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Беларион щастливеца
Беларион, сирак без титла и богатство, израства в манастир и по всичко изглежда, че го очаква кариера на духовник. Младият мъж обаче избира друга съдба за себе си – съдбата на политик и командир, чието име остава вписано със златни букви в историята на ренесансова Италия.
Вълнуващ разказ за любов, война и приключения през бурния XV век, когато една прошепната дума е можела да означава живот или смърт, а човечността и достойнството са били потъпквани заради кроежите на амбициозни мъже.
Едва ли има по-умел разказвач на истории с интриги, опасности и романтика, които се развиват на пищен фон от коприна, скъпоценни камъни и кадифе.
Дейли Телеграф
Вълнуващ разказ за любов, война и приключения през бурния XV век, когато една прошепната дума е можела да означава живот или смърт, а човечността и достойнството са били потъпквани заради кроежите на амбициозни мъже.
Едва ли има по-умел разказвач на истории с интриги, опасности и романтика, които се развиват на пищен фон от коприна, скъпоценни камъни и кадифе.
Дейли Телеграф
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1926
24 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Rafael Sabatini
692 books539 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).
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October 16, 2022
Many thanks to my GR friend, Gary Inbinder, whose enjoyment of this book reminded me that there was much Sabatini that I had yet to read. In Bellarion the Fortuante we have a classic comedy masquerading as historical account.
Our young Bellarion (of the title) is fresh from his training at a monastery and off to take the next step in his education (his pilgrimage to Pavia). Sabatini stands this premise on its head with a picaresque adventure full of humor, quick-thinking and almost continuous action. In a way, this seems the sensibility of “The Godfather” is grafted onto the tale of The Princess Bride.
"You behold Messer Bellarion treading the giddy slope of high and mysterious adventure, fortuitously launched upon a course whose end he was very far from discerning, but which most certainly was not the University of Pavia, the pursuit of Greek studies, and the recovery of an unblemished faith."
By the time we are done, we have both a detailed description of politics and military tactics of the early 15th century and the class of well-drawn tricksters, rogues, and romantics.
“‘Experience,’ he (Bellarion) had been wont to say—being rather addicted, I gather, to the making of epigrammatic formulæ—‘is the hornbook of fools, unnecessary for the practical purposes of life to the man of wit.’ It is possible that he was tempted to revise this dictum in the light of the events of that disastrous day, recognising that a little of the worldly experience he despised might have saved him most if not all of its disasters.”
A delight! For a more scholarly view of this period see Gary’s review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Our young Bellarion (of the title) is fresh from his training at a monastery and off to take the next step in his education (his pilgrimage to Pavia). Sabatini stands this premise on its head with a picaresque adventure full of humor, quick-thinking and almost continuous action. In a way, this seems the sensibility of “The Godfather” is grafted onto the tale of The Princess Bride.
"You behold Messer Bellarion treading the giddy slope of high and mysterious adventure, fortuitously launched upon a course whose end he was very far from discerning, but which most certainly was not the University of Pavia, the pursuit of Greek studies, and the recovery of an unblemished faith."
By the time we are done, we have both a detailed description of politics and military tactics of the early 15th century and the class of well-drawn tricksters, rogues, and romantics.
“‘Experience,’ he (Bellarion) had been wont to say—being rather addicted, I gather, to the making of epigrammatic formulæ—‘is the hornbook of fools, unnecessary for the practical purposes of life to the man of wit.’ It is possible that he was tempted to revise this dictum in the light of the events of that disastrous day, recognising that a little of the worldly experience he despised might have saved him most if not all of its disasters.”
A delight! For a more scholarly view of this period see Gary’s review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 20, 2021
দারুণ একটা বই পড়লাম। রাফায়েল সাবাতিনির বেলারিয়ন দ্য ফরচুনেট। বইয়ের পটভূমি পনেরশ শতকের ইতালির সিংহাসনের রাজনীতি, কূটচাল, ষড়যন্ত্র, যুদ্ধ, বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা। এরমাঝেই ফুটে উঠেছে বেলারিয়ন নামক এক সাধারণ যুবকের পাকেচক্রে পড়ে সমর নায়ক হয়ে ওঠার গল্প। এমনিতেই রাফায়েল সাবাতিনির লেখা আমার ভালো লাগে, এই বইটাও উপভোগ করলাম। সবথেকে বেশি ভালো লেগেছে সিংহাসন নিয়ে রাজনীতি ও যুদ্ধের ব্যাখ্যাগুলো। বেলারিয়নের বিচক্ষণতা, সৌভাগ্য সবকিছুই ছিল রোমাঞ্চকর। পড়ার সময় সবমিলিয়ে মনে হচ্ছিল গেম অফ থ্রোন্সের কোনো অংশ পড়ছি। মধ্যযুগীয় ইতালির সিংহাসনের রাজনীতিটা খুবই ভালোভাবে ফুটিয়ে তুলেছেন রাফায়েল সাবাতিনি। আর অনুবাদও ভালো।
সবমিলিয়ে সবাইকেই সাজেস্ট করব এই ক্লাসিক পড়ার জন্য।
সবমিলিয়ে সবাইকেই সাজেস্ট করব এই ক্লাসিক পড়ার জন্য।
July 11, 2022
Fortune favors the bold
Latin Proverb
The setting of “Bellarion the Fortunate” is early 15th century Italy during the waning days of the Middle Ages and the dawn of the Renaissance. It was an era of intrigue, alliances and betrayals among numerous city-states against the backdrop of a centuries long conflict between Guelphs aligned with the Pope, and the Ghibellines, aligned with the Holy Roman Emperor. The Condottieri, mercenary captains who sold their services to the highest bidder, aspired to noble rank, fiefdoms and great wealth. Soldiers of fortune, both native and foreign, joined armies that pillaged the war-torn land.
