Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Unjust Condemnation
Irish doctor Peter Blood is wrongfully convicted of treason and sentenced to death, only to be transported to the Caribbean as a slave.
Key Events
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Blood Arrested — Blood arrested while treating Lord Gildoy Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Lord Gildoy, Lord Jeffreys
Location: England
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Treason Conviction — Blood convicted of treason against King James Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Lord Jeffreys
Location: English Court
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Transported to Caribbean — Blood and rebels sold as slaves Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt
Location: Slave Ship
Caribbean Captivity
Blood is purchased by Arabella Bishop and works as a physician while secretly planning an escape with fellow prisoners.
Key Events
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Transported to Caribbean — Blood and rebels sold as slaves Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt
Location: Slave Ship
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Purchased by Arabella — Blood bought by Arabella Bishop Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop, Col. Bishop
Location: Port Royal
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Recommended as Physician — Arabella recommends Blood to treat Governor Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop, Governor Steed
Location: Port Royal
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Escape Plan Formed — Blood devises plan to escape with fellow prisoners Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt
Location: Port Royal
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Pitt Flogged — Bishop has Pitt flogged for questioning Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Col. Bishop
Location: Port Royal
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Spanish Attack — Spanish ship attacks Port Royal Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Col. Bishop
Location: Port Royal Harbor
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Seize Spanish Ship — Blood and prisoners capture Spanish vessel Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Wolverstone
Location: Spanish Ship
Escape to Freedom
Blood and his fellow prisoners seize a Spanish ship during an attack and begin new lives as pirates in the Caribbean.
Key Events
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Seize Spanish Ship — Blood and prisoners capture Spanish vessel Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Wolverstone
Location: Spanish Ship
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Pirate Captain — Blood becomes feared pirate captain Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Wolverstone
Location: Caribbean
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Arabella Captured — Levasseur captures Arabella's ship Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop, Captain Levasseur, Lord Willoughby
Location: Caribbean
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Duel with Levasseur — Blood kills Levasseur in duel Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Captain Levasseur, Arabella Bishop
Location: Pirate Ship
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Arabella Rejected — Arabella refuses Blood's advances Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop
Location: Pirate Ship
Love and Betrayal
Blood's complicated relationship with Arabella intensifies when he rescues her from a rival pirate, only to be rejected.
Key Events
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Arabella Rejected — Arabella refuses Blood's advances Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop
Location: Pirate Ship
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French Attack — French ships attack undefended Port Royal Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop, Lord Willoughby, Col. Bishop
Location: Port Royal
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Royal Pardon Offer — Willoughby offers pardons to Blood and crew Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Lord Willoughby
Location: Pirate Ship
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Battle French Ships — Blood and crew defeat French warships Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Wolverstone
Location: Caribbean
Royal Pardon
Blood accepts a royal pardon to fight French ships attacking Port Royal, is appointed governor, and finally reunites with Arabella.
Key Events
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Battle French Ships — Blood and crew defeat French warships Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Jeremy Pitt, Wolverstone
Location: Caribbean
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Appointed Governor — Blood appointed new governor of Port Royal Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Lord Willoughby, Arabella Bishop
Location: Port Royal
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Arabella's Confession — Arabella confesses her love for Blood Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Arabella Bishop
Location: Port Royal
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Identity Revealed — Blood reveals he is Bishop's nephew Characters: Capt. Peter Blood, Col. Bishop, Arabella Bishop
Location: Port Royal
Young Irish physician Peter Blood is exiled as a slave to Barbados, where he and his friend Jeremy are purchased by Colonel Bishop at the behest of his niece Arabella. With other slaves he captures a Spanish galleon and becomes the terror of the Caribbean privateers until offered a commission in the English Navy. He defeats the French at Port Royal, and as a reward he is named governor of Jamaica and marries Arabella.