The Magnificent Savages [Paperback]

Fred Mustard Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1997

Justin Savage, the illegitimate son of a wealthy New York shipping magnate, escapes murder at the hands of his half-brother Sylvaner and, vowing revenge, begins an odyssey culminating in a showdown to determine which brother will rule the seas. Reprint. K. LJ. PW. "

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Swift clipper ships, bloodthirsty pirates and a devious Dowager Empress of China make for a vigorous historical adventure from the protean Stewart (Pomp and Circumstance, 1991). In 1851, 12-year-old Justin Savage, the adored illegitimate son of aging American shipping tycoon Nathaniel Savage, sets sail for China as a cabin boy on one of his father's clipper ships. Before the voyage is over, Justin will survive a plot to kill him by his jealous half-brother, Sylvaner; fall in love with Samantha Aspinall, a missionary's daughter; and be falsely accused of murder and put in chains. When Chinese pirates attack the ship, taking the passengers prisoner, Justin is chosen as a "toy" by their leader, the legendary female pirate Chang-mei. Before he reaches 17, Justin has married Chang-mei, fathered a daughter and become a pirate himself-specializing in plundering Sylvaner's ships. Impressed by the "barbarian's" unorthodox military talents, the Chinese Viceroy decides to send him to study at the British military academy of Sandhurst. In England, Justin reunites with a now-married Samantha, but the two are separated once again when Sylvaner arrives, determined to see Justin hanged for piracy. Forced to flee England, Justin takes refuge in Italy with Garibaldi's revolutionaries, eventually returning to China for further daring escapades. Stewart's customary storytelling flair doesn't flag in this rousing tale, which revels in melodramatic excess but bolsters it with lots of sturdy-and colorful-period detail.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the 1850s, the Savage family dominates the New York shipping industry with fast clipper ships that make runs to China. With the patriarch on his deathbed, the oldest brother, Sylvaner, arranges for the murder of his young, illegitimate half-brother, Justin, on Justin's first voyage to China as a cabin boy. Justin manages to survive the attack and so begins a life of adventure. He first falls in with Chinese pirates, eventually marrying the pirate queen, Chang-mei. Then, with the Taiping revolt in full force, Chinese officials send Justin to Europe to learn the art of modern warfare with Giuseppe Garibaldi. All the while, Sylvaner's insane jealousy continues to hound Justin. As an adult, Justin returns to the States determined to put an end to the breach between himself and Sylvaner. Stewart's (Pomp and Circumstance, LJ 4/1/91) unusual family saga, although somewhat implausible in parts, is well written and diverting and will appeal to readers of the genre. For large fiction collections.
-?Maria A. Perez-Stable, Western Michigan Univ. Libs., Kalamazoo
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Forge (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812567943
• ISBN-13: 978-0812567946
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,641,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Magnificent Savages, November 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magnificent Savages (Paperback)

I liked 'The Magnificent Savages' written by Fred Mustard Stewart. It was well written and entertaining. It takes you aboard clipper ships to Victorian England, Italy and China in the nineteenth century. There is adventure, romance, greed, drama, brother against brother, drug trade, Chinese warlords and even swash-buckling pirates, in this exciting book. I recommend the reading of this action-packed novel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars great information, very predictable plot, May 27, 2008

By 

Porcelain Monkey (St. Louis - The Hill) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magnificent Savages (Paperback)

could not finish book. I was captured by all the great factual information about sailing and the Chinese culture of the mid 1800's but as I was reading it I felt as if Mr Stewart was trying to make a story around this research. As the story unfolded, I found myself saying to myself, " yeah, I saw that coming" it has all the elements of a great tale, too bad it did not catch it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Magnificent Savages, November 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magnificent Savages (Paperback)

I liked 'The Magnificent Savages' written by Fred Mustard Stewart. It was well written and entertaining. It takes you aboard clipper ships to Victorian England, Italy and China in the nineteenth century. There is adventure, romance, greed, drama, brother against brother, drug trade, Chinese warlords and even swash-buckling pirates, in this exciting book. I recommend the reading of this action-packed novel.