Sabatini’s protagonist “…was called Bellarion not merely because he was a man of war, but because he was the very child of War.” A condottiere adopts the war orphan and sends him to a monastery for his education. Young Bellarion is an apt pupil devouring every book in the monastery’s library.
“Bellarion’s reading had been prodigious. There was no branch of learning—from the Theological Fathers to Vegetius Hyginus on ‘The Art of War’—to which he had not addressed his eager spirit.”
However, Bellarion’s extensive learning and reasoning skills leads to a heresy that shocks the Abbot. The heresy, a Pelagian denial of original sin, is expressed in the following syllogism:
‘Are not all things in the world from God? Is not God the fount of all goodness? Can, therefore, any created thing be other than good?’
The syllogism leads to a theological dispute, which convinces the Abbot that the young man is not ready material for the monastic life.
The Abbot sends the seventeen-year-old scholar on a journey to Pavia for the purpose of learning Greek. The young man is handsome, physically fit and possesses some money and a letter of introduction from the Abbot. Lacking worldly experience, Bellarion presently encounters evil in the form of a notorious thief disguised as a Franciscan monk. The false friar cons Bellarion, steals his money and letter and puts him in danger of being arrested as an accomplice. This incident, followed by a daring escape from authorities and a chance meeting with a princess, embroils the young scholar in the affairs of two rival city-states, Montferrat and Milan. Ostensibly serving several masters, Bellarion embarks on a perilous journey to wealth, power and disillusionment.
“…this world of blindly striving, struggling, ever-restless men, who addressed themselves to their span of mortal existence as if it were to endure forever, was no better, no more purposeful, and of no more merit in its ultimate achievement, than a clot of writhing earthworms.”
Despite misgivings, out of love and loyalty he continues to secretly serve the princess who has come to think of him as an opportunistic rogue. Nevertheless, as long as fortune favors him, he rides the spinning wheel to its heights.
“He had travelled by many roads….and after long delays he had reached Pavia, no longer as a poor nameless scholar, but as a condottiero of renown, not to solicit at the University the alms of a little learning, but to command whatever he might crave of the place, holding even its Prince in subjection. Greek he had not learnt; but he had learnt much else instead, though nothing that made him love his fellow man or hold the world in high regard.”
Fortune is fickle; the higher we climb, the greater and harder the fall if or when it comes.
“With perfect composure Bellarion heard the words of doom. He did not believe them. This sudden thing was too monstrously impossible. It was incredible the gods should have raised him so swiftly to his pinnacle of fame, merely to cast him down again for their amusement. They might make sport with him, but they would hardly carry it to the lengths of quenching his life.”
Sabatini possessed a sophisticated understanding of all aspects of the Italian Quattrocento: the daily lives of people of all classes, the politics, warfare, art, philosophy, and theology. When you add to this wealth of historical knowledge his considerable skills as a writer, he remains, in my estimation, one of the finest authors of the genre
Latin Proverb
The setting of “Bellarion the Fortunate” is early 15th century Italy during the waning days of the Middle Ages and the dawn of the Renaissance. It was an era of intrigue, alliances and betrayals among numerous city-states against the backdrop of a centuries long conflict between Guelphs aligned with the Pope, and the Ghibellines, aligned with the Holy Roman Emperor. The Condottieri, mercenary captains who sold their services to the highest bidder, aspired to noble rank, fiefdoms and great wealth. Soldiers of fortune, both native and foreign, joined armies that pillaged the war-torn land.
Sabatini’s protagonist “…was called Bellarion not merely because he was a man of war, but because he was the very child of War.” A condottiere adopts the war orphan and sends him to a monastery for his education. Young Bellarion is an apt pupil devouring every book in the monastery’s library.
“Bellarion’s reading had been prodigious. There was no branch of learning—from the Theological Fathers to Vegetius Hyginus on ‘The Art of War’—to which he had not addressed his eager spirit.”
However, Bellarion’s extensive learning and reasoning skills leads to a heresy that shocks the Abbot. The heresy, a Pelagian denial of original sin, is expressed in the following syllogism:
‘Are not all things in the world from God? Is not God the fount of all goodness? Can, therefore, any created thing be other than good?’
The syllogism leads to a theological dispute, which convinces the Abbot that the young man is not ready material for the monastic life.
The Abbot sends the seventeen-year-old scholar on a journey to Pavia for the purpose of learning Greek. The young man is handsome, physically fit and possesses some money and a letter of introduction from the Abbot. Lacking worldly experience, Bellarion presently encounters evil in the form of a notorious thief disguised as a Franciscan monk. The false friar cons Bellarion, steals his money and letter and puts him in danger of being arrested as an accomplice. This incident, followed by a daring escape from authorities and a chance meeting with a princess, embroils the young scholar in the affairs of two rival city-states, Montferrat and Milan. Ostensibly serving several masters, Bellarion embarks on a perilous journey to wealth, power and disillusionment.
“…this world of blindly striving, struggling, ever-restless men, who addressed themselves to their span of mortal existence as if it were to endure forever, was no better, no more purposeful, and of no more merit in its ultimate achievement, than a clot of writhing earthworms.”
Despite misgivings, out of love and loyalty he continues to secretly serve the princess who has come to think of him as an opportunistic rogue. Nevertheless, as long as fortune favors him, he rides the spinning wheel to its heights.
