Chivalry

by Rafael Sabatini, Karl Wurf (Introduction)

Chivalry is the story of Colombo da Siena, an Italian condottiero of the fifteenth century, a captain of fortune who, with the mercenary aims of his kind, combines ideals proper to the Age of Chivalry already overpast in his day.Just as in Captain Blood, Mr. Sabatini gave us what amounted to a composite portrait of several of the more famous buccaneers of the Caribbean, so in Chivalry he gives us a composite portrait of the condottieri of the quattrocento and cinquecento. Colombo da Siena borrows something from the splendid Colleoni, from Gattamelata, from Carmagnola, and from other great leaders who took their swords to market in the turbulent Italian Peninsula. The narrative follows his fortunes in camp and court through a series of typical episodes, from the humble days when he was in command of ten helmets in Colleoni’s company, learning the art of war, to those when he had become Captain-General of the armies of Venice.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Classics, Romance

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1935

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

[Tlaloc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully verbose and flowery of language, what older generations of books were all about.

[Nicholas Long]

Super fun read and a great story that inspires to greatness. Sabatini's themes are more needed now then ever.

[Pushpa Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the dawn of the Medici in Florence, Colombino de Siena embarks upon his career as a soldier of fortune, soon a condottiero of some renown in part to lay to rest stories of his own father’s traitorous legend. He dedicates his career to chivalry in expiation of that paternal sin. The tale of his chivalrous service to four ladies is also the tale of his rise to the rank of Count de Ostiamare. Eufemia de Santi does not deserve his chivalry and neither does the lady of Squillanti. It is the lady of la Bourdonnaye and of course the virtuous Lady Samaritana who deserve and exalt in that service. A tale to delight and thrill the reader as only Sabatini can.