The Saracen Blade

''The Saracen Blade'' is the very memorable historical adventure novel by Frank Yerby that follows the life of Pietro di Donati, a 13th-century Sicilian peasant. Pietro rises from his humble origins to become a powerful nobleman. The story begins with Pietro seeking revenge against the Siniscola family for the murder of his father during a peasant revolt. Pietro's adventures span across medieval Europe and the Middle East, with backdrops that include the Albigensian Crusade and the Children's Crusade.
He experiences jousting, warfare, and even slavery before eventually becoming a baron. True to Yerby's formula, the protagonist is torn between two women: the high-born and disdainful Elaineand the more serene and devoted Iolanthe. While primarily an adventure, the book explores themes of faith and challenges medieval (and by extension, modern) social constructs like class and race.