Chivalry

by Rafael Sabatini

Columbino, a great mercenary in pre-Renaissance Italy, has developed his own moral code of chivalry to which he ruthlessly and relentlessly adheres. Yet when four women are singularly betrayed as a direct result of this code, he comes to question the very essence of his understanding. He emerges with a renewed passion and an awakened sympathy.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Classics, Romance

273 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.