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The Golden Hawk
They called him the Golden Hawk, Kit Gerado, whose tawny mane and fierce hungers were know and feared thoughout the Caribbean. As a young boy Kit Gerado had seen his mother murdered by the arrogant Don Luis del Toro. Now, as a buccaneer captain, he longed to meet his enemy and duel with him to the death. But Don Luis was governor of Cartagena, protected by the mightiest fortress in the Caribbean.
As ruthless as he was passionate, Kit and his pirates roamed the West Indies, they plundered the seas on a savage quest for his vengeance, finding both adventure and love. There was man-hating Rouge of the taunting eyes, herself a desperate buccaneer. And Lady Rosalind Parish, who had the ways of a wanton. The great Spanish galleons yielded their golden treasures. Bianca, the beautiful wife of Don Luis, melted with love in Kit's arms.
And finally this proud and vengeful pirate, came face to face, knife to knife, with the man he had sworn to kill!
As ruthless as he was passionate, Kit and his pirates roamed the West Indies, they plundered the seas on a savage quest for his vengeance, finding both adventure and love. There was man-hating Rouge of the taunting eyes, herself a desperate buccaneer. And Lady Rosalind Parish, who had the ways of a wanton. The great Spanish galleons yielded their golden treasures. Bianca, the beautiful wife of Don Luis, melted with love in Kit's arms.
And finally this proud and vengeful pirate, came face to face, knife to knife, with the man he had sworn to kill!
283 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
7 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Frank Yerby
123 books115 followersBorn in Augusta, Georgia to Rufus Garvin Yerby, an African American, and Wilhelmina Smythe, who was caucasian. He graduated from Haines Normal Institute in Augusta and graduated from Paine College in 1937. Thereafter, Yerby enrolled in Fisk University where he received his Master's degree in 1938. In 1939, Yerby entered the University of Chicago to work toward his doctorate but later left the university. Yerby taught briefly at Florida A&M University and at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Frank Yerby rose to fame as a writer of popular fiction tinged with a distinctive southern flavor. In 1946 he became the first African-American to publish a best-seller with The Foxes of Harrow. That same year he also became the first African-American to have a book purchased for screen adaptation by a Hollywood studio, when 20th Century Fox optioned Foxes. Ultimately the book became a 1947 Oscar-nominated film starring Rex Harrison and Maureen O'Hara. Yerby was originally noted for writing romance novels set in the Antebellum South. In mid-century he embarked on a series of best-selling novels ranging from the Athens of Pericles to Europe in the Dark Ages. Yerby took considerable pains in research, and often footnoted his historical novels. In all he wrote 33 novels.
Frank Yerby rose to fame as a writer of popular fiction tinged with a distinctive southern flavor. In 1946 he became the first African-American to publish a best-seller with The Foxes of Harrow. That same year he also became the first African-American to have a book purchased for screen adaptation by a Hollywood studio, when 20th Century Fox optioned Foxes. Ultimately the book became a 1947 Oscar-nominated film starring Rex Harrison and Maureen O'Hara. Yerby was originally noted for writing romance novels set in the Antebellum South. In mid-century he embarked on a series of best-selling novels ranging from the Athens of Pericles to Europe in the Dark Ages. Yerby took considerable pains in research, and often footnoted his historical novels. In all he wrote 33 novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 21, 2017
I bought this book at a library book sale because the binding was upside down to the pages and I thought that was funny. Now, I am IN LOVE with this book!! I love the characters, the story, the plot, the setting... but above all, the language! It was like poetry in prose. Beautiful and descriptive and poetic, but not at all heavy. The very first paragraph had me hooked:
"There was no wind in all that sweep of sky. Now and again one of the black-gray mountains of cloud, too heavily laden, sank almost to the surface of the Caribbean; but that was where the wind was, and the towering domes and pinnacles of mist were rent into shreds and sent scudding to leeward to be lost in the white boil of spray where the waves crashed in thunderous fury over the rocks of the Isle de Vaches-Cow Island."
Oh yeah, and did I mention it's all about pirates?!
"There was no wind in all that sweep of sky. Now and again one of the black-gray mountains of cloud, too heavily laden, sank almost to the surface of the Caribbean; but that was where the wind was, and the towering domes and pinnacles of mist were rent into shreds and sent scudding to leeward to be lost in the white boil of spray where the waves crashed in thunderous fury over the rocks of the Isle de Vaches-Cow Island."
Oh yeah, and did I mention it's all about pirates?!
