] across the body. "I think that cancels the articles between us," he said.

Yes, it may not be Great Literature. But reading lines like that, my inner middle-school geek grins and cheers and I love every page of it, Great Literature be damned.(less)

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Dec 13, 2010 Alena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As expected from Sabatini, this classic adventure title delivers sweeping sea battles, audacious pirate tactics, the occasional swordfight, and a little romance. Sabatini's works veritably define "swashbuckler," and it's no surprise at all that Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone were cast in the film version.

What makes it more delightful than many similar books is the characterization. Peter Blood is an adventurer-turned-physician who wants nothing more from life than a quiet retirement; he spent hi...more

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Mar 03, 2010 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all my friends

Recommended to Natalie by: Julie Jones

Shelves: recently-read

Captain Blood was a delightful read, much more enjoyable than I had ever imagined. It combines the best intrigue and adventure of Pirates of the Caribbean with the honor, courage, and amazing ingenuity of Horatio Hornblower and Master and Commander. I found myself laughing, cheering, cursing, and holding my breath with each adventure.

Peter Blood is wrongfully charged with treason and sent from his comfortable life in England to the slavery of a plantation in Barbados. He sees a opportunity to e...more

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Mar 20, 2010 Jenny Esplin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ahoy, everybody. I've decided that Captain Blood is one of my new favorite novels. (I'm putting it in my top five, but I can't decide what to bump down, so there will be six books in my top five--shhhh). It's a swashbuckling adventure that had me completely enthralled from beginning to end. It contains pirates! Need I say more? OK. I'll tell you more. Peter Blood is my favorite kind of protagonist--a reluctant hero, overcoming misfortune, outsmarting his adversaries against all odds, and witty w...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Leah Good rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, classics, historical-fiction, outread-aubrey, young-adult, adult

At the beginning of this book, Peter Blood is sticking to his plan of abandoning his life of adventure and working as a physician. When he goes to tend the wounds of a rebel, he is arrested, subjected to a sham trial and sold into slavery. In this manner, Peter Blood is cast back into a life of adventure. He leads an escape, seizes a Spanish boat and is more or less forced into a life of piracy. Yet, despite his new role as buccaneer, the memory of Arabella Bishop causes him to retain his honor....more

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Oct 08, 2010 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, historical, pirates

I am extremely surprised with how much I enjoyed reading this! I loved nearly everything about it, the pacing, the characters, the writing, and even the history involved, something that I generaly dislike. This was such a quick read because the story flowed so well and there was little waste, with every word or description carrying the story further along without boring me. Once I was into the story I did not put it down and read it straight through. There are adventures, a little romance, and e...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An adventure that truly takes the reader from his/her surroundings into the New World, where pirates and buccaneers roam the seas. Where colonies are popping up all over the Caribbean and slavery is beginning to explode. Rafael Sabatini does a wonderful job in introducing this world in lividly and memorable writing style, even though he is writing well after the books time period. The character, Peter Blood, is the most developed character in the book by far. Most of the other characters in the...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Russell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You what awesome is? Awesome is writing an English novel about the best gentleman pirate ever penned when English is your sixth learned language.

This is flat out a fantastic historical fiction novel of pirates, daring-do, swash-buckling, with the best pirate ever to be dressed to the nines who is armed with wit and a sardonic smile. Blood cuts across the Caribbean as the consummate gentleman turned pirate due to events beyond his control, serving various crowns and himself in an attempt to resto...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An adventure that truly takes the reader from his/her surroundings into the New World, where pirates and buccaneers roam the seas. Where colonies are popping up all over the Caribbean and slavery is beginning to explode. Rafael Sabatini does a wonderful job in introducing this world in lividly and memorable writing style, even though he is writing well after the books time period. The character, Peter Blood, is the most developed character in the book by far. Most of the other characters in the...more

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Aug 06, 2010 Noor Jahangir rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Perhaps the most well known work by Rafael Sabatini, this book recieved the big screen treatment several times, including the 1935 version starring Errol Flynn.

The book was orignally published in 1922 and is set in the historical background of the 1600s, opening with the Battle of Sedgemoor and ending with the Glorius Revolution in 1688.

It follows the adventures of Peter Blood, a former sailor and soldier practicing medicine in Somerset, who is caught treating a rebel nobleman and arrested by th...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Elena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-ya, authors-i-like, everyone-must-read, old-classic-before-1900, adventures-chevalier-pirates

"Id is fery boedigal!" he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "Cabdain Blood is fond of boedry—you remember de abble-blossoms. So? Ha, ha!" (quote from the book)

It's not my favorite book of Sabatini (I don't respect piracy in general), but it's one of his best works, I must admit, and one of the best adventure book for general audience.

Romance! Adventures! Sword fighting! Fleet of sails! Chivalry! Everything to please any reader of any age and any sex.

Personages will not make you puzzling of their ch...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Bekah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, owned-books, favorites

During the tumultous reign of James II, Englishman Peter Blood, a gentleman-physician, barely escapes the gallows after his arrest for treating a wounded rebel. Sentenced to ten years of slavery on a Barbados plantation, Blood escapes from captivity and boldly embarks on a career as a pirate, never losing sight of his goals of clearing his name and returning to England.
A rollicking tale of piracy on a grand scale, accented with breathtaking maritime maneuvers, near misses, and broadside hits,...more

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