The Historical Nights' Entertainment First Series By Rafael Sabatini PREFACE In approaching "The Historical Nights' Entertainment" I set myself the task of reconstructing, in the fullest possible detail and with all the colour available from surviving records, a group of more or less famous events. I would select for my purpose those which were in themselves bizarre and resulting from the interplay of human passions, and whilst relating each of these events in the form of a story, I would compel that story scrupulously to ...
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The Historical Nights' Entertainment First Series By Rafael Sabatini PREFACE In approaching "The Historical Nights' Entertainment" I set myself the task of reconstructing, in the fullest possible detail and with all the colour available from surviving records, a group of more or less famous events. I would select for my purpose those which were in themselves bizarre and resulting from the interplay of human passions, and whilst relating each of these events in the form of a story, I would compel that story scrupulously to follow the actual, recorded facts without owing anything to fiction, and I would draw upon my imagination, if at all, merely as one might employ colour to fill in the outlines which history leaves grey, taking care that my colour should be as true to nature as possible. For dialogue I would depend upon such scraps of actual speech as were chronicled in each case, amplifying it by translating into terms of speech the paraphrases of contemporary chroniclers. Such was the task I set myself. I am aware that it has been attempted once or twice already, beginning, perhaps, with the "Crimes Celebres" of Alexandre Dumas. I am not aware that the attempt has ever succeeded. This is not to say that I claim success in the essays that follow. How nearly I may have approached success-judged by the standard I had set myself-how far I may have fallen short, my readers will discern. I am conscious, however, of having in the main dutifully resisted the temptation to take the easier road, to break away from restricting fact for the sake of achieving a more intriguing narrative. In one instance, however, I have quite deliberately failed, and in some others I have permitted myself certain speculations to resolve mysteries of which no explanation has been discovered. Of these it is necessary that I should make a full confession. My deliberate failure is "The Night of Nuptials." I discovered an allusion to the case of Charles the Bold and Sapphira Danvelt in Macaulay's "History of England"-quoted from an old number of the "Spectator"-whilst I was working upon the case of Lady Alice Lisle. There a similar episode is mentioned as being related of Colonel Kirke, but discredited because known for a story that has a trick of springing up to attach itself to unscrupulous captains. I set out to track it to its source, and having found its first appearance to be in connection with Charles the Bold's German captain Rhynsault, I attempted to reconstruct the event as it might have happened, setting it at least in surroundings of solid fact. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.
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Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series to cart. $5.62, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2015 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment. First Series to cart. $14.60, good condition, Sold by Cardinalis Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from London, ON, CANADA, published by Toronto: Thomas Allen.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series to cart. $15.04, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2022 by Bibliotech Press.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series to cart. $15.98, good condition, Sold by Booksavers of Virginia rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Harrisonburg, VA, UNITED STATES, published 1917 by Houghton Mifflin.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series to cart. $20.57, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2022 by Legare Street Press.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment, First Series to cart. $21.13, very good condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 1928 by Hutchinson.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series to cart. $21.62, good condition, Sold by M Godding Books Ltd rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Devizes, WILTS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1925 by Hutchinson.
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Seller's Description:
Good. No Jacket. Size: 19 to 25 cm tall, Octavo, (8vo); Undated, circa 1920's. Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Robust recyclable packaging.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series to cart. $24.25, good condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 1925 by Hutchinson.
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Seller's Description:
Used-Good. Good hardback (no dust jacket) Undated re-issue; owner's name dated 11-10-25 on front pastedown. Free end papers lightly yellowed; a few spots of foxing; spine a little faded, with minor loss of colour on back board.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment: First Series and to cart. $24.95, very good condition, Sold by Peninsula Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Traverse City, MI, UNITED STATES, published by Houghton, Mifflin No Date.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. "I would select for my purpose...more or less famous events...which were in themselves bizarre and resulting from the interplay of human passions." This two volume set contains both the first & second series. First published in 1917, this is the American edition which has an internal 1919 date. Contains historical stories of true crime, etc. Contents clean tight and bright (pencil note on end paper). "To this edition...are three stories originally published under "The Justice of the Duke." 2 volumes. Previous owner name in pencil dated 1924. Original red cloth bindings with gilt decorations, spines sunned, lettering dull but still legible. No internal or external markings.; Frontis Portraits; 8vo 8"-9" tall.
Add this copy of The Historical Nights' Entertainment First Series to cart. $25.00, very good condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1917 by Houghton Mifflin.