November 19, 2017
Loved every swashbuckling, adventurous, romantic chapter! :):)
May 6, 2021
A sprawling, incredibly atmospheric adventure on the high seas and the corrupting islands of the Caribbean. Yerby places the reader right there among the brawling seafaring thugs and the part-time aristocracy of various spits of land barely above sea and the dungeons within those land spits.
The general story is nearly expected these days, but not such in the late '40s when it was published. Unlike today, most books steeped in history at that time set their tales in factual history with fictional characters interspersed. Another favorite of mine, Frank Slaughter accomplished outstanding tales immersed in factual history.
While reading this, I'm also reading an advanced copy of 'From the River to the Sea' a supposed non-fiction account of two battling railroads ranging territories west of the United States. I bargain 'The Golden Hawk' has more accurate data than the soon-to-be-published railroad book I keep finding inaccuracies in. Yerby's pirate tale checks accurately of what I know of the areas he's covering in the late 1600s. Certainly Yerby's tale is far, far better written than the railroad book.
Reading the two books at the same time, and reading vastly different writing abilities, continues my contention that the golden age of writing is not to be revisited any time soon. Today information is at the tip of anyone's fingers, yet those writing 100 and 80 years ago were better capable to include factual dates, excellent plots, superior writing, etc. than what is being done today.
The characters included are well crafted. To the point i almost wish Yerby had written a sequel to learn what happens to the characters after this book's story. The character, Rouge is written as a woman in most men's dreams. The description of, character, Kit's mane of golden hair is extraordinary. Even minor characters are well drawn. Mere beggars in dark, putrid alleys come to life.
His description of settings are also alive and accurate. Yerby clearly worked with a map.
That springs to mind something else severely lacking in non-fiction books today, besides maps, are establishing the date of events. Yerby is writing fiction and consistently notes dates throughout.
I could go on.
Bottom line: i recommend this book. 10 out of 10 points.
The general story is nearly expected these days, but not such in the late '40s when it was published. Unlike today, most books steeped in history at that time set their tales in factual history with fictional characters interspersed. Another favorite of mine, Frank Slaughter accomplished outstanding tales immersed in factual history.
While reading this, I'm also reading an advanced copy of 'From the River to the Sea' a supposed non-fiction account of two battling railroads ranging territories west of the United States. I bargain 'The Golden Hawk' has more accurate data than the soon-to-be-published railroad book I keep finding inaccuracies in. Yerby's pirate tale checks accurately of what I know of the areas he's covering in the late 1600s. Certainly Yerby's tale is far, far better written than the railroad book.
Reading the two books at the same time, and reading vastly different writing abilities, continues my contention that the golden age of writing is not to be revisited any time soon. Today information is at the tip of anyone's fingers, yet those writing 100 and 80 years ago were better capable to include factual dates, excellent plots, superior writing, etc. than what is being done today.
The characters included are well crafted. To the point i almost wish Yerby had written a sequel to learn what happens to the characters after this book's story. The character, Rouge is written as a woman in most men's dreams. The description of, character, Kit's mane of golden hair is extraordinary. Even minor characters are well drawn. Mere beggars in dark, putrid alleys come to life.
His description of settings are also alive and accurate. Yerby clearly worked with a map.
That springs to mind something else severely lacking in non-fiction books today, besides maps, are establishing the date of events. Yerby is writing fiction and consistently notes dates throughout.
I could go on.
Bottom line: i recommend this book. 10 out of 10 points.
November 7, 2019
Synopsis:
Kit, who recently became the captain of a pirate ship, wants to avenge the death of his mother at the hands of Don Louis Del Torro. While seeking this revenge Kit falls in love with a lady pirate named Rouge. Kit and Rouge share the same foe and desire for revenge. Unfortunately, Rouge has only vengeance in her heart. She has no time for love. While Kit is pining for the lady pirate, Del Torro's wife is falling for the handsome young pirate captain.
Rouge's sister was murdered and she was raped, ending her engagement and forcing her into a life of piracy from the man she believed was her rescuer. She knows she will never be able to reclaim her role as a lady until her sister is avenged.
My rating:
4/5
This was a book I first read in my late teens and I absolutely loved it. It was one of my favorite books. Now, reading it as an adult, I understood why I loved it but I also don't necessarily love it at the level I once did. I still think the writing is amazing. This book has some brilliant dialogue. It has some of the wittiest, most ironic, and tongue in cheek quotes I have ever found. There are quotable lines and memorable scenes throughout. Many of which I had remembered from previous reads but enjoyed even more this time around. The writing of this book is just amazing.
