The Strolling Saint

by Rafael Sabatini

Sometimes spelt Raphael in error?

Genres: Adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, British Literature, Novels, Historical

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1913

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

[Donald McCorquodale · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a soft spot for swashbuckling like me, give The Strolling Saint. After previously reading Sabatini's three most popular novels, Captain Blood, The Seahawk, and Scaramouche, my thirst for more swordplay and daring adventure was limited by the current availability of Sabatini's 28 other novels. I was lucky enough to find The Strolling Saint tucked away at a small local library, a 1925 edition, will fragile yellowed pages and the characteristic look of early 20th century novels.
Sabatini usual themes of justice and revenge are mixed with pretty blatant commentary on lust and promiscuity, piousness, and religious self-deprivation. The plot centers around “the confessions of the high and mighty Agostino d'Anguissola...", who was made a votive offering to God while in utero, and baptized and raised in his mothers strange brand of ascetic Catholicism. Agostino’s father however, was a leading rebel in the Italian Campaign towards the end of the Italian Wars of 1521-1526, and had fought against the Papal authorities which Agostino’s mother submitted and vowed her son to. The story unfolds as the naive and insulated Agostino leaves his mother’s compound and is exposed to all the vulgarity and corruption of 16th century catholic Italy. Agostino is caught between the world of stark piousness and one of lust and passion, and eventually finds the “middle way” after allying with his father’s old cause. He eventually claims his rightful position as Lord of Moldofino, and dispenses justice to those who wronged his father and himself. It’s a fun novel, with some interesting commentary on the church, false piousness, and lust. A good read for anyone who loves old time adventures.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not really like the main character of this book - he was too ambivalent and quasi-religious for my tastes. He was not your typical Sabatini hero. It really made me want to slap him a few times. Some of it is not his fault, he had a crazy, religious mother who offered him up to God while he was still in the womb. That said, whenever he gets a chance to break free from his mother's plans which he seems to enjoy he screws things up and the resulting beatings both mental and sometimes physical get rather old after a while. I do not recommend this work of Sabatini's to anyone who has read his works and enjoyed them. This one is far too different, long and tedious and you will find yourself wishing it was any other of his works.

[Pandora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book like I do for almost all of Sabatini's works. This one though is more akin to Captain's Blood than Scarmouche. Like Captain's Blood the book is a bit more grim and not as lighthearted as Sabtini takes on the subject of religonous franticism. I agreed with his points but, as a religous liberal found it a tough go as the hero stumbles around trying to break free of the chain of religon his mother has put in. The hero and heroine also don't have a lot of time together as they do in his other works. Still, it was a very good read and someone else could rate it higher.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strolling Saint, first published in 1913, is a swashbuckler romance set in 16th century Italy. There is a strong underlying theme of religious hypocrisy, as the main character is forced into a career in the clergy, before having to fight the church to regain his inheritance. All par for the course for Rafael Sabatini – nothing like the panache of Captain Blood or The Sea-Hawk, but well worth a read.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

did not like the story at all but it was so well written,,flowed from beginning to the end. Liked how it mocked organized religion and those brain washed by it. Of course that is what it meant to me being biased in that way.

[Pushpa Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment of his birth Agostino D’Anguissola, is pledged to become a priest or monk—never mind that his stalwart father is the Lord of Mondolfo and Carmina. This is foisted on him by a misguided but determined mother who one feels should never have married. He is cloistered and controlled to the age of 18 when he is sent to further his studies not in Pavia or Bologna where the universities are but a nearby man of letters. He learns quickly enough to his shame and dismay that he is not meant for the cloister. We follow Agostino on his adventures to win his love and his birthright. Told in the first person, provides a different perspective than Sabatini normally takes but is nonetheless enjoyable. He places is in the midst of the struggle between the Pope and the Holy Roman emperor Charles V.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

+1 star for soap opera ending.