“He had travelled by many roads….and after long delays he had reached Pavia, no longer as a poor nameless scholar, but as a condottiero of renown, not to solicit at the University the alms of a little learning, but to command whatever he might crave of the place, holding even its Prince in subjection. Greek he had not learnt; but he had learnt much else instead, though nothing that made him love his fellow man or hold the world in high regard.”
Fortune is fickle; the higher we climb, the greater and harder the fall if or when it comes.
“With perfect composure Bellarion heard the words of doom. He did not believe them. This sudden thing was too monstrously impossible. It was incredible the gods should have raised him so swiftly to his pinnacle of fame, merely to cast him down again for their amusement. They might make sport with him, but they would hardly carry it to the lengths of quenching his life.”
Sabatini possessed a sophisticated understanding of all aspects of the Italian Quattrocento: the daily lives of people of all classes, the politics, warfare, art, philosophy, and theology. When you add to this wealth of historical knowledge his considerable skills as a writer, he remains, in my estimation, one of the finest authors of the genre
August 18, 2023
Много удоволствени мигове съм преживял с книгите на Рафаел Сабатини като хлапе и юноша блед, а понеже в ония времена нямаше чак такова изобилие на приключенски четива като днес, съм си позволявал лукса да ги прехвърлям отново и отново. И си признавам без бой, че подходих към „Беларион“ с лек страх. В края на миналата година романът „Народът на мъглата“ на друг мой любимец от детството Х.Р. Хагард („Рудниците на цар Соломон“ и „Алан Куотърмейн“ буквално ги бях разбридал от четене), също включен в Колекция MAGiCA, доста ме разочарова, та подозирах, че и тук може да се случи нещо подобно. Обаче за своя радост не познах.
Макар и решена в минало свършено време, досущ като легенда или приказка, историята за начетения манастирски храненик, издигнал се, заради превратностите на съдбата, до могъщ кондотиер*, се оказа доста симпатичен историко-приключенски романс, буквално запокитил ме с машината на времето в безгрижните детски лета. Е, тръгнем ли да дирим кусури в сюжета, препрел фиктивни и реално съществували личности от историята на Италия в началото на XV в., вероятно ще ги намерим. Аз обаче предпочетох да се потопя в приказката, предадена от изключително сладкодумен разказвач.
*Ръководители на военни отряди отряд в Италия през XIV—XVI в., които са на служба към градовете и се състоят основно от чужденци. Всеки отряд е сформиран около кондотиера – той го създава и разпуска по своя преценка, сключва договори (кондоти) за водене на военни операции.
**Добре би било, преди да седнете да четете романа, да научите и следните две понятия, понеже, мисля, не бяха обяснени в бележка под линия: гвелфи и гибелини. Гибелините са поддръжници на светските ценности и на идеята обединението на разпокъсана Италия да се извърши под ръководството на немския крал (който е начело на Свещената римска империя). Гвелфите клонят към църковните ценности и възможността за обединение на Италия около папската власт.
4,5/5
Макар и решена в минало свършено време, досущ като легенда или приказка, историята за начетения манастирски храненик, издигнал се, заради превратностите на съдбата, до могъщ кондотиер*, се оказа доста симпатичен историко-приключенски романс, буквално запокитил ме с машината на времето в безгрижните детски лета. Е, тръгнем ли да дирим кусури в сюжета, препрел фиктивни и реално съществували личности от историята на Италия в началото на XV в., вероятно ще ги намерим. Аз обаче предпочетох да се потопя в приказката, предадена от изключително сладкодумен разказвач.
*Ръководители на военни отряди отряд в Италия през XIV—XVI в., които са на служба към градовете и се състоят основно от чужденци. Всеки отряд е сформиран около кондотиера – той го създава и разпуска по своя преценка, сключва договори (кондоти) за водене на военни операции.
**Добре би било, преди да седнете да четете романа, да научите и следните две понятия, понеже, мисля, не бяха обяснени в бележка под линия: гвелфи и гибелини. Гибелините са поддръжници на светските ценности и на идеята обединението на разпокъсана Италия да се извърши под ръководството на немския крал (който е начело на Свещената римска империя). Гвелфите клонят към църковните ценности и възможността за обединение на Италия около папската власт.
4,5/5
December 29, 2022
দারুণণণণণণণণ!
June 27, 2022
Free download available at Project Gutenberg
Sabatini's style never fails, no matter what...
I made the proofing of this book and Dagny will SR it for Free Literature and Project Gutenberg will publish it.
CONTENTS
BOOK I
I. The Threshold
II. The Grey Friar
III. The Door Ajar
IV. Sanctuary
V. The Princess
VI. The Winds of Fate
VII. Service
VIII. Stalemate
IX. The Marquis Theodore
X. The Warning
XI. Under Suspicion
XII. Count Spigno
XIII.The Trial
XIV.Evasion
BOOK II
I. The Miracle of the Dogs
II. Facino Cane
III. The Countess of Biandrate
IV. The Champion
V. The Commune of Milan
VI. The Fruitless Wooing
VII. Manœuvres
VIII. The Battle of Travo
IX. De Mortuis
X. The Knight Bellarion
XI. The Siege of Alessandria
XII. Visconti Faith
XIII. The Victuallers
XIV. The Muleteer
XV. The Camisade
XVI. Severance
XVII. The Return
XVIII. The Hostage
BOOK III
I. The Lord Bellarion
II. The Battle of Novi
III. Facino's Return
IV. The Count of Pavia
V. Justice
VI. The Inheritance
VII. Prince of Valsassina
VIII. Carmagnola's Bridges
IX. Vercelli
X. The Arrest
XI. The Pledge
XII. Carmagnola's Duty
XIII. The Occupation of Casale
XIV. The Vanquished
XV. The Last Fight
Sabatini's style never fails, no matter what...