I am not usually a fan of adventure stories but even now I was enchanted by this book and the things that were going on.
I thought this book did an excellent job or portraying the time period in which it is set. The setting is rich and feels well researched.
This book was written in the 1940's and the story takes place in the 1600. This gives it some problematic elements such as issues with consent. Many times throughout the story Kit is pushing Rouge for kisses and more. There is a time she is, quite literally, beating him with a whip to get him to leave her alone and he still grabs her and kisses her. I believe in the context of the story it is meant to be romantic and, the 20 year old me who grew up before the me too movement, probably thought it was swoon worthy. He wanted to kiss her so bad he fought through lashings that were bloodying his chest. Oh how times and my ideas have changed.
Overall, the treatment and portrayal of women in this book is poor. Aside from the age of the story and the time period of the book this issue is likely due to it being written by a man. This is an adventure pirate story and I can only assume the author thought his audience was more likely to be young men than women readers (though I can only assume that as the covers I have for these look somewhat like romance covers with shirtless men and busty women). One example of the poor portrayal of women was in an instance where Bianca is noted by the narrator to be playing head games like all women do.
Another problematic element to this book is the treatment of servants and ideas about servants such as their enjoyment of eavesdropping etc. Again, this is something I have noticed in older books so I want to be careful about holding it against this particular work. I feel that classism was extremely prevalent during the time of this writing.
The last problematic element I feel like I must mention is places where there seems to be some racism. However, the author is a person of color, so I am not sure if I can accuse the book of racism on that front. Racism was a thing in the 1600's and it is possible the author was simply trying for an accurate portrayal of the times. One discussion involved the Caribbean slaves. There were discussions about certain slaves from certain areas being better at certain tasks. Some for protection. Some for planting. Etc.
There is a movie version of this story which is very different but also quite good though for different reasons.
I am hesitant to recommend the Golden Hawk because of the problematic elements of this book however if you can look past those and forgive the book because of the time it was written and the time it was set, this is a solid read. I found it engaging and the dialogue some of the best I have read still to this day.
Kit, who recently became the captain of a pirate ship, wants to avenge the death of his mother at the hands of Don Louis Del Torro. While seeking this revenge Kit falls in love with a lady pirate named Rouge. Kit and Rouge share the same foe and desire for revenge. Unfortunately, Rouge has only vengeance in her heart. She has no time for love. While Kit is pining for the lady pirate, Del Torro's wife is falling for the handsome young pirate captain.
Rouge's sister was murdered and she was raped, ending her engagement and forcing her into a life of piracy from the man she believed was her rescuer. She knows she will never be able to reclaim her role as a lady until her sister is avenged.
My rating:
4/5
This was a book I first read in my late teens and I absolutely loved it. It was one of my favorite books. Now, reading it as an adult, I understood why I loved it but I also don't necessarily love it at the level I once did. I still think the writing is amazing. This book has some brilliant dialogue. It has some of the wittiest, most ironic, and tongue in cheek quotes I have ever found. There are quotable lines and memorable scenes throughout. Many of which I had remembered from previous reads but enjoyed even more this time around. The writing of this book is just amazing.
I am not usually a fan of adventure stories but even now I was enchanted by this book and the things that were going on.
I thought this book did an excellent job or portraying the time period in which it is set. The setting is rich and feels well researched.
This book was written in the 1940's and the story takes place in the 1600. This gives it some problematic elements such as issues with consent. Many times throughout the story Kit is pushing Rouge for kisses and more. There is a time she is, quite literally, beating him with a whip to get him to leave her alone and he still grabs her and kisses her. I believe in the context of the story it is meant to be romantic and, the 20 year old me who grew up before the me too movement, probably thought it was swoon worthy. He wanted to kiss her so bad he fought through lashings that were bloodying his chest. Oh how times and my ideas have changed.
Overall, the treatment and portrayal of women in this book is poor. Aside from the age of the story and the time period of the book this issue is likely due to it being written by a man. This is an adventure pirate story and I can only assume the author thought his audience was more likely to be young men than women readers (though I can only assume that as the covers I have for these look somewhat like romance covers with shirtless men and busty women). One example of the poor portrayal of women was in an instance where Bianca is noted by the narrator to be playing head games like all women do.
Another problematic element to this book is the treatment of servants and ideas about servants such as their enjoyment of eavesdropping etc. Again, this is something I have noticed in older books so I want to be careful about holding it against this particular work. I feel that classism was extremely prevalent during the time of this writing.
