What do you think?
Rate this book
The Snare
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. 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).
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2012
14 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Rafael Sabatini
712 books542 followersRafael 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).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 4, 2016
There are multiple snares in this swashbuckler by Rafael Sabatini. Set in Portugal, under Wellington's command as he forms a clever trap for Napoleon, this is a tale of jealousy, love, betrayal, and friendship ... all set into motion by one stupid, selfish brother.
I really enjoyed it although the trial toward the end was a bit lengthy for my taste. I didn't expect military strategy to form such a big part of the plot but was fascinated by this look at the Napoleonic wars.
Definitely recommended and I may read it on Forgotten Classics.
I really enjoyed it although the trial toward the end was a bit lengthy for my taste. I didn't expect military strategy to form such a big part of the plot but was fascinated by this look at the Napoleonic wars.
Definitely recommended and I may read it on Forgotten Classics.
July 2, 2011
I've enjoyed all the other Sabatini books I've read so far, unfortunately this one was a bit of a clunker.
It starts with some praise of Wellington and background information about the Penninsular War. This beginning would probably make perfect sense to someone who was familiar with those subjects, but it was lost on me. Then we meet foolish young Lieutenant Butler, only to find out that he's not the main character either and his entire section is also just backstory.
Things picked up when we finally met the main cast: Lord O'Moy, his frivolous wife, her strong-willed cousin, and their faithful family friend. Their personal intrigues are awkwardly tied in with facts about the larger war effort, and the flow of the story is sometimes interrupted with textbookish passages and long-winded legal wrangling. Some of the twists are interesting, but we're shown the story through so many different perspectives that it became a little tedious.
It was difficult for me to sympathize with the characters considering that I was tiring of the book before they were even introduced, it didn't help that all of their problems were caused by their own misconceptions and poor judgement.
I'd only recommend it for people who are very interested in its setting or are really, really into Sabatini.
It starts with some praise of Wellington and background information about the Penninsular War. This beginning would probably make perfect sense to someone who was familiar with those subjects, but it was lost on me. Then we meet foolish young Lieutenant Butler, only to find out that he's not the main character either and his entire section is also just backstory.
Things picked up when we finally met the main cast: Lord O'Moy, his frivolous wife, her strong-willed cousin, and their faithful family friend. Their personal intrigues are awkwardly tied in with facts about the larger war effort, and the flow of the story is sometimes interrupted with textbookish passages and long-winded legal wrangling. Some of the twists are interesting, but we're shown the story through so many different perspectives that it became a little tedious.
It was difficult for me to sympathize with the characters considering that I was tiring of the book before they were even introduced, it didn't help that all of their problems were caused by their own misconceptions and poor judgement.
I'd only recommend it for people who are very interested in its setting or are really, really into Sabatini.
October 10, 2015
The Snare is set in 1810 during the Peninsular War in and around the British Army Headquarters. The plot is a romance involving dishonour and redemption set against a background of espionage and treachery. Real characters feature from time to time – the Duke Wellington takes an active part in the tale. Other Sabatini novels that I have read have been out and out swashbucklers, and it is these that he is best associated with. This story is definitely not a swashbuckler – it has a lot more talk than action – but I enjoyed it immensely, it make an interesting contrast to the Sharpe novels of Bernard Cornwell set in the same military theatre.
October 25, 2021
I had read Scaramouche several years ago and was looking for another Sabatini novel to see if I liked it as much. Turns out, I do.
Set in Portugal in the time of the Napoleonic wars, when the British under Wellington were somewhat unwelcome guests and allies, it tells the story of an officer and his wife, her brother, his friend, some spies, and a few unfortunate events that could destroy all their lives. Sabatini does a wonderful job of establishing the setting and keeps larger events in the reader's mind while telling a smaller, more personal story.
This book is 100 years old, but the prose feels very modern. The action, from drawing room intrigues to sword fights, moves along at a gallop, not unlike a Sir Walter Scott novel, but his language is much more accessible. (That's not to say simple or bland--he's an excellent wordsmith. It's just that much clearer to a modern reader, IMO.)
Sabatini's characters are nicely drawn with comprehensible motivations and inner lives. I would say that they are appropriate to this kind of story, though probably less deeply developed than more dramatic novels of the era. He tells adventure stories, and I think the characters found here answer the need very well. The upright and loyal Captain Tremayne is betrayed by his honorable but jealous friend, Sir Terence, while trying to save his foolish wife's equally foolish brother from a court martial and firing squad. I found their behavior believable and very readable--and wonder at his books' obscurity. (I pretty much picked this one at random off Ebay. It was the most reasonably priced hardcover available of Sabatini books.)
I enjoyed this book and found the conclusion very satisfying. Time to go hunt down some of his pirate books and other adventures. :)
Set in Portugal in the time of the Napoleonic wars, when the British under Wellington were somewhat unwelcome guests and allies, it tells the story of an officer and his wife, her brother, his friend, some spies, and a few unfortunate events that could destroy all their lives. Sabatini does a wonderful job of establishing the setting and keeps larger events in the reader's mind while telling a smaller, more personal story.
This book is 100 years old, but the prose feels very modern. The action, from drawing room intrigues to sword fights, moves along at a gallop, not unlike a Sir Walter Scott novel, but his language is much more accessible. (That's not to say simple or bland--he's an excellent wordsmith. It's just that much clearer to a modern reader, IMO.)
Sabatini's characters are nicely drawn with comprehensible motivations and inner lives. I would say that they are appropriate to this kind of story, though probably less deeply developed than more dramatic novels of the era. He tells adventure stories, and I think the characters found here answer the need very well. The upright and loyal Captain Tremayne is betrayed by his honorable but jealous friend, Sir Terence, while trying to save his foolish wife's equally foolish brother from a court martial and firing squad. I found their behavior believable and very readable--and wonder at his books' obscurity. (I pretty much picked this one at random off Ebay. It was the most reasonably priced hardcover available of Sabatini books.)
I enjoyed this book and found the conclusion very satisfying. Time to go hunt down some of his pirate books and other adventures. :)
August 1, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable!
July 24, 2012
Well written, interesting character psychology and interaction.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews