SABATINI UK EDITIONS

This page is not intended to be, nor would I presume to make, critical comment on any of Sabatini�s books; I like them all (that I have been able to get), though naturally some more than others. Everyone has their own taste, and that�s how it should be. Equally, I have no intention of trying to precis the plot; you are most likely visiting this site because you are interested in the author, and my views or interpretations of the story would probably not be welcome. If, though like me, you are trying to get a copy of every Sabatini book, this section might be of interest as it does attempt to give a brief description of the various editions I have collected so far.
Leather Bound Editions:

These are all very pretty editions to look at. The ones I have found are all the same style, and are bound in brown leather with gold tooling, and TEG (Top Edge Gilt) for ease of dusting. They are all approximately 17 cm high by 11 cm wide. They are described as the "Uniform Edition".

"The Historical Night�s Entertainment - Series II" A collection of short stories which are intended to be historical fact rather than fiction. They show the depth of Sabatini�s historical research. This second in the series is the only one of the three I have read and own, and is published by Phoenix (1919) in what I believe is a first edition in just about perfect condition. One of the stories in particular has a number of typographical errors, mainly where a space is misplaced, which might indicate an early edition. A real beauty of a volume.

"The Shame of Motley" Subtitled "Being the Memoir of Certain Transactions in the Life of Lazzaro Biancomonte, of Biancomonte, sometime Fool of the Court of Pesaro", my edition is by Hutchinson in 1927 (originally published 1908). It is described as "the Uniform Edition" and is identical in appearance to that edition of the same name published by Phoenix, and it leads me to wonder if Phoenix was either a forerunner or embodied into Hutchinson sometime between the 1919 Phoenix "Uniform Edition" and these 1927 Hutchinson "Uniform Editions". This book is unusual in that it is the only one I own written in the first person and contrary to part of the title, is unashamedly romantic. Set in Italy during the period of Cesare Borgia.

"Anthony Wilding" Issued 1927 in the "Uniform Edition" by Hutchinson (originally published 1910). Set in England in the same period as the start of Captain Blood, i.e. the Monmouth rebellion.

"The Banner of the Bull" Three Episodes in the Career of Cesare Borgia. Issued 1927 in the "Uniform Edition" by Hutchinson (originally published 1915).

"Fortune's Fool" Issued 1927 in the "Uniform Edition" by Hutchinson (originally published 1923). Set during the time of Charles II and the great plague, it's every bit as romantic as any Sabatini.

Hardbacks:

These vary enormously in style and size from edition to edition. Only one of my Sabatini's has a dust cover (the newest, Hounds of God), though I'm sure many of the others did originally. Most of my hardbacks cost me between £0.50p and £2.00p, though some were less!

"The Life of Cesare Borgia" Published 1912 by Stanley Paul, my copy is the 10th (new and revised) edition of 1926 and is a magnificent volume, dark brown cloth bound, with a beautiful gold leaf impression on the front cover, the arms of Cesare Borgia himself, and packed full of black & white illustrations. Size 23 cm high by 14 cm wide. I must quote part of the preface to this book:

"You will not seek here a Chronicle of Saints. Nor shall you find a History of Devils. It is an attempt to present as they really were certain very human, strenuous men, the creatures - as all men are - of the age and environment in which they lived. And theirs was a lustful, flamboyant age; an age red with blood and pale with passion at white-heat, an age of steel and velvet, of vivid colour, dazzling light, and impenetratable shadow; an age of swift movement, pitiless violence, and high endeavour, of sharp antitheses and amazing contrasts."

"The Nuptials of Corbal" The original Hutchinson edition of 1927 is often considered a short story rather than a full novel, probably correctly as it took me less than 3 hours to read, although it looks from the outside quite a hefty book and in fact is one of the largest of my collection at 21cm high by 14 1/2 cm wide; this is the only Sabatini I have with colour illustrations (by Harold Brett). It looks really wonderful, cloth bound in red, and really worthy of any bookcase. Appears to have been filmed as "The Marriage of Corbal", see Sabatini and Hollywood. My copy does look like a first edition, but I'm not sure how to find out, and of course, in many cases, there was only ever one printing anyway (unless the publisher underestimated the demand). My copy does exhibit the strange effect that many of the pages are of slightly shorter length at the bottom edge, presumably due to the cutting equipment - I wonder if this detracts from its value in any way? Set in France during the French revolution. Pure romance and adventure, and some comedy thrown in for good measure.

