Books like The Sea-Hawk
The Sea-Hawk
Rafael Sabatini! Oh, this generation doesn't even KNOW. This is a classic swashbuckling novel by the author of Captain Blood, and it is deliciously over the top. Handsome, powerful Oliver Tressilian, in love with the fair Rosamund, is working to overcome the opposition that Rosamund's sleazy brother and guardian are posing to their marriage. R's brother Peter provokes Oliver into public threats, but Oliver controls himself for love of his fair one; alas, Oliver's weasly brother Lionel kills Peter in a fight over the slut they both are hooking up with. Oliver (because he is THAT GUY) shoulders the blame to protect poor lil Lionel. But Lionel is afraid Oliver will break down and tell, so he has him kidnapped! And sold into slavery! And Oliver, crushed and betrayed, becomes Sakr el-Bahr, the Sea Hawk, scourge of the sea. AND THEN THEY ALL MEET UP AGAIN - Lionel, Oliver, and Rosamund. Oh yeah. *sighs* You know you want to read it. Don't let your sophistication get in the way.