Fortune's Fool

by Rafael Sabatini

Fortune's Fool is a historical fiction novel by Rafael Sabatini that takes place in the late 17th century. The story follows the life of a young man named Julian, who is born into a family of aristocrats but is orphaned at a young age. Julian is taken in by his uncle, who is a notorious gambler and spends his days at the gaming tables. Julian grows up in this environment and becomes an expert gambler himself. However, his luck takes a turn for the worse when he falls in love with a woman who is already engaged to another man. Julian is determined to win her over and ends up losing everything he owns in a game of cards. He is forced to flee the country and becomes a soldier in the army of King Louis XIV of France. Julian rises through the ranks and becomes a trusted advisor to the king. However, his past catches up with him and he is forced to confront his mistakes and make amends. The novel is a thrilling adventure that explores themes of love, loyalty, and redemption.1923. After a brief stint in the business world, Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel came out in 1902. It took Sabatini roughly a quarter of century of hard work before he attained success with Scaramouche in 1921. This brilliant novel of the French Revolution became an international bestseller. It was followed by the equally successful Captain Blood in 1922. A prolific writer, he produced about a book a year. Fortune's Fool The times were full of trouble; but Martha Quinn was unperturbed. Hers was a mind that confined itself to the essentials of its sustenance and reproduction. Not for her to plague herself with the complexities of existence, with considerations of the Hereafter or disputations upon the various creeds by which its happiness may be ensured-a matter upon which men have always been ready to send on another upon exploring voyages thither-or yet with the political opinions by which a nation is fiercely divided. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Historical

312 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1922

About the author

Rafael Sabatini (1875 - 1950) was an Italian/British writer of novels of romance and adventure. At a young age, Rafael was exposed to many languages. By the time he was seventeen, he was the master of five languages. He quickly added a sixth language - English - to his linguistic collection. After a brief stint in the business world, Sabatini went to work as a writer. He wrote short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel came out in 1902. Sabatini was a prolific writer; he produced a new book approximately every year. He consciously chose to write in his adopted language, because, he said, "all the best stories are written in English. " In all, he produced thirty one novels, eight short story collections, six nonfiction books, numerous uncollected short stories, and a play. He is best known for his world-wide bestsellers: The Sea Hawk (1915), Scaramouche (1921), Captain Blood (1922) and Bellarion the Fortunate (1926). Other famous works by Sabatini are The Lion's Skin (1911), The Strolling Saint (1913) and The Snare (1917).

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story of love and adventure, villainy and swashbuckling set in London with the threat of the plague and the Dutch looming. The story itself is good, but it was the description of the precautions set to stop the spread of the plague that caught my attention. Sabatini took pains to get historical details correct and comparing his description with modern day measures against Covid 19 were really interesting.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hardly my favorite Sabatini, but even an iffy book from him has a lot of good qualities. The heroine has some really great scenes. The plot could be tighter, and I found it harder to forgive the hero than his lady-love did. It was interesting to read a book centered on such a flawed character though.

[Richard Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining and well-written historical adventure novel set in 17th century England. I enjoyed it.

[Spoilers about plot abound here. Skip ahead if you prefer.]

The story of a mercenary soldier with bad luck his whole life, it tells about a particularly tough period in the main character's life. Returning to England to try to find work, Randal Holles struggles to overcome forces arrayed against him. His father was a famous traitor, making his very name an enemy to luck. Old friends try to entice him to join their rebellion, and even though he doesn't take them up on it he becomes a known associate and at risk of arrest. One acquaintance with a title and pull tries to get him a position overseas, but a nobleman of higher rank forwards his own candidate instead, and he has almost no way forward. In addition to all this, the plague returns, gates are closed, and he has no way to get out of the city.

[Most critical spoiler. Jump down if you want to avoid it.] The biggest turn of bad luck is when another noble acquaintance--Lord Buckingham, a man who had been a boy when Holles saved him--offers him work, but it requires him to help kidnap an actress Buckingham has a fancy for. Holles refuses, but worsening circumstances eventually force him to do him this service, the worst thing he's ever done, over the objections of his pride and conscience. And the woman turns out to be his lost love, a girl from his youth, the woman he searched for and couldn't find.

[That's the end of the spoilers.]

The rest of the novel deals with Holles working through the consequences of his actions, and I feel like the author does a good job of showing us how he changes course, leading to a satisfying and reasonable ending.

Sabatini is, to me, like Sir Walter Scott translated to English a century nearer our own time, with a lot of the digressions and authorial intrusions cut out. I love Scott, but Sabatini writes something closer to the "good parts" version of Scott's historical adventure stories. This book is from 1923, but I feel like a new edition with a decent cover would get people in 2025 and beyond reading his books like they were new, because it reads very modern overall. IMO, obviously.

Good book. Lots of fun. I recommend it for people who enjoy historical adventure novels.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Sabatini's best. For once, he's written a flawed hero, one who isn't calculating and scheming, but rather is, as the title says, a fool living at fortune's whim. It makes for a nice change. Throw in a more capable female lead and it's a winning combination. Sabatini's used his usual generous sprinkle of deus ex machina, and the plot does take a dark turn that I really wish it hadn't, but at the end of the day this book leaves a tear in my eye and a grin on my face - and that's what it's all about.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A flawed hero, a likeable heroine who was able to hold her own against the events around her, the danger of plague and survival for a Republican in the time of Restoration. The plot may not be as tight as for his better novels but this is enjoyable nevertheless

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this years ago, but was just remembering it because it is set in England in the 1600s and deals with (among other things) the plague. Sabatini is really only secondary to Dumas in spinning a good swashbuckling yarn.

[Pandora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it but, I always enjoy Sabatini. I especially enjoyed the heroine who was to hold her own against the Lord. The heroine is as good as the ones in Scarmouche and The Lion's Skin. One note I did get mixed up that there were two Lords which caused some confusion till I got that fact straight. Don't what to give anything away but, I especially like the plague part.

One factor that made the book so enjoyable was the hero's stubborn will to to keep trudging on even though it seemed pointless. I have felt a bit like that myself which is what make me such a Sabatinni fan.

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good escapade set in London during 1665 Plague. Hero has much adversity - innkeeper wants to marry him at first, sinks low enough to abduct actress for Duke of Buckingham. She was his first love. He makes amends, nurses her through plague, no escape from London during the plague. Happy ending, good well written.