"Scaramouche" A magnificent gift from my wife, it is the Uniform Edition by Hutchinson 1927 (originally published 1921) in identical style to the description above for the leather bound editions, but in this case cloth bound in Navy Blue and slightly taller at 7 1/2 cm high. If Captain Blood is my tops for adventure, this is the one I admire most for its powerful writing and vivid imagery whilst still being an exceptionally entertaining read. If you only ever read one Sabatini, try and make sure it is this one. PAN issued a paperback copy with "Captain Blood", and it also formed part of the boxed set I had been given. This book was found for us by Waterstone's Booksearch, at http//www.waterstones.co.uk/ - OK, I know it's not the same as finding it yourself, but I have had no luck in years and I was desperate to read it again. Set in France prior to and during the French revolution.

"The Hounds of God" Originally published by Hutchinson in 1928, it was re-issued in the navy blue cloth bound "Uniform Edition". My copy is in immaculate condition, I can't believe it has ever been opened. Also issued in 1974 by Hutchinson Library Services as a hardback (my copy, ISBN 0 09 119310 9, is an ex-library book although unfortunately the idiot who owned it before me tore the page carrying the library mark out!) size 20 1/2 cm high by 13 1/2 cm wide. Click here to see an image of the HLS hardback front dust cover. Set slightly after the events related in "The Sea Hawk", in Elizabethan England.

"The Romantic Prince" My edition is the 1931 light blue cloth bound "3/6d Net" edition, published by Hutchinson, "35th thousand" size 19 cm high by 13 cm wide and very thick, in rather poor condition (but it only cost me £0.10p!).

"The Sword of Islam" A "War Economy Standard" publication by Hutchinson (originally 1939, mine is the 33rd thousand published about 1947), with wartime paper restrictions making it a rough and ready book. Red bound, with little external decoration, the edition reflects the austere times in which it was published. Size 19 cm high by 13 cm wide. This is a cracking story, set in Genoese Italy (or rather the Mediterranean) in the sixteenth century.

"Columbus" Originally published 1941, I have a "War Economy Standard" Book Club edition of 1943 as "Columbus - A Romance", produced in red cloth bound. The external tooling on the spine has faded and worn badly, otherwise it's in pretty good condition. Size 19 cm high by 13 cm wide.

"King in Prussia" Another "War Economy Standard" published by Hutchinson during the war (1944). As with "The Sword of Islam", my copy is a very austere publication on poor quality paper and roughly bound in black. Size 19 cm high by 13 cm wide.

"Turbulent Tales" Published just after the war (1946) but still as a "War Economy Standard", this collection of shorter stories is a very basic black bound edition, but full of entertainment. Size 19 cm high by 13 cm wide.

Paperbacks:

"Captain Blood" When originally published in 1922, it seems to have been called "Captain Blood - His Odeyssey" and was shortened in the PAN paperback edition (X99, 1961). Was also issued as a boxed set with "The Sea Hawk" and "Scaramouche" but I am not sure of the publisher in this instance. Sometime issued as a paperback by Arrow books (in association with Hutchinson) as 364H. Filmed by Hollywood (see Sabatini and Hollywood). My favourite adventure novel. Click here to see an image of the PAN paperback front cover or here to see the Arrows paperback front cover. Set in England during the Monmouth rebellion and afterwards in the West Indies, and the very definition of adventure, romance and excitement.

"The Chronicles of Captain Blood" The PAN paperback edition (X171, 1963) was issued as part of a series with others. Click here to see an image of the paperback front cover.

"Love-At-Arms" PAN left out the hyphenation when issuing this paperback (X278, 1964) but I think the original utilised it. Click here to see an image of the paperback front cover. Set in the Italy of the Borgias.

Other Editions (not seen by me)

Sabatini has been issued in America, I only know of Houghton Mifflin (1910's to 1930's), Grosset and Dunlap (1920's) and Ballantine Books (1970's) and currently Chronicle Books. In 1994, the Oxford University Press in the UK issued an edition of "The Fortunes of Casanova: and other Stories" - ISBN 0 19 212319 X - which collects many of Sabatini's magazine published short stories, and is forwarded by George MacDonald Fraser. The US OUP records a 1995 book entitled "The Oxford Book of Historical Stories" editted by Michael Cox and Jack Adrian ISBN 0 19 283208 5 which includes a contribution by Sabatini.

Click here for a picture of the front cover of an (unknown to me) paperback Captain Blood.

I know there are huge gaps in the information above, and possibly errors as well, but if you can help out with clarification about my interpretation of my editions, please e-mail me at [email protected] and tell me!

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