The Sword of Islam

Sabatini ought to be taught in English classes. The man could write and turn a phrase like few others. His stories are almost all swash and buckle; so if you don't like that genre, you need not apply. That said, it's some of the best, and most accurate, historical fiction you will ever read.

An easy to read tale, the only problem being that the story is only 30 pages long so the plot lacked the twists, turns and intrigues of his better-known full-length works. I wanted more, however, the style and flow did not disappoint. It was pure Sabatini.

When i bought this book it was shown as having over 300 pages. I was disappointed to find when i bought it that there were only a few pages and it is now shown on the amazon website as being 30 pages. I enjoyed the few pages and wish it was a full book.

If you'd like to read Rafael Sabatini's Sword of Islam, be sure to get a hardcover or paperback edition of this classic January 1939 novel, one of Sabatini's best, in my opinion. The full volume is available for free on the Internet Archive, but also from many public libraries. The most recent edition appears to have been published in paperback in 2001. There is, however, a Sabatini short story of the same name published in Premiere Magazine in August 1914. Amazon perhaps has posted the short story in its Kindle offerings, rather than the novel. (The 7-chapter story is also available on the internet on a website on the Life and work of Rafael Sabatini.) I'd guess the story served as the skeleton of the novel that came 25 years later, virtually at the end of Sabatini's writing career. The lateness of this work in Sabatini's lifetime oeuvre explains is superb quality. It is not to be missed, particularly if you like sea stories. Set in the early 16th century, during the full fledged onslaught of the Barbary Pirates on the Mediterranean and its Christian communities, the full-length classic novel fills out the historical figure of Dragut Reis (1485-1565), an Ottoman captain and the sometime governor of of Djerba, who terrorized the Mediterranean and became known as the Sword of Islam. He enslaved thousands of Christians, Jews and others in his seaborne rampages, although for four years he was imprisoned after being captured by Giannettino Doria, the nephew of Andrea Doria, another historical figure and a central character in this novel, in which his nephew also takes a role. Sabatini apparently took the name for the protagonist of this work, Prospero Adorno, from the 34th Doge of Genoa, during the 15th century, roughly 100 years before the events described in this book. (There was evidently no Prospero Adonro during Doria's time.) The story begins in roughly 1527, as Andrea Doria serves as the Admiral of the King of France. Eventually Doria, and Adorno both, end up in the service of Charles the V of Spain. This is a most ingenious story, which pits Doria and Adorno and their families against one another, and also weaves into the tale both the gruesome and heroic deeds of the period. Once again, Sabatini demonstrates a stellar skill with his pen, and a first class knowledge of history, as well as the enviable ability to entwine into his stories genuine historical events and figures with purely fictional characters and human needs, wants, and aspirations. A marvelous read, which I completed in one day. I wish it had never ended.

The Sword of Islam is middle-of-the-road Sabatini--certainly not one of his worst, but nowhere near the heights of Scaramouche or The Sea-Hawk. Prospero Adorno is a leading naval mercenary in Renaissance Italy whose feud with Admiral Andrea Dorea and his family leads to all sorts of complications. Prospero realizes this may all stem from a misunderstanding, but other forces--including pressure from his own family for revenge--keep that misunderstanding from being cleared up. The Sword of Islam is the Barbary corsair Dragut, mentioned in passing in The Sea-Hawk (written much earlier). He really doesn't come into play until late in the book, but his raids play a role in resolving the conflict between Prospero and Doria. The other reviewer mentioned the respectful treament of followers of Islam in this book; that's true of many of Sabatini's works, in which the greater criticism is leveled at hypocritical Christians who don't live what they preach (though I've not read his book on Torquemada, it seems from his other novels that Sabatini was contemptuous of the Inquisition, and Captain Blood contains a passage or two on the problems of a "Christian country" punishing those who practice "Christian charity). Recommended with three of five stars.

This is not one of Sabatini's better known novels nor is it quite as excellent as Captain Blood, Scaramouche, or Master at Arms. But if, like me, you love Sabatini, or if you are simply a fan of the historical swashbuckler, you will enjoy The Sword of Islam (1939). It has the same careful attention to historical detail, sparkling dialogue, humor, action, and surprising plot twists that once made the author a household name. The protagonist Prospero Adorno, a 16th-century Genovese naval condottiere serving under the great Admiral Andrea Doria, is not the typical cardboard hero rescuing a maiden in distress. In facing complex ethical crises that cause his name to be vilified and almost ruin his career, he grows morally and spiritually as a human being. Like Bellarion, another of Sabatini's heroes, Prospero wins by stratagem, rather than sheer guts and brawn alone. Even the villains are portrayed almost sympathetically as real human beings with real motivations. Throughout the novel Sabatini demonstrates his thorough mastery of the genre as well as his expert knowledge of Italian history. And leave it to an Italian to write so well in English! Sabatini had his potboilers, but this is not one of them. While not his best, it is still among his better novels.

An awesome book by a great author. It amazes me that this incredible story is out of print! It is one of the few books that shows Christians and Muslims on the same level, without playing the Arabs down. This historically correct story tells a tale of a Genuese captain in a fight against the Arab pirates of the mediterranean. He is torn between the loyaltyto his family, to his land, and to an oath to avenge his father death, inflicted on him by a fellow genuese, the best admiral of his time. The story is breathtaking and impossible to put down. It is highly recommended to anyone interested in history, in adventure and just in a good read.

This isn't a book. It is a snippet of a book. Amazon has misrepresented it's product and the individual responsible should be held accountable for misrepresenting a fine author. This certainly is yet more proof that Amazon fails to exercise quality control.

Une épopée incroyable à l'époque de Charles Quint, François 1er et Andrea Doria, décrivant la lutte pour la suprématie de la méditerranée, à travers le destin de deux familles rivales italiennes et celui de "l'épée de l'Islam", un pirate barbaresque, le fléau des mers. Une histoire menée tambour battant dans le plus pur style de Sabatini! Passionnant !!!

excellent paperback, delivered promptly

Well written but a bit on the short side! Never the less, it was a trip down memory lane having read the book many, many, years ago.