I made the proofing of this book and Dagny will SR it for Free Literature and Project Gutenberg will publish it.
CONTENTS
BOOK I
I. The Threshold
II. The Grey Friar
III. The Door Ajar
IV. Sanctuary
V. The Princess
VI. The Winds of Fate
VII. Service
VIII. Stalemate
IX. The Marquis Theodore
X. The Warning
XI. Under Suspicion
XII. Count Spigno
XIII.The Trial
XIV.Evasion
BOOK II
I. The Miracle of the Dogs
II. Facino Cane
III. The Countess of Biandrate
IV. The Champion
V. The Commune of Milan
VI. The Fruitless Wooing
VII. Manœuvres
VIII. The Battle of Travo
IX. De Mortuis
X. The Knight Bellarion
XI. The Siege of Alessandria
XII. Visconti Faith
XIII. The Victuallers
XIV. The Muleteer
XV. The Camisade
XVI. Severance
XVII. The Return
XVIII. The Hostage
BOOK III
I. The Lord Bellarion
II. The Battle of Novi
III. Facino's Return
IV. The Count of Pavia
V. Justice
VI. The Inheritance
VII. Prince of Valsassina
VIII. Carmagnola's Bridges
IX. Vercelli
X. The Arrest
XI. The Pledge
XII. Carmagnola's Duty
XIII. The Occupation of Casale
XIV. The Vanquished
XV. The Last Fight
September 18, 2024
this is the most i've enjoyed a sabatini book since i first read scaramouche, i think. sabatini is just a ton of fun.
July 27, 2021
This is an old book, first published in 1926, so it is interesting to compare it to the modern historical fiction and adventure fantasy novels I mainly read. Let us first be clear, this story set in Italy of the early 1400s, has no fantastical components. The places are real and major events reflect history. It was a turbulent time with many little wars between the independent cities, some backed by larger players such as France or the Holy Roman Emperor. Mercenary soldiers thrived, the best (or luckiest) amassing vast fortunes and titles. This is the tale of how Bellarion rose rapidly from humble beginning to become vastly wealthy prince and renowned mercenary commander, and for me it still works as a story. It must be said that the writing style is something of a barrier, being florid and over-descriptive compared with modern books. The central character Bellarion is also rather too perfect, being a factor of ten smarter than anyone else, apart from his long-term antagonist Marquis Theodore; I prefer my characters more flawed and human. However, overall this has stood the test of time fairly well.
August 28, 2018
I know this book is much loved but it is not my favorite among the Sabatini works. I'd actually give it 2-1/2 stars but rounded it up because ... well ... Sabatini.
I liked Bellarion as the naive, classically educated wanderer whose native intelligence leads to an unsuspected ability to solve problems and strategize, especially in statehood and warfare. My problem is that the story ground to a halt because of the numerous battles and sieges recounted. I understand it is based on real history and real people (except for Bellarion) but I feel good storytelling should have been able to communicate a lot of these events without taking me through it blow by blow.
It's no Scaramouche or Captain Blood or The Seahawk. However, it is a good story overall and with my battle skimming abilities I enjoyed it.
I liked Bellarion as the naive, classically educated wanderer whose native intelligence leads to an unsuspected ability to solve problems and strategize, especially in statehood and warfare. My problem is that the story ground to a halt because of the numerous battles and sieges recounted. I understand it is based on real history and real people (except for Bellarion) but I feel good storytelling should have been able to communicate a lot of these events without taking me through it blow by blow.
It's no Scaramouche or Captain Blood or The Seahawk. However, it is a good story overall and with my battle skimming abilities I enjoyed it.
March 1, 2025
বহুকাল পর এমন হুকড হয়ে বই পড়লাম। কোন প্রকার ডিসট্র্যাকশন ছাড়া। মধ্যযুগীয় ইতালীর প্রেক্ষাপটে লেখা বই। মূল চরিত্র বেলারিয়ন। ছোটবেলায় গল্পে বা সিনেমায় দেখানো হিরোদের চরিত্র থেকে এমন কিছু খুঁজে বের করতে চাইতাম যা বাস্তবে কাজে লাগানো সম্ভব। সেসব সরলরৈখিক চিন্তার কারাগার থেকে এক গজ দূরে আছি আপাতত। অর্থাৎ এ যাত্রায় হিরো বেলারিয়ন কে মুগ্ধ নয়নে দেখে গেলাম, তার জায়গাটা নেয়ার ইচ্ছা থেকে না।
রাফায়েল সাবাতিনি নাম টা দেখে এই বই কিনেছিলাম। অনুবাদ চমৎকার বলতেই হয়। বেলারিয়নের জীবনযাত্রার চাইতেও তার গড ব্লেসড কূটকৌশলী বুদ্ধীর বর্ণনা টাই ধরে রেখেছিলো পুরোটা সময়। হয়তো আমার নিজের ঘটে বুদ্ধী কম বলেই বুদ্ধীদৃপ্ত মানুষের বর্ণনা পড়তে ভালো লাগে। মধ্যযুগীয় রাজশাসনের রাজনীতি, কূটকৌশল, যুদ্ধ, যুদ্ধনীতি সব ই খুব রোমাঞ্চকর। সবসময়ই। আমি নিশ্চিত যুদ্ধের ময়দানে নিজেকে দাঁড়াতে হলে দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি সম্পূর্ণ ভিন্নরকম কিছু হত। কিন্তু এই যে একটা বই পড়তে পড়তে শত শত বছর পিছিয়ে কিছুটা সময় কাটানো যায়... আজকের এই বিষন্ন পৃথিবীতে এতটুকু অবশিষ্ট না থাকলে চব্বিশ ঘন্টা আহাজারিতেই কাটতো!