The last problematic element I feel like I must mention is places where there seems to be some racism. However, the author is a person of color, so I am not sure if I can accuse the book of racism on that front. Racism was a thing in the 1600's and it is possible the author was simply trying for an accurate portrayal of the times. One discussion involved the Caribbean slaves. There were discussions about certain slaves from certain areas being better at certain tasks. Some for protection. Some for planting. Etc.
There is a movie version of this story which is very different but also quite good though for different reasons.
I am hesitant to recommend the Golden Hawk because of the problematic elements of this book however if you can look past those and forgive the book because of the time it was written and the time it was set, this is a solid read. I found it engaging and the dialogue some of the best I have read still to this day.
October 25, 2017
I picked up an old battered copy of this book when I was in High School at a yard sale somewhere. It laid around my room for a bit until the summer time when I needed a poolside read. So I grabbed it, went to the pool and began.
What followed was what is now one of my favorite novels. It had no dust jacket so I had no idea what it was about. So how surprised was I when out came pirates, a kickass female and a truly horrible villain. Throw in a good twist, excellent characters and a caribbean setting and I was hooked.
I love this book. Adventure and love and action all rolled into one. I don’t lend this one out.
What followed was what is now one of my favorite novels. It had no dust jacket so I had no idea what it was about. So how surprised was I when out came pirates, a kickass female and a truly horrible villain. Throw in a good twist, excellent characters and a caribbean setting and I was hooked.
I love this book. Adventure and love and action all rolled into one. I don’t lend this one out.
November 27, 2025
I picked up The Golden Hawk (published 1948) after seeing it referenced in my friend Daniela Sapriel’s Ending the War Between Mars and Venus—and I’m glad I did. Yerby’s novel plunges you into a world of 17th-century Spaniards, Frenchmen, privateers, revenge, and shifting loyalties. At times the drama and sweep of the story give it the feel of an early Gone With the Wind—romantic, turbulent, and filled with characters who suffer from that eternal affliction Yerby sums up so well: “the vanity of a man in love.”
The novel is rich with the period’s color and tensions: new Christians, converted Jews, mestizo identities, courtly codes, and the fierce pride of Spain at its height. Yerby’s characters are flawed, often reckless, and vividly human. As one line puts it, “In this life there is much that a man can never understand.” Kit Cristóbal, with his lion-like mane and his conflicted heart, is pulled between passion, duty, and the long shadow of his lineage. At one point he muses that “some things are better left unknown,” even as fate insists otherwise.
The book is also filled with wonderfully sharp observations. I smiled at the line, “I will not stir a step until I have coffee to clean my head of last night’s fumes,” and admired the wisdom in “That’s the beginning of wisdom—admit that man is not a fool.” And only Yerby could toss off a line like, “In a mad world only greater madness succeeds!” and make it feel like a thesis statement.
Most of all, I appreciated how Yerby allows his characters to circle through betrayal, heartbreak, and self-deception before finding a resolution that feels earned. One of the last lines I noted reads, “When the time has come, all things will be made right.” And in this story, they are—surprisingly, satisfyingly so.
I loved this: “He was clad altogether in black, after the fashion of Spanish nobility.”
I was wavering between 3 and 4 stars, but the strength of Yerby’s writing—and the many quotable moments that caught me off guard—push this to a solid 4 stars.
A dramatic, romantic, swashbuckling tale with more emotional intelligence than I expected.
The novel is rich with the period’s color and tensions: new Christians, converted Jews, mestizo identities, courtly codes, and the fierce pride of Spain at its height. Yerby’s characters are flawed, often reckless, and vividly human. As one line puts it, “In this life there is much that a man can never understand.” Kit Cristóbal, with his lion-like mane and his conflicted heart, is pulled between passion, duty, and the long shadow of his lineage. At one point he muses that “some things are better left unknown,” even as fate insists otherwise.
The book is also filled with wonderfully sharp observations. I smiled at the line, “I will not stir a step until I have coffee to clean my head of last night’s fumes,” and admired the wisdom in “That’s the beginning of wisdom—admit that man is not a fool.” And only Yerby could toss off a line like, “In a mad world only greater madness succeeds!” and make it feel like a thesis statement.
Most of all, I appreciated how Yerby allows his characters to circle through betrayal, heartbreak, and self-deception before finding a resolution that feels earned. One of the last lines I noted reads, “When the time has come, all things will be made right.” And in this story, they are—surprisingly, satisfyingly so.
I loved this: “He was clad altogether in black, after the fashion of Spanish nobility.”
