Salgari, Dumas, Sabatini: Classic tales of adventure

[Kara Ortiez]

I have recently started rereading 19th century adventures by Dumas Sabatini, Rider Haggard, Jules Verne. Any Salgari fans out there? I know a couple of his books have only recently been translated into English. I loved his pirate stories when I was child, Sandokan was my favourite, The Black Corsair a close second.

Looking forward to reading the new Dumas release: The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-hermine in the Age of Napoleon (Hardcover) Anyone read it?

I'm also looking for suggestions, swashbucklers etc. Anything where chapters end with a cliffhanger, the plot is fast paced, and the characters larger than life. Any recommendations?

[Brandyblue]

Sir Walter Scott and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did some good adventure stories. Scott's best known adventure is probably Ivanhoe. You probably don't want Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, but his novel The White Company is pretty good swashbuckling. Both these stories get off to a slow start, so you have to hang in there. Doyle also wrote The Refugees: ATale of Two Continents.


One thing puzzles me. You are reading Jules Verne and you want fast paced?

I've never heard of Salgari.

[mtpspur]

I stand by Sabatini's Captain Blood any day any time. Haggard's The Ivory Child is my favorite Allan Quatermain story. Other favorite Sabatini is St Martin's Summer, Chivary, and Bellarion for starters. Avoid The Strolling Saint at all costs--every author has a bad book in him somewhere and this was his.

I too have not heard of Salgari and I'm now intrigued. Also recently discovered Harold Lamb but most of his stuff is out of print. Talbot Mundy is a great writer but his pacing is s-l-o-w but his wording and mood setting more then makes up for it if read with patience. Tros of Samothrace being his best I think.

[mtpspur]

Just did a web search on Salgari. Now I'm excited. I remember seeing Sandokan movies on TV as a kid but had no idea they were based on books. And from what yahoo sites say about him I know I'll love his stuff.

[Kara Ortiez]

I read Calebb Carr's new translation of Verne's Mysterious Island and couldn't put it down. Journey was fun, as was Mathias Sandorf. Absorbing more than fast paced. I've only read Doyle's Holmes mysteries, never heard of a tale of Two Continents. I'll look for it. I've read Ivanhoe and loved it, someone also recommended Kidnapped by Stevenson.

I've only picked up a few by Sabatini, loved Scaranouche, loved The Sea Hawk, Black Swan not so much.

I have a few battered paperback copies of Lamb's stuff somewhere, Hannibal, The Crusades... maybe one or two more

I still love Salgari's Sandokan adventures, there are only three of about a dozen tales available in English, the second, The Pirates of Malaysia, is my favorite, Sandokan vs James Brooke. Sandokan and his sidekick Yanez were two of my favorite childhood characters. The novels should be read in order I guess to fully appreciate the characters.

Sam Shellabarger is also pretty good, I liked Prince of Foxes (the grape scene!) and Captain from Castille but as I said above I am now anxxioulsy awaiting The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-hermine in the Age of Napoleon... luv the 19th century

[mtpspur]

I agree Black Swan was a lesser effort. The library had no Salagri and neither did Barnes and Nobles have any in English. The Sandokan movies I saw had to be have neen the last two black and white ones with Ray Danton--saw them over 30 years ago and I still remember him being trapped on a porch(?) setting surrounded by snakes. But you MUST read Captain Blood!!!

Read Prince of Foxes about 10 years back but can't honestly say I enjoyed it. I confess I can't recall it all that well. Embarassing but I remmeber childhood/teen books much better then later adult reading where Shellabarger fit in.

[Kara Ortiez]

I'll put Captain Blood on my reading list. I got a couple of Sabatini novels a while back when a neighbourhood bookstore closed down. The Venetian Mask and Scaramouche The King Maker. I've heard the sequel is not as good as the original.

I've recently enjoyed Empire of Sand as well. An action packed read set in France and Africa.

I found Salgari novels in English on Amazon.com

I've read Haggard's She. Similar but more interesting than Orczy's By the Gods Beloved.

[mtpspur]

Agree on Scaramouche the sequel. For Sabatini at his BEST writing Scaramouche takes the honor but Blood is the most entertaining to me. Venetian Masque was so-so. She and Allan (the third She novel was a favorite also.) I tend not to order on line mostly due to credit cards being maxed but I have a good book search source available to me locally.