খুবই ঝরঝরে বই৷ রিকমেন্ডেড...
রাফায়েল সাবাতিনি নাম টা দেখে এই বই কিনেছিলাম। অনুবাদ চমৎকার বলতেই হয়। বেলারিয়নের জীবনযাত্রার চাইতেও তার গড ব্লেসড কূটকৌশলী বুদ্ধীর বর্ণনা টাই ধরে রেখেছিলো পুরোটা সময়। হয়তো আমার নিজের ঘটে বুদ্ধী কম বলেই বুদ্ধীদৃপ্ত মানুষের বর্ণনা পড়তে ভালো লাগে। মধ্যযুগীয় রাজশাসনের রাজনীতি, কূটকৌশল, যুদ্ধ, যুদ্ধনীতি সব ই খুব রোমাঞ্চকর। সবসময়ই। আমি নিশ্চিত যুদ্ধের ময়দানে নিজেকে দাঁড়াতে হলে দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি সম্পূর্ণ ভিন্নরকম কিছু হত। কিন্তু এই যে একটা বই পড়তে পড়তে শত শত বছর পিছিয়ে কিছুটা সময় কাটানো যায়... আজকের এই বিষন্ন পৃথিবীতে এতটুকু অবশিষ্ট না থাকলে চব্বিশ ঘন্টা আহাজারিতেই কাটতো!
খুবই ঝরঝরে বই৷ রিকমেন্ডেড...
March 11, 2013
I enjoyed this one but, would only recommend it to people who already like Sabtini. This is one of his larger cast novels with chracters comining in and out. The novel is set in Italy so all the characters names are in Italian which for me is not as easy to keep straight. Two of the characters are brothers and they names are almost idenitical. Probably on a second read through the novel would be easier to read through.
Bellarion is a young innocent who is about to make a side trip into the real world. He quickly loses his innocents ways and learns how to become a trickster. The heroine Princess Valrie of course misunderstands Bellarion's intentions but, she still manages to remain a woman of worth. It is a fun read full of Sabtini twists and trickery. I would clasify this as Sabtini light like Scarmouche. The story of Bellarion mixes Sabtinin themes of his negative views of monkish life, his sly political observation, and the lenghts love will drive a man.
(On second read through on July 28 2013 - The names were easier to keep straight. Bellarion though does not have much sword play as was in The Lion's Skin and Scarmouche. Instead the hero gains fame as a military leader. So epic battles are fought rather than the intimate sword play.)
Some quotes:
'"It was he supposed, a manfestion of that romantic and unreasonable phemomenon know as chivary. If he extricated himself alive from this predictment, he would see to it that whatever follies he committed in the future, chivary would certainly not be amongst them>"
Then a few pages later this quote aboutt Bellarion's reslove.
"Despite his resloves, and although still far from being out of peril with the chance of salvation no more than in sight, he was already at his knight-erranty again."
On a brutal but wise tyrant
"...and he knew how to levy taxes that should enrich himself without impoverishing his subjects, pereciving with an intution beyond hia age that excessive taxation serves but to dry up a the sources of a princes's treasury."
Similar to Capt. Kirk's philosphy
"And yet is the peace of the clostiers really better than the strife of the world? Is not as much service to be done in righting wrongs? Is not peace stagination? Are not activity and strife the means by which a man may make his souol?" See Classic Trek - The Apple.
Bellarion is a young innocent who is about to make a side trip into the real world. He quickly loses his innocents ways and learns how to become a trickster. The heroine Princess Valrie of course misunderstands Bellarion's intentions but, she still manages to remain a woman of worth. It is a fun read full of Sabtini twists and trickery. I would clasify this as Sabtini light like Scarmouche. The story of Bellarion mixes Sabtinin themes of his negative views of monkish life, his sly political observation, and the lenghts love will drive a man.
(On second read through on July 28 2013 - The names were easier to keep straight. Bellarion though does not have much sword play as was in The Lion's Skin and Scarmouche. Instead the hero gains fame as a military leader. So epic battles are fought rather than the intimate sword play.)
Some quotes:
'"It was he supposed, a manfestion of that romantic and unreasonable phemomenon know as chivary. If he extricated himself alive from this predictment, he would see to it that whatever follies he committed in the future, chivary would certainly not be amongst them>"
Then a few pages later this quote aboutt Bellarion's reslove.
"Despite his resloves, and although still far from being out of peril with the chance of salvation no more than in sight, he was already at his knight-erranty again."
On a brutal but wise tyrant
"...and he knew how to levy taxes that should enrich himself without impoverishing his subjects, pereciving with an intution beyond hia age that excessive taxation serves but to dry up a the sources of a princes's treasury."
Similar to Capt. Kirk's philosphy
"And yet is the peace of the clostiers really better than the strife of the world? Is not as much service to be done in righting wrongs? Is not peace stagination? Are not activity and strife the means by which a man may make his souol?" See Classic Trek - The Apple.
December 3, 2012
Bellarion, sometimes called The Fortunate, starts out as a young novice from an Italian monastery who is sent to study in Pavia, the great city of learning near Milan. Then in Casale, the capital of Montferrat, an unexpected adventure sends Bellarion fleeing for his life right into a garden where he finds the Princess Valeria, who, plotting against her evil usurper of an uncle, is in danger of going in over her head. Bellarion, somewhat to his own surprise, immediately puts all his learning, trickery, and boundless cheek at her service, and in the adventures that follow, as he goes on to Milan, is adopted by its governor, and rises quickly to become one of the most cunning and powerful mercenary captains in Italy, the secret he keeps from everyone else is the fact that he is still in Valeria's service.
