Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-19
"CAPTAIN BLOOD"
Sabatinis Story of a Love-Sick
Pirate a Worthy Successor
to "Scaramouche''

'h sou ever ucur. OIL u love- SICK
pirate? Seems ridiculous, doesn't it,
pirates usually not being given to a
display Of the softer sentiments. But,
however paradoHical it may seem when
stated thus BADLY, It is a readily recog.
nizable fact in Rafael SaDatini's swa h.
buckling tale Of the Spanish Main which
has just been issued under the san
culinary title, Captain Blood"
(Houghton Mitllin Company.
Mr. Sabatini has large following
In this country, gained through his
superb story Of French revolutionary
times, "Scaramouchc. lie has the
faculty of writing n rafting good yarn
fuii or excitement and melodrama
without debasement Of style for a
descent to vuigarity. His heroes are
amazingly clever. They perform ex.
ploits that, told by amy less skillful
novelist, would be beyond belief. But
despite their remarkable feats they are
still inen, and as their characters are
developed by their creators facile pen
they become grippingly realistic, selling
the readers imagination and holding
interest to the end.
Captain Peter Blood is an Irishman.
educated as a physician. but lured by
love OF adventure into the life Of Il
soldier. When the scene opens in the
year 1855. Blood, having tired Mt the
age of thirty of the wars in the
Netherlands and elsewhere, had retired
TO the little town of Bridgewater in
England. hoping to pass the remainder
Of his days in the quiet pursuit of his
profession as man of medicine. But
1t was not to be. Within six months
the Duke of Monmouth's rising against
Ming James III takes place. There is
battle near Bridgcwater. Blood is
summoned TO aid wounded rebel. is
caught there by some Of the King $
raiders and charged with treason. even
though he was merely performing his
duties rs a doctor. Taken with other
rebels before the unspeakable Lord
Jcffreys he IL condemned and barely
escapes the salows through decree Of
the King sending 100 OF the so-called
traitors into slavery on the plantations
West Indian possessions.
Blood's lot falls in with n group sent
10 Barbados. where he Is made slave
under n Colonel Bishop. His skill as
a physician becomes known and he is
somewhat favored above his fellows. 50
much so that he wins the interes, of his
owners daughter. There is n raid on
the settlement by Spanish buccaneer.
Then is when Captain Blood shows his
true metal. With IA few comrades he
succeeds in capturing the Spanish
galleon as it lies in the harbor. lie
turns her guns against the Spanish in
vadcrs and sails to seu on his career ai
a gentlemanly pirate. From this mo-
ment the story is palpitating with cx-
element. How Blood becomes the best
known and most feared among those
hardy old tigers Of the sea: how lie
SCourges the hated Sp0niards, how he
wins pardon from England and even
becomes temporarily an officer in His
Majcstys navy: how he rcscues fair
madens in distress and piles mp untold
wealth in golden pieces Of eight. and
how he eventually wins the daughter
of his cruel former master is for Mr..
Sabatini to tell in his delightful way.
The situations which the anthor deviscs
are unique. There is never 0nytRin.
hackucyed about them. This probably
is the reason why he is being hailed as
second Dumas.
For those who love good stories with
out puzzlng Frcudian theories or sex
problems to bother about, Mr.. Saba
tini is Just the author and Captain
Blood" is just the book. 1t should have
quite as much popularity as its fore.
runner. "2cnramouchc, which served
to introduce Mr.. Sabatini to success in
| this country.