The Adventurers

As a young boy, Diogenes Alejandro Xenos —“Dax”—witnesses the brutal rape and murder of his mother and sister by government troops—experiencing the drama of revolution, loss, and tragedy firsthand. He is sent to Europe by the victorious rebel leader to rebuild his country’s diplomatic and financial status post-revolution, and is immediately thrown into the elite environment of Europe’s jet set society of international bankers and diplomats.

Outwardly, Dax lives a life of privilege as one of the continent’s most sought-after, hedonistic playboys—wanted by men and women alike. Inside, however, he channels his fear, anger, and hatred for the new regime, which he realizes is as corrupt as the old, into a desire to disrupt the status quo. Once a favorite of the general-turned-dictator, Dax quickly becomes an outlaw in his own country, living on the fringes as a rebel hellbent on a new revolution.

This epic tale of escape from the horrors of the  third world is one of Harold Robbins' most ambitious novels, combining his trademark sensuality with political intrigue, exotic locales, and themes that never seem to change—political intrigue, greed, power, violence, betrayal. It also introduces us to one of the most memorable and intriguing literary characters of all time in Dax Xenos, a flawed and complicated hero who reminds us that even monumental figures of history are, above all else, simply human. Today, The Adventurers is proof positive that Robbins’ lifelike characters and compelling prose still has the power to surprise, titillate, and move readers.