Read the rest of my review at my blog, In Which I Read Vintage Novels
Read the rest of my review at my blog, In Which I Read Vintage Novels
July 18, 2015
Whenever anybody talks about Rafael Sabatini's best works, Scaramouche and Captain Blood are often recommended.But Bellarion in my opinion is as good as any of them.Extra star for a hero who uses his brain rather than his brawn, the haughty princess who disdains him till the last minute.Plus the political manoeuvrings and the historical setting.What's not to love?
September 29, 2013
i have mixed feelings about this book.
a long time ago i read scaramouche, another similar book by the same author which i enjoyed. However in I am not sure whether I would like it so much if I reread it. I would still recommend that book over this one (more swashbuckling).
What i actually liked about this book: the faux historical setting and references - the atmosphere is quite exciting - this book we have northern italy in 15th century, where men may make their name and fortune in mercenary companies. (and again in scaramouche he chooses french revolution, another time of turbulence where again a talented no-name could establish a name for themself thru social upheaval). The use of contemporary allusions and references, of books Bellarion might have read, fictioanl and real, of real historical figures, makes it quite interesting. I also enjoyed the florid, old-fashioned writing style (bc to be fair, despite the choice of words, he is no thomas hardy and gets to the point). And language is fun, and the author and his characters are witty. Legal, tactical and philsophical musings also fun. Tone makes light of characters, which i enjoy (think jane austen) but i know some of my friends hate.
So things i didn't like...
You could level a charge of being too good/gifted/handsome etc at the main character. i didn't rly have a problem tho, imo he was flawed.
Bice(Beatrice)/Lenore-scaramouche. Are his other books the same? There is this female character who is motivated only by greed. A treacherous, powerhungry, ambitious gold digger type. Basically a tragic heroine. (fyi in this book some allusions were made about beatrice and ) She is contrasted with the morally pure and rather naive Princess Valeria. Still I'd rather have 2 female characters than one, and they were both pretty interesting.
But idk. I kind of agreed with the advice Beatrice was giving her husband and Bellarione. Even if it was motivated by her own self-interest, killing off the duke earlier probably would have saved a lot of people a lot of grief and been for the best.. prudent (for safety) and kind (for the ppl of milan) advice. Also since the story was not presented from Valeria's pov it was hard to sympathise with Valeria's wrongheadedness. I suppose I can see how she would come to those conclusions, but reading it, I just felt exasperated with her. Too stupid.
add to this i didn't really care about facino or his loyalties and parts of the story were not too exciting.
a long time ago i read scaramouche, another similar book by the same author which i enjoyed. However in I am not sure whether I would like it so much if I reread it. I would still recommend that book over this one (more swashbuckling).
What i actually liked about this book: the faux historical setting and references - the atmosphere is quite exciting - this book we have northern italy in 15th century, where men may make their name and fortune in mercenary companies. (and again in scaramouche he chooses french revolution, another time of turbulence where again a talented no-name could establish a name for themself thru social upheaval). The use of contemporary allusions and references, of books Bellarion might have read, fictioanl and real, of real historical figures, makes it quite interesting. I also enjoyed the florid, old-fashioned writing style (bc to be fair, despite the choice of words, he is no thomas hardy and gets to the point). And language is fun, and the author and his characters are witty. Legal, tactical and philsophical musings also fun. Tone makes light of characters, which i enjoy (think jane austen) but i know some of my friends hate.
So things i didn't like...
You could level a charge of being too good/gifted/handsome etc at the main character. i didn't rly have a problem tho, imo he was flawed.
Bice(Beatrice)/Lenore-scaramouche. Are his other books the same? There is this female character who is motivated only by greed. A treacherous, powerhungry, ambitious gold digger type. Basically a tragic heroine. (fyi in this book some allusions were made about beatrice and ) She is contrasted with the morally pure and rather naive Princess Valeria. Still I'd rather have 2 female characters than one, and they were both pretty interesting.
But idk. I kind of agreed with the advice Beatrice was giving her husband and Bellarione. Even if it was motivated by her own self-interest, killing off the duke earlier probably would have saved a lot of people a lot of grief and been for the best.. prudent (for safety) and kind (for the ppl of milan) advice. Also since the story was not presented from Valeria's pov it was hard to sympathise with Valeria's wrongheadedness. I suppose I can see how she would come to those conclusions, but reading it, I just felt exasperated with her. Too stupid.
add to this i didn't really care about facino or his loyalties and parts of the story were not too exciting.
June 3, 2009
Oh fabulous! I do believe that of the various time periods Sabatini writes in, I enjoy his pre-Renaissance Italy the most. Bellarion exemplifies the classic Sabatini hero-- gifted with staggering intelligence matched only by his confidence; a steady composure in the face of every kind of stress; a dark cynicism of the world and men; completed finally with a single, powerful dash of romantic nobility that never ceases to surprise him or those around him.
Perhaps the story might seem a little too far-fetched, for a naive, bookish acolyte to transform into one of the richest, ruthless, and overall successful mercenary captains in Italy in the span of a mere 5 years. But Sabatini takes care not to turn Bellarion into a Gary Stu, and Bellarion's anti-hero qualities work overtime to heighten anticipation, as he insults, deceives, and affronts everyone around him in the process of achieving an ultimately selfless goal.
