King of Storytellers

So I picked up another book by one of my favorite authors, Rafael Sabatini. I have developed an intense love for his stories ever since I read the first one. The one Im reading now is "Master-at-Arms" but some of my favorites include "The Sea Hawk", "The Black Swan", "Scaramouche", "The Tavern Knight", "Adventures of Captain Blood". The thing I love about these stories is they all happen right in my favorite time periods and settings: 1700s - either French Revolution, at sea on ships, England, nobility, etc. Most often a cool, and suave but not too cocky hero with calculating, intelligent, intense and sparkling eyes falls in love with a woman of equal stoicism and intelligence, and she with him, evan though in the beginning they do not always know it. I love everything about these novels from the swordfights to the overcoming of self-restraint and seeming emotionlessness of both parties to finally admitting their feelings for each other in subtle tones with gleaming eyes. It all happens so grippingly involving a tangled or veiled past perhaps that the hero himself is unaware of but soon discovers and along with so much intrigue and betrayal and mystery and then the final revelation which sets everything right. The thing I probably most admire about these heroes is the way they keep their temper and cool facade in whatever situation they may be in, whoever is threatening them, they keep their impenetrable face and level voice and witty, non offensive comments (unless one decides to takes them so). The only sign of any disgruntlement being a steely look passing through the eyes with a hint of challenge and a subtly cutting remark that reminds one that he is a man of honor and it will not be taken advantage of. These men are always excellent swordfighters and are deadly with a pistol, in fantastic physical shape and irresistibly handsome, and very fast thinkers with a broad understanding what is going on around them "You are a man to whom a woman could resist nothing." And yet they are not womanizers but sincere gentlemen. Sabatini novels are not dirty romance novels, otherwise my mom would never had given one to me at the age of 16 but they are more classic romance and adventure novels and they can be for both male and female audience I think, although I have a suspicion women may enjoy them very much, not to be sexist or anything. Ever since then I was just drawn in and in love, I could not put the books down, there was always something happening that kept me guessing in every story. For anyone interested in a good action read, these are quite an adventure. I just wanted to post this to share my opinion on something I enjoy so much!