I was wavering between 3 and 4 stars, but the strength of Yerby’s writing—and the many quotable moments that caught me off guard—push this to a solid 4 stars.
A dramatic, romantic, swashbuckling tale with more emotional intelligence than I expected.
April 16, 2024
The Sea Hawk by Frank Yerby is exactly what I was hoping for, a swashbuckling tale across the Caribbean Ocean. This is by far my favorite time period in history, so I am always happy to find a novel set in this time period, and this one did not disappoint.
Kit is the protagonist, and young man thrust into the role of captain early in the book. Kit is also chasing the killer of his mother, Lorenzo Del Toro, recently made Spanish Noble. Kit is a good character, but he could have alphas more growth throughout the story, as he does not change until the very end.
The side characters are interesting and good additions, but most of them are very static with no developments in their character. Take Bernardo for example, the entire book he follows around Kit, always going against his own better judgment and following him into trouble, and he never stops doing it.
The setting is my favorite part of the book, for anything set in the Caribbean in this time period I will enjoy. He does not describe the islands as much as he probably could have, and they only visit a couple of towns across the book, but it is still good. The author also details some forts the Spanish controlled as well.
Overall this is a good book, but I cannot give it five stars because I feel the ending was rushed, and some characters never got fleshed out. Even so, I give this book a proud 4/5 and would recommend reading it.
Kit is the protagonist, and young man thrust into the role of captain early in the book. Kit is also chasing the killer of his mother, Lorenzo Del Toro, recently made Spanish Noble. Kit is a good character, but he could have alphas more growth throughout the story, as he does not change until the very end.
The side characters are interesting and good additions, but most of them are very static with no developments in their character. Take Bernardo for example, the entire book he follows around Kit, always going against his own better judgment and following him into trouble, and he never stops doing it.
The setting is my favorite part of the book, for anything set in the Caribbean in this time period I will enjoy. He does not describe the islands as much as he probably could have, and they only visit a couple of towns across the book, but it is still good. The author also details some forts the Spanish controlled as well.
Overall this is a good book, but I cannot give it five stars because I feel the ending was rushed, and some characters never got fleshed out. Even so, I give this book a proud 4/5 and would recommend reading it.
May 6, 2023
Great book for an English major.
Read this in a volume with A Woman called Fancy: 2 short novels in one. The Hawk gets down to its real plot at about 2/3 into the book. We all can tell these men and women are swashbucklers. That’s not the story. When it got down to it, I really liked it. It’s a lot of exposition to finally get to the story, romance, manners and human interest.
I have never seen a movie that I thought was better than the novel upon which it was based. This time I’d like to the see the movie.
Read this in a volume with A Woman called Fancy: 2 short novels in one. The Hawk gets down to its real plot at about 2/3 into the book. We all can tell these men and women are swashbucklers. That’s not the story. When it got down to it, I really liked it. It’s a lot of exposition to finally get to the story, romance, manners and human interest.
I have never seen a movie that I thought was better than the novel upon which it was based. This time I’d like to the see the movie.
November 11, 2024
I usually like Frank Yerby's novels but this is not his best. I disliked Kit the main character and the violent ways of the pirates. The female characters were a bit more interesting, and they were a bit more than just romantic interests but their attachment to him seemed a bit unrealistic. Kit literally could not take no for an answer, yet the girl he wanted somehow fell in love with him anyway. It seemed more like rape than seduction to me. The end of the story was exciting.
November 21, 2017
Interesting!
March 16, 2022
Fast-paced and full of adventure. A movie was made from this book.
January 9, 2023
Good idea for a plot, tons of pirate drama!! I loved all of the ups and downs. The only thing is that I felt like the very end was slightly rushed.
March 22, 2023
1948 Romance novel complete with swashbuckling pirates. This was surprisingly a good book.
October 11, 2023
The book is dated but I completely understand why these were best-sellers when written.
June 16, 2025
I love this author! And this book didn't disappoint!!
September 5, 2025
A pleasant surprise. Great bit of old school writing. Highly recommend.
January 6, 2014
I have been guilty of complaining of a lack of action in some of the recent books I have read. Well, such was not the case with this adventure tale from Frank Yerby! We reel fantastically from one harrowing scene to the next, while all along there is an underlying tension of love, family, and honor. What a ride!
Kit is a buccaneer without equal in his skill and good looks. He and his giant pal Bernardo sail the Spanish seas until one day the encounter a beautiful lass Rouge who unwillingly captures kit's heart, hook line and sinker. They are, of course, separated and kit searches the seas for her. In so doing he runs into his mortal enemy and kidnaps his fiancé, who is ethereally beautiful - and thus kit is conflicted! We also come to learn some shocking things about kit's mortal enemy Don Luis that surely cannot be revealed here.
