The Sword of Islam

The sixteenth-century Mediterranean is a world of naval warfare, unstable alliances and powerful rival families. Prospero Adorno, a Genoese nobleman, becomes entangled in the struggles surrounding Andrea Doria. Decisions made by rulers and commanders turn service into captivity and private grievances into matters of political consequence. Freedom, when it returns, does not automatically restore trust. Rafael Sabatini joins maritime adventure to a family and personal drama. Galleys and corsair attacks alternate with negotiation, jealousy and calculated offers of reconciliation. Prospero must decide what can be conceded without surrendering his dignity. Beneath the battles lies a conflict between seeking justice and allowing resentment to govern a life.