The Heir From Calcutta is a purate adventure novel by Russian writer Robert Stillmark.
In the late 18th Century, young Frederick Riland, Viscount of Chancefield, Bolton, returns from Calcutta to claim his rights. His ship is raided by the pirates of Bernardito Luis, captain of The Black Arrow. Bernardito's first mate, Giacomo "Leopard" Grelli, seizes the chance of his life, disposes of Riland and takes on his identity as Viscont of Chancefield. Bernardito, seeing his former subordinate turn into a vicious and bloodthirsty aristocrat, devotes his life on exposing him and restoring the real heir.
This novel contains example of the following tropes:
- Anti-Hero: Bernardito isn't an angel, but he's an honorable man who fights for justice.
- Aristocrats Are Evil: The book contains numerous such examples, or else it probably wouldn't have been approves for print in the USSR. Notably, "Viscount Chancefield" engages in privateering, slave trade and genocide of native Africans and Americans. His second wife, Lady Hellen Stanford, is a calculating, cruel Femme Fatale who gladly assists her husband in all those things as long as she partakes in his wealth.
- Dashing Hispanic: Bernardito was one in his youth, as well as his son Diego most trusted sailor, Fernando Diaz. Grelli and his (kind of) brother-in-law Antonio Cenni are Dashing Italians.
- Identity Impersonator: Giacomo Grelli takes over the identity of Sir Frederick Riland and threatens his attourney into maintaining the ruse. It takes a whole generation to expose him.
- I Have Your Wife: Grelli keeps Emily Hardy, the real Sir Frederick's fiancée, as a hostage in a sham marriage. Later Bernardito turns the tables on him when he captures and raises his son.
- This Is My Name on Foreign:
- Grelli gets his name from British sailor Bartholomew Grelley who became his adoptive father whom the local Italians started calling Bartholomeo Grelli.
- One of the few people who don't outright adopt a new identity is one of Grelli's two closest friends, Giuseppe Lorano, who just becomes Joseph Lorne.
- Grelli's son was born Charles, but goes under a lot of other names, including "Carlos" and "Carlo".
- Those Two Guys: Grelli's closest friends, Giuseppe Lorano and Woodrow Craig, whom he met at war and formed a gang with. Onboard The Black Arrow, they served as a navigator and boatswain, respectively.