[Kara Ortiez]

Read any James Fenimore Cooper? I tried to read Red Rover, but have never managed to get past the first couple of chapters. I'll look for She and Allan, I prefer to buy old hard covers if I can find them reasonably priced. There was a story about Allan in ancient Egypt I believe, a telling of a past life experience... The Ancient Allan or something like that, worth picking up?

[mtpspur]

I took years but I've read and own all the Allan Quatermains. Ancient Allan is essentially a reincarnation story telling of a 'past l'ife of Allan's in ancient Egypt. Routine for Haggard. Mind you just my opinion based on my preference for adventure/mood stories. Haggard constantly replays certain themes. Lost lands, white goddesses, greta loves requited and unrequited, loss of dear ones, much slaughter amongst savage tribes, etc.

Have NOT read Red Rover from Cooper but did read all five of the Leatherstocking novels. Personal favorite was The Deerslayer but everyone seems to prefer Last of the Mohicans. The other three are for completists only. Main complaint of Cooper is he takes all the time in the world getting to his story and he has a tin ear for dialogue.

Re Haggard--awhile back I left notes on Quatermain on the Litnet auhtors entry for Haggard primarily giving the reading order for Quaterman and She. This might be of interest.

[Kara Ortiez]

My local used book store just got a copy of St Martin's Summer, which I'm going to pick up on your recommendation. They also have the Trampling of the Lillies. I'd never heard of it before. Any advice?

[mtpspur]

St Martin's Summer is one of my top favorite of Sabatini. It's just a charming little adventure story that stuck with me over the years. I have a copy of Trampling of the Lillies but it rings no bells so I would by default place that as routine Sabatini. Would hasten to remind you there is only one book that I just did not like at all and that was Strolling Saint. Lion's Skin is so-so. Mostly missing some of his story collections--thanks to Wildside Press some of his oldest books are in paperback now.

[Kara Ortiez]

Just got The Last Cavalier: Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-Hermine in the Age of Napoleon (Hardcover) Didn't realize it was the final part of a trilogy that started with The Companions of Jehu and The Whites and the Blues. Looks like I've got a thousand pages to read before I can even start it. Perhaps I'll read St Martin's first

cheers!

[mtpspur]

You got me on the triology--was unaware of it. You'll find St MArtin's a fast read. Sabatini always impresses with how fast he reads--all those conversations he records. Sometimes when I think about the actual events of the story it's amazing how 'little' happens but what fun to watch it unfold. Other favorites are Chivalry, Bellarion, Bardleys the Magnificent, The Lost King wasn't bad and I came at that in a rare mood of ho-hum French Revolution again and was better then I expected. Banner of the Bull is pretty good if you buy into Borgia being a hero. here is also a biography Sabatini wrote on Cesrare Borgia but Banner is fiction.

Enjoy.

[Whifflingpin]

How about Jeffery Farnol? I've not read much of his - well only "Black Bartlemy's Treasure" :blush: - but I think he fits in there somewhere.

And the Ruritania type books of Anthony Hope - "Prisoner of Zenda," "Rupert of Hentzau" "Phroso" "Sophy of Kravonia"

And H.S. Merriman, and G.A. Henty both pitch a good yarn,

not forgetting RLS, of course.

[Kara Ortiez]

I was unaware of the trilogy as well... read it in the opening notes...
I tried to read Farnol awhile back..Black Bartlemy's Treasure, though it appeared promising, I couldn't get past the language hurdle, dropped it after a few chapters... I have a few others the Jade of Destiny and Sir John Deering but have never cracked the spine

Love Anthony Hope, only read the Zenda novels, both fun! And of course there's Zorro for a classic bit of escape

anyone read the Flashman series?

[mtpspur]

Rupert of Hentzau broke my heart. Can't really recommend the Graustark series by McCutcheon as they are very dated in reading. I read the first two Flashmans years ago but the character got on my nerves. Wasn't quite ready for this sort of antihero. Like Cornwell's Sharpe series much better. About four years ago an attempt was made to reprint the original Zorro stories by McCulley-- two volumes appeared and I have been trying to decisively determine if volume 3 got published but the official Zorro website is horrid at updates. They are ok but barely passable for pulp fiction. Been spoiled rotten by the Shadow and Doc Savage.

[Kara Ortiez]

Just finished reading St. Martin's Summer. Loved it. A lot of fast paced action with a great central character. The sword fight in the cell was excellent. Picked it up from the library and found Sir Walter Scott's The Pirate. Ever read it? I think it may be my next read, though after Sabatini it may be a little slow going...