All told, it was a rollicking good tale, with action, adventure, and humanity. Yerby knew what he was up to!
Kit is a buccaneer without equal in his skill and good looks. He and his giant pal Bernardo sail the Spanish seas until one day the encounter a beautiful lass Rouge who unwillingly captures kit's heart, hook line and sinker. They are, of course, separated and kit searches the seas for her. In so doing he runs into his mortal enemy and kidnaps his fiancé, who is ethereally beautiful - and thus kit is conflicted! We also come to learn some shocking things about kit's mortal enemy Don Luis that surely cannot be revealed here.
All told, it was a rollicking good tale, with action, adventure, and humanity. Yerby knew what he was up to!
Read
August 11, 2008Although little remembered today, Frank Yerby was one of the last great writers of swashbuckling adventure novels. In The Golden Hawk he tackled the quintessential swashbuckler subject, piracy on the high seas.
Kit Gerardo is the dashing young man at the center of the novel. He serves under Captain Lazarus, a leper buccaneer, together they quell a mutiny, survive the Port Royal earthquake, battle a Spanish galleon, and rescue a beautiful girl who drives Lazarus to suicide and shoots Kit in the head. And that’s just the first chapter.
http://fireandsword.blogspot.com/2006...
Kit Gerardo is the dashing young man at the center of the novel. He serves under Captain Lazarus, a leper buccaneer, together they quell a mutiny, survive the Port Royal earthquake, battle a Spanish galleon, and rescue a beautiful girl who drives Lazarus to suicide and shoots Kit in the head. And that’s just the first chapter.
http://fireandsword.blogspot.com/2006...
April 30, 2010
Fun book. I picked this up because I recorded the film adaptation from Turner Classics. I figured I would read the book first, since I would get that done before watching the movie. It was an interesting story made because of the characters. The lead is an interesting, conflicted pirate; but his nemesis is also just as interesting. They aren't too cookie cutter in their characterization. I have low expectations for the movie, though. The direction this could go for a film is excellent, but I know the Hollywood machine of the 50s and it isn't going that way. Oh well. It will still be fun. I hope. This book is worth reading, though.
June 14, 2020
You know, every good author has their own thing that defines them. For Frank Yerby, it’s his writing. His descriptions, his actions. It’s so beautifully articulate. For a black man in the 40s, he really showed those authors he was more than just a ‘coloured person’. I’ve learned so much from Yerby, not only in writing, but the history was a great element. I gotta say, the romance didn’t really age well (cos that’s not how we do things anymore, is it?), but it’s unfair to blame the book for that. ‘Rouge’ and Bianca were great, and Kit Gerardo was even better. The whole plot of the book was riveting.
November 15, 2009
A sort of mixture of adventure and romance. Pretty good. Yerby might be the guy who gave the purple to the term purple prose, but it's still a fun read.
A golden-haired rogue pirate has two women who love him, one with flame red hair and the other dark. And there's a secret about his past.
A golden-haired rogue pirate has two women who love him, one with flame red hair and the other dark. And there's a secret about his past.
May 30, 2011
Enjoyable, well-researched pirate yarn, rich in historical and nautical detail. Characters are somewhat TOO boldly drawn, with behaviors and emotions that splash frequently over the top of the tankard. Otherwise, a nice mixture of action, aventure and romance.
January 7, 2012
This was the first book outside of gradeschool "Dick and Jane" that I read. Purloined the copy of The Golden Hawk from my parent's bookshelf (still have that copy). After this, there was no stopping my reading adult literature.
February 15, 2012
It's been so long ago that I can't remember when I first read this book. However, I do remember the three different times I had to search used books stores to get it back because I had loaned it out. Needless to say, it stays in the house now where it belongs. I love this story.
August 31, 2010
A pirate story.
November 27, 2014
More over-the-top (bordering on ridiculous) yet fast-paced adventure from that wacky Frank Yerby.
January 27, 2013
I first read this book when I was 10. Really good book that began my love for reading.
August 18, 2015
An old-fashioned swashbuckling tale; first of many Yerby books I read, mostly in my youth. Not serious literature by any means but fast-moving, colorful, irreverent good fun.
August 12, 2015
Truly Swashbuckling!
September 12, 2016
Read this back in the 70's along with several other Yerby novels. I always enjoyed them!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews