Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini

Just the title of this book makes me smile!! Set in England when the Duke of Monmouth is revolting against King James Stuart. A battle occurs, the Duke's followers are beaten and hundreds of people were arrested, most just simple country folk who happened to be in the area where fighting took place, such as Peter Blood, a man who served as a mercenary in european countries before settling down in a small English town to practice medicine. When he is found aiding a rebel he is arrested. The trial is decided before it takes place and luckily for Peter Blood, the king has requested men to be sent to the Barbados as endentured servants instead of directly to the gallows. If the men survive ten years of slave labor they will be released. In Barbados, Blood is purchased by Colonel Bishop, a violent plantation owner, who discovers Blood's medical training and sells Bloods services to people on the island, including the govenor. It is here that Blood also meets the Colonel's niece, Arabella Bishop, Blood's love interest, enough said.

The story really gets exciting when the island is attacked by a Spanish ship, who quickly overcome the English defenses and lay waste to the city. Blood seizes the chance to escape with the other English prisoners who have so far survived the slave labor. While the Spanish celebrate in the city, Blood and his companions overtake the few guards remaining on the Spanish ship. In the morning when the Spanish return to their ship, the captain and loot on the first boat are captured and the other boats are blown up, leaving the few Spanish sailors who make it to the beach alive in the hands of the angry English.



Blood is unable to return to England, and so sets about pirating Spanish and French ships, but never the English because he dreams of being able to return to there. He must face many horrible characters including the Spanish Admiral Don Esteban, a French pirate named Lavasseur, and a French general named Rivarol who all strive to beat Blood during his adventures on land and sea. Blood's goal is to clear his name so he can court Arabella Bishop, but will he get to marry her?

Thumbs UP!! I guess there are some Peter Blood sequels so you will get to hear more about him in the future!!