Rafael Sabatini was a renowned Italian-English author, born on April 29, 1875, in Iesi, Italy. His parents, Vincenzo Sabatini and Anna Trafford, were opera singers who later became teachers. Sabatini's exposure to multiple languages at a young age, thanks to his parents' occupation and his mother's nationality, shaped his linguistic abilities and eventual writing career. He spent parts of his childhood in England with his grandfather, attended school in Portugal, and lived in Switzerland during his teenage years.
Sabatini's linguistic skills were not limited to his early years; by the time he was seventeen, he had mastered five languages. He later added English to his repertoire, a language that would become the chosen medium for his literary works. Before becoming a full-time writer, Sabatini tried his hand at the business world. However, his true passion lay in storytelling. He began writing short stories in the 1890s, and his first novel was published in 1902. Sabatini was a prolific writer, releasing a new book annually, and he once stated that he wrote in English because "all the best stories are written in English." His impressive body of work includes 31 novels, 8 short story collections, 6 nonfiction books, numerous uncollected short stories, and a play.
The author is best known for his worldwide bestsellers such as "The Sea Hawk" (1915), "Scaramouche" (1921), "Captain Blood" (1922), and "Bellarion the Fortunate" (1926). Other notable works by Sabatini include "The Lion's Skin" (1911), "The Strolling Saint" (1913), and "The Snare" (1917). His adventure and romance novels have captivated readers for generations, solidifying Sabatini's place as a master storyteller in the realm of literature and fiction.