The Sea Hawk is a novel by Rafael Sabatini.
Betrayed 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.
This was one of the three novels (along with Captain Blood: His Odyssey and Scaramouche) that launched Sabatini's success. It was adapted to film twice (in 1924, starring Milton Sills; and, more famously but much less faithfully, in 1940, starring Errol Flynn), but like most Sabatini novels it has lost much of its popularity.
The book provides examples of:
- Affably Evil: Asad, for all that he is a ruthless corsair, is a devout Muslim and very kind to his friends and family.
- Age-Gap Romance: Oliver is in his thirties and Rosamund is initially only seventeen.
- The Atoner: Lionel, when he carries Oliver's message to Sir John.
- Auction of Evil: Sir Oliver buys Rosamund at a slave auction.
- Blue Blood: Sir John, Rosamund, and Peter. Oliver to a lesser degree - he was knighted for bravery, but isn't an hereditary noble.
- The Corruptible: Lionel.
- Driven to Suicide: At the auction, a Spanish slave-girl snatches a knife from her purchaser and kills herself. Rosamund attempts the same later, but is stopped.
- Fate Worse than Death: Being an oar-slave for Oliver. Later, for Rosamund: becoming part of Asad's harem.
- Jerkass: Peter Godolphin constantly tries to pick a fight with Oliver.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: 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.
- Jerkass Realization: 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.
- Made a Slave: Oliver and, later, Lionel and Rosamund.
- Mama Bear: Fenzileh will do anything to advance Marzak's future.
- Parental Marriage Veto: Rosamund's guardians forbid her to marry Oliver. She merely plans to wait until she is of age and ignore them.
- Parental Substitute: 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.
- Pirate: Jasper, Oliver, and Asad are all corsairs.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Jasper is more than happy to take Sir Oliver back for a sum, since he'd get paid twice over.
- Punch-Clock Villain: 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.
- Redemption Equals Death: Lionel is sent by his brother to swim to Sir John's ship and deliver his message. He winds up dying of hypothermia.
- Sins of the Father: 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.
- Slave Galley: Oliver is put to work as an oar-slave on a Spanish ship.
- A Taste of the Lash: Used on the oar-slaves aboard the Spanish galleon.
- Torture Always Works: Happens to Lionel.
- The Vamp: The nameless "woman from Malpas" whom Lionel kills Peter Godolphin for.
- Whammy Bid: At the slave auction, for Rosamund.
- Wrongfully Accused: 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.
