The Barbarians

by F. Van Wyck Mason

paperback book

Genres: Historical Fiction

249 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1954

About the author

aka Geoffrey Coffin, Frank W. Mason, Ward Weaver

Francis Van Wyck Mason (November 11, 1901 – August 28, 1978, Bermuda) was an American historian and novelist. He had a long and prolific career as a writer spanning 50 years and including 65 published novels.

Reviews

[S.wagenaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read. This was originally written for the pulp magazines back in the 30’s, so it moves with zest and headlong action. The tale is simple; a Barbarian prince from a Celtic tribe must endure slavery and hatred from his captors in Carthage to rise up, escape and get his revenge. Plenty of battles and bloodshed, with a couple of really impressive sea battles. The historical aspects seem accurate, and I looked up several things on Wikipedia to get further insight into the historical timeframe. I have a second book by Mason, Silver Leopard, and I’ll be reading it soon, as it’s a swashbuckling adventure set in the first Crusade. Recommended for anyone who wants an exciting historical adventure tale.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very slightly expanded version of Mason's "The Barbarian" that ran in ARGOSY magazine in 1934. Later made into a T.V. pilot for NBC for a series to be called "The Barbarians." The show was not picked up but the pilot starring Jack Palance was shown as REVAK THE REBEL which follows the first half of the novel.
Good blood and thunder pulp adventure of a Celt captured by the Carthaginians during the First Punic War.