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1[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/seahawk_9199.jpg]]
2->“When all is said, a man's final judgment of his fellows must be based upon his knowledge of himself”
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4''The Sea Hawk'' is a novel by Creator/RafaelSabatini.
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6Betrayed by his brother, scorned by his lover, and outcast from his country, Sir Oliver Tresselian turns renegade and joins the Muslim corsairs under Asad-ed-Din. He finds great success in this, and becomes known as Sakr-el-Bahr - the Hawk of the Sea. He eventually returns to his Cornish home to exact revenge, and sets in motion a series of events that leads to great risk - and even greater rewards.
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8This was one of the three novels (along with ''Literature/CaptainBloodHisOdyssey'' and ''Literature/{{Scaramouche}}'') that launched Sabatini's success. It was adapted to film twice ([[Film/TheSeaHawk1924 in 1924, starring Milton Sills]]; and, more famously but much less faithfully, [[Film/TheSeaHawk in 1940, starring Errol Flynn]]), but like most Sabatini novels it has lost much of its popularity.
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11!!The book provides examples of:
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13* AffablyEvil: Asad, for all that he is a ruthless corsair, is a devout Muslim and very kind to his friends and family.
14* AgeGapRomance: Oliver is in his thirties and Rosamund is initially only seventeen.
15* TheAtoner: Lionel, when he carries Oliver's message to Sir John.
16* AuctionOfEvil: Sir Oliver buys Rosamund at a slave auction.
17* BlueBlood: Sir John, Rosamund, and Peter. Oliver to a lesser degree - he was knighted for bravery, but isn't an hereditary noble.
18* TheCorruptible: Lionel.
19* DrivenToSuicide: At the auction, a Spanish slave-girl snatches a knife from her purchaser and kills herself. Rosamund attempts the same later, but is stopped.
20* FateWorseThanDeath: Being an oar-slave for Oliver. Later, for Rosamund: becoming part of Asad's harem.
21* {{Jerkass}}: Peter Godolphin constantly tries to pick a fight with Oliver.
22* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Sir John Kiligrew is initially very hostile towards Oliver for personal and financial reasons, but he does sincerely care for Rosamund and is able to admit when he's in the wrong.
23* JerkassRealization: After Oliver nearly kills him in a duel, Sir John concedes his words were out of line and driven more by his jealousy and apologizes.
24* MadeASlave: Oliver [[spoiler:and, later, Lionel and Rosamund.]]
25* MamaBear: Fenzileh will do ''anything'' to advance Marzak's future.
26* ParentalMarriageVeto: Rosamund's guardians forbid her to marry Oliver. She merely plans to wait until she is of age and ignore them.
27* ParentalSubstitute: Oliver for Lionel, which makes Lionel's betrayal hurt even more. Peter Godolphin and Sir John Killigrew for Rosamund--her elder brother and guardian, respectively.
28* {{Pirate}}: Jasper, Oliver, and Asad are all corsairs.
29* PragmaticVillainy: Jasper is more than happy to take Sir Oliver back for a sum, since he'd get paid twice over.
30* PunchClockVillain: The pirate who was paid to kidnap Oliver by Lionel takes a liking to him, and offers to send him back. They are on their way home when they are both captured and enslaved by the Spanish. Later, the pirate goes to work for Oliver.
31* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Lionel is sent by his brother to swim to Sir John's ship and deliver his message. He winds up dying of hypothermia.
32* SinsOfTheFather: The wild and debauched career of Oliver and Lionel's father, Ralph Tresselian plays a role in the dislike Peter Godolphin and Sir John hold for Oliver.
33* SlaveGalley: Oliver is put to work as an oar-slave on a Spanish ship.
34* ATasteOfTheLash: Used on the oar-slaves aboard the Spanish galleon.
35* TortureAlwaysWorks: Happens to Lionel.
36* TheVamp: The nameless "woman from Malpas" whom Lionel kills Peter Godolphin for.
37* WhammyBid: At the slave auction, for Rosamund.
38* WrongfullyAccused: Oliver is falsely accused of Peter's murder. When Lionel has his older brother kidnapped by pirates, Oliver's disappearance is taken as proof that he was guilty.

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