The only other flaw I might raise is that the sacrificial love he holds for the Princess Valeria seems rather unjustified, considering the brevity of their first encounters, the distinct difference in intelligence between the two (although, to be fair, no one in the story can match Bellarion in that way), which leads to her persistent condemnation of his every act and word for almost the entire book. But watching Bellarion spin circles around his peers and opponents, squeak his way out of death more than once, and wrestle his way from obscurity into bombastic success is more than worth the suspensions of disbelief required.
Sabatini's language is gorgeous and clever, and I didn't mind one bit having to look up words, sometimes four or more in a chapter, because of the richness in understanding a turn of phrase. Definitely a must-read for anyone looking for a little intellectual stimulation with their dashing, adventurous entertainment.
Perhaps the story might seem a little too far-fetched, for a naive, bookish acolyte to transform into one of the richest, ruthless, and overall successful mercenary captains in Italy in the span of a mere 5 years. But Sabatini takes care not to turn Bellarion into a Gary Stu, and Bellarion's anti-hero qualities work overtime to heighten anticipation, as he insults, deceives, and affronts everyone around him in the process of achieving an ultimately selfless goal.
The only other flaw I might raise is that the sacrificial love he holds for the Princess Valeria seems rather unjustified, considering the brevity of their first encounters, the distinct difference in intelligence between the two (although, to be fair, no one in the story can match Bellarion in that way), which leads to her persistent condemnation of his every act and word for almost the entire book. But watching Bellarion spin circles around his peers and opponents, squeak his way out of death more than once, and wrestle his way from obscurity into bombastic success is more than worth the suspensions of disbelief required.
Sabatini's language is gorgeous and clever, and I didn't mind one bit having to look up words, sometimes four or more in a chapter, because of the richness in understanding a turn of phrase. Definitely a must-read for anyone looking for a little intellectual stimulation with their dashing, adventurous entertainment.
October 22, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in February 2001.
By modern standards, Sabatini's prose is rather florid, but it is ideally suited to this tale of early fifteenth century Italian politics. It was a larger than life time, with swaggering condottieri, Machiavellian plotting, and high stakes in politics and war; and Sabatini portrays it atmospherically.
Bellarion, his hero, is a young man of extremely poor origins brought up in a monastery. After naively falling in with a false friar on a journey to Pavia, he becomes a fugitive in the principality of Montferrat, and then by chance involves himself in the complicated affairs of its ruling family. By showing himself a master of political manoeuvre, he begins a rise to power, eventually commanding his own army of mercenaries.
The big problem with Bellarion, once the reader is used to the style, is the central character. He is too good to be true, constantly able to outguess all those around him. His only flaw, in terms of the attitudes of his time, is a lack of any desire to excel personally as a leader; though not lacking in courage, he knows that his physical prowess in the field of battle is low, and is unwilling to expose himself to danger unnecessarily. Sabatini's heroes do tend to succeed through use of their brains rather than through their bodies; he consistently supports the intellectual over the physical.
By modern standards, Sabatini's prose is rather florid, but it is ideally suited to this tale of early fifteenth century Italian politics. It was a larger than life time, with swaggering condottieri, Machiavellian plotting, and high stakes in politics and war; and Sabatini portrays it atmospherically.
Bellarion, his hero, is a young man of extremely poor origins brought up in a monastery. After naively falling in with a false friar on a journey to Pavia, he becomes a fugitive in the principality of Montferrat, and then by chance involves himself in the complicated affairs of its ruling family. By showing himself a master of political manoeuvre, he begins a rise to power, eventually commanding his own army of mercenaries.
The big problem with Bellarion, once the reader is used to the style, is the central character. He is too good to be true, constantly able to outguess all those around him. His only flaw, in terms of the attitudes of his time, is a lack of any desire to excel personally as a leader; though not lacking in courage, he knows that his physical prowess in the field of battle is low, and is unwilling to expose himself to danger unnecessarily. Sabatini's heroes do tend to succeed through use of their brains rather than through their bodies; he consistently supports the intellectual over the physical.
May 19, 2009
Now this one of all the Sabatini I've read recently was the most interesting, if a bit of a shocker. I think he may have really pushing his envelop here as he got closer to home history. Oh, he usually skirts around the edge of morality, but without having his protagonist push certain limits. They're always the pirate with a code of honor, forced into the kill, and such. So, when Bellarion killed a man in cold blood just a few short chapters in, with very little compunction, it was a good jolt out of the usual Sabatini framework. The whole book feels that much more fresh, and dare I say Italian thanks to the departure. Add in that Bellarion is on the edge of physical cowardice (although not one, of course), and you've got a hero (but never anti-hero) that stands out from the rest. Of course, it may be the constant diet of Sabatini novels that's making this break more interesting to me; I'd be interested to know what it feels like with less Sabatini exposure.
February 27, 2014
Another epic to the scale of Captain Blood, the Carolinian and Scaramouche in that the protagonist embroils himself into the fate of a major historical event. Sabatini does not forget any of the many major and minor characters have their actions effect the story all the way through. Unfortunately the least likeable is the protagonist; too perfect and unrelatable. The plot was good but the scenes which we are presented with read like many long sessions of jury duty. Too many detailed arguments to justify Bellarion's actions occur. And again the romantic interest has contempt for the main character until the very end.
The villains are plentiful and show how hard it is to find one working for good instead of personal gains. This book is an entertaining way to learn about medieval Milanese history. A for the sword fights, they are left for your own imagination the battles are all large scale instead of individually focused.
The villains are plentiful and show how hard it is to find one working for good instead of personal gains. This book is an entertaining way to learn about medieval Milanese history. A for the sword fights, they are left for your own imagination the battles are all large scale instead of individually focused.
April 11, 2022
আরো একটা রাফায়েল সাবাতিনি!
