Sabatini combined meticulous historical research with vivid storytelling, creating heroic protagonists and thrilling plots set against colorful backdrops. His breakthrough came with The Sea Hawk (1915), a tale of piracy and revenge. His greatest successes were Scaramouche (1921), following an idealistic young lawyer who joins the commedia dell'arte during the French Revolution, and Captain Blood (1922), the story of an unjustly enslaved physician turned pirate in the Caribbean. Both became international bestsellers and were adapted into famous films, as was The Black Swan (1932), another swashbuckling pirate adventure.
Other notable works include Bellarion the Fortunate (1926), Fortune's Fool (1923), St. Martin's Summer (1916), and Mistress Wilding (1917). Though his popularity waned after the 1930s, Sabatini remains a master of the swashbuckler genre, and his novels continue to enchant readers with their romance, wit, and adventure.