Listmania!
Favorite Swashbucklers...
By an Amazon.com customer
Treasure IslandTreasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Buy new: $19.79 / Used from: $1.59
This edition is wonderfully illustrated by the famed artist N. C. Wyeth.
Treasure IslandTreasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Buy used from: $7.95
This edition is, perhaps, the best of the illustrated editions. Sure, the N. C. Wyeth paintings are better, but this version is chock-full of enough stirring pictures to get even the most jaded reader completely and utterly hooked.
Kidnapped (Scribner Storybook Classics)Kidnapped (Scribner Storybook Classics) by Robert Louis Stevenson
Buy new: $16.20 / Used from: $3.94
Also illustrated by N. C. Wyeth.
Captain Blood (Penguin Classics)Captain Blood (Penguin Classics) by Rafael Sabatini
Buy new: $11.70 / Used from: $0.58
The movie version of Captain Blood launched Errol Flynn to stardom.
The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses (Scribner's Illustrated Classics)The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses (Scribner's Illustrated Classics) by Robert Louis Stevenson
Buy used from: $5.16
Yet another fabulous adventure, illustrated by N. C. Wyeth.
ScaramoucheScaramouche by Rafael Sabatini
Buy new: $5.95 / Used from: $2.22
Sabatini's first best-seller, and likely his finest effort.
The Sea-HawkThe Sea-Hawk by Rafael Sabatini
Buy new: $11.86 / Used from: $2.49
The Sea-Hawk by Rafael Sabatini bears no resemblance to the Errol Flynn movie of the same name.
Captain AlatristeCaptain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Buy new: $11.90 / Used from: $0.01
Thankfully, Arturo Perez-Reverte picks-up where Rafael Sabatini left-off. The Viggo-Mortenson-starring movie version came-and-went so fast, that it must be a real stinker; but the book thrills.
Purity of Blood (Captain Alatriste)Purity of Blood (Captain Alatriste) by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Buy new: $11.32 / Used from: $0.01
This is the satisfying sequel to Captain Alatriste.
The Sun Over BredaThe Sun Over Breda by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Buy new: $12.20 / Used from: $0.01
Follow-up to Purity of Blood, this is the winning third book in the Captain Alastriste series.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (Signet classics)The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (Signet classics) by Howard Pyle
Buy used from: $0.01
Only Howard Pyle captures "swashbuckling" as well as N. C. Wyeth.
The Three MusketeersThe Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas père
Buy used from: $4.96
Alexandre Dumas left-off where Rafael Sabatini picked-up. An excellent edition, translated by Richard Pevear.
The Count of Monte Cristo (Modern Library)The Count of Monte Cristo (Modern Library) by Alexandre Dumas père
Buy new: $17.13 / Used from: $3.50
Nobody wrote "swashbuckling" like Dumas.
The Man in the Iron Mask (Oxford World's Classics)The Man in the Iron Mask (Oxford World's Classics) by Alexandre Dumas père
Buy used from: $0.50
Trust me: skip the Leonardo DiCaprio movie version and read the book instead.
A General History of the PyratesA General History of the Pyrates by Daniel Defoe
Buy new: $14.93 / Used from: $9.22
For years this work was credited to a mysterious "Captain Johnson"; but it is now attributed to Daniel Defoe, who often authored works under pseudonyms.
Captain Singleton (Dodo Press)Captain Singleton (Dodo Press) by Daniel Defoe
Buy new: $20.99 / Used from: $2.98
Read Defoe's Robinson Crusoe if you want to live on an island for 20+ years; but read Captain Singleton if you want to travel the world. My favorite pirate yarn.
The Scarlet Pimpernel (Signet Classics)The Scarlet Pimpernel (Signet Classics) by Baroness Orczy Emmuska
Buy new: $4.95 / Used from: $0.01
Sir Percy is a dark-horse, for sure!
Ivanhoe (Oxford World's Classics)Ivanhoe (Oxford World's Classics) by Sir Walter Scott
Buy new: $10.95 / Used from: $0.44
No book captures jousting quite like Ivanhoe.
Rob Roy (Penguin Classics)Rob Roy (Penguin Classics) by Walter Scott
Buy new: $9.35 / Used from: $0.01
A small step behind Ivanhoe, but nonetheless another classic.
The Mark of Zorro (Special Edition) (Colorized / Black and White)The Mark of Zorro (Special Edition) (Colorized / Black and White)
Buy new: $11.49 / Used from: $6.46
Errol Flynn was a better "swashbuckler," but only Tyrone Power was "Zorro."
Zorro, the Gay BladeZorro, the Gay Blade
Buy used from: $15.48
George Hamilton is very funny in this well-done spoof.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Two-Disc Special Edition)The Adventures of Robin Hood (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Buy new: $21.99 / Used from: $12.25
The quintessential swashbuckler in his most memorable role!
The Sea HawkThe Sea Hawk
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $4.21
From Rafael Sabatini's best-seller; it launched Errol Flynn to stardom.
Captain BloodCaptain Blood
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $5.49
Another Sabatini tale that helped make Errol Flynn.
Treasure IslandTreasure Island
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $8.92
The best movie version of Stevenson's classic, starring a very likeable Wallace Beery as Long John Silver and the Little Rascal's Jackie Cooper as Jim.
IvanhoeIvanhoe
Buy new: $5.79 / Used from: $6.99
From what I remember, Robert Taylor is intense in this gorgeous movie version of Sir Walter Scott's best work; but, honestly, what I remember most is the beauty of Liz Taylor.
Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $1.00
This movie is satisfying, but, no matter what the box-office receipts say, the sequel sucks.
The Complete Musketeers (The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers)The Complete Musketeers (The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers)
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $16.25
Fun-filled, much-enjoyed screen versions of Alexandre Dumas' classic tale.