সাবাতিনির লেখার সবচে বড় বৈশষ্ট্য হলো, কোন একটা ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনাকে তার লেখায় জুড়ে দেওয়া। ঠিক যেন দুই চামচ ফিকশনের সাথে এক চামচ হিস্ট্রি- ব্যস, সুন্দর একটা হিস্ট্রিক্যাল ফিকশন দাঁড় হয়ে গেল!
এবারের কাহিনী ইটালীতে, মিলান এবং তার আশেপাশের ছোট ছোট প্রিন্সলি স্টেটগুলো, যেমন কাসাল, জেনোয়া এগুলোকে নিয়ে। চোদ্দশো শতকের শুরুর পটভূমিতে রচিত এই কাহিনীতে উঠে এসেছে প্রিন্সলি স্টেটগুলোর পারস্পরিক দ্বন্দ, ডিউকদের লোভ আর উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা, সেই সাথে ইটালীর দূর্দশা। এমন এক অস্থির সময়ে সদ্য কনভেন্ট থেকে বের হওয়া বেলারিয়ন পড়ে যায় সংসারের পাঁকেচক্রে, যেটা একসময় তাকে জীবনের নানা ধরনের গলি ঘুঁপচি ঘুরিয়ে এক সময় করে তোলে ডিউক অব মিলানের সবচে কাছের লোক, তারই সেনাবাহিনীর কমান্ডার। বেলারিয়ানের এই পুরো যাত্রাটাই এই উপন্যাসের মূল, কিভাবে কপর্দকহীন থেকে ইটালীর সবচে ক্ষমতাশালী লোকে পরিণত হয় বেলারিয়ান "দ্য ফরচুনেট"!
সাবাতিনির লেখার সবচে বড় বৈশষ্ট্য হলো, কোন একটা ঐতিহাসিক ঘটনাকে তার লেখায় জুড়ে দেওয়া। ঠিক যেন দুই চামচ ফিকশনের সাথে এক চামচ হিস্ট্রি- ব্যস, সুন্দর একটা হিস্ট্রিক্যাল ফিকশন দাঁড় হয়ে গেল!
এবারের কাহিনী ইটালীতে, মিলান এবং তার আশেপাশের ছোট ছোট প্রিন্সলি স্টেটগুলো, যেমন কাসাল, জেনোয়া এগুলোকে নিয়ে। চোদ্দশো শতকের শুরুর পটভূমিতে রচিত এই কাহিনীতে উঠে এসেছে প্রিন্সলি স্টেটগুলোর পারস্পরিক দ্বন্দ, ডিউকদের লোভ আর উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষা, সেই সাথে ইটালীর দূর্দশা। এমন এক অস্থির সময়ে সদ্য কনভেন্ট থেকে বের হওয়া বেলারিয়ন পড়ে যায় সংসারের পাঁকেচক্রে, যেটা একসময় তাকে জীবনের নানা ধরনের গলি ঘুঁপচি ঘুরিয়ে এক সময় করে তোলে ডিউক অব মিলানের সবচে কাছের লোক, তারই সেনাবাহিনীর কমান্ডার। বেলারিয়ানের এই পুরো যাত্রাটাই এই উপন্যাসের মূল, কিভাবে কপর্দকহীন থেকে ইটালীর সবচে ক্ষমতাশালী লোকে পরিণত হয় বেলারিয়ান "দ্য ফরচুনেট"!
May 22, 2014
I wasn't expecting so much from this book; well, at least not as much as I got from Rafael Sabatini's better-known stories, Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk, and Scaramouche; but after a slow start, which turned out to be a slow, sure unfolding of the splendid characters and storyline, Bellarion really took off, building with great cleverness of word and deed, until the thrilling end. I give it Five Stars, which for me means that I would I recommend the book, would read it again, and that I will purchase a hardcover copy for my bookshelf.
September 13, 2008
Probably my favorite book by my favorite author. Sabatini is the master of the historical fiction, and this is a nicely woven tale that includes all kinds of great themes: coming of age, love, fighting, misunderstandings, early 15th Century Italy, etc. A real treat to read and re-read (if you're a big fat sap like me).
September 21, 2009
Gorgeously written! The beginning was a little slow but defiantly gets interesting and complicated soon. It is not a blow through kind of book and even though I have a wide vocabulary I try to have a dictionary nearby. Also, Sabatini assumes the reader knows Latin – I don’t but I am starting to learn.
August 25, 2022
Споделяла съм голямата си любов към Рафаел Сабатини - неговата "Скарамуш" ме накара да искам да чета, да искам да открия по-добра книга от нея - и пак ще я споделям! "Беларион Щастливеца" ме погълна с лекотата на разказа си, умело заплетените си интриги, тънкия си хумор, изящно изтъканите си връзки, напомнящи красиво изплетена паяжина - непреходна класика в приключенска литература!
December 24, 2015
Classic Sabatini at his best. Bellarion rivals Scaramouche as my favorite. The master of historical adventure fiction who gives Dumas his greatest challenge. Eloquent, philosophical, witty, riveting. Brilliant.
August 21, 2012
Wonderful historical fiction of the swashbuckling adventure type!
September 14, 2013
Raphael Sabatini is one of my favorite authors. This was a great book.
December 24, 2013
My favorite Sabatini novel....have red it at least 5 times over the years.....and went to the trouble of finding myself a copy from Abe Books....
April 2, 2014
Pure enjoyment. That warm feeling of satisfaction that only Sabatini creates. Adventure writing at its finest!
February 17, 2015
This might be my favorite book of all time...
January 21, 2016
Actually, I didn't finish the book; I did not find it appealing at all, even though I had totally enjoyed Scaramouche by the same author.
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