Captain Alatriste (W&N Fiction 2005) - Hardcover

Perez-Reverte, Arturo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0297848461 ISBN 13: 9780297848462

Publisher: W&N, 2005

Synopsis

Perez-Reverte wrote the Captain Alatriste seies as a homage to the adventure books that had been his own initiation into the world of reading as a boy - books such as Dumas's The Three Musketeers.

Captain Alatriste is a swordsman for hire in Spain in the 1620s - a time when Court intrigue was high and the decadent young king had dragged the country into a series of disastrous wars. As a hired 'blade', Alatriste becomes involved in many political plots and must live by his wits. He comes face to face with hired assassins, court players, political moles, smugglers, pirates and of course, the infamous Spanish Inquisition...

All the stories are told by Inigo Balboa, Alatriste's young page. The cast of characters also includes Quevedo, an irrepressible subversive poet who likes to start fights in the local tavern, the kind-hearted innkeeper and ex-prostitute who shares Alatriste's bed, the elegant Count of Guadalmedina, the beautiful but deadly Angelica de Alquezar, and a whole host of underworld figures.

About this title

Review:

Perez-Reverte is very good at evoking the atmosphere of a teeming, corrupt and jaded Madrid...He is also superb at the precisely choreographed sword fights... (Toby Clements TELEGRAPH (23.7.05))

'A powerful cross between Zorro and D'Artagnan...this should be massive'. (THE BOOKSELLER (8.4.05))

...relaxed literary fun with pastiches of the verified combat of poets in rumbustious alehouses, and walk-on parts for such luminaries as Lope de Vega...a very high class entertainment. (Steven Poole THE GUARDIAN (30.7.05))

If it's swashbuckling escapism that you crave lounging beside the pool, Captain Alatriste is your man. A hired blade in 17th- century Spain, he cuts between an underworld peopled by pirates, assassins and smugglers, and a Royal Court that's abuzz with perilous plots. Trailing him is Inigo Balboa, his page and our narrator, who relates with relish the captain's sword-slinging adventures. (Hephzibah Anderson BLOOMBERG.COM)

There are all the elements required for a stirring and elegantly written adventure, including a lively collection of characters whom I look forward to meeting again. (Susanna Yager SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (14.8.05))

Splendid swashbuckler set in 1620 Madrid...Rousing adventure recounted with relish by young Inigo, the captain's page, whose knowledge of troubles yet to come gives his narrative both depth and poignancy. Alatriste's adventures have already sold millions on the Continent and this is the first of five to be published here. Warmly recommended. Escapism to stir the heart. (LITERARY REVIEW (October 2005))

A tale as timeless as an Errol Flynn movie. (GOOD BOOK GUIDE)

Book Description:

A swashbuckling new adventure series starring the Spanish D'Artagnan - from international bestseller Arturo Perez-Reverte

About this edition

• Publisher: W&N
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0297848461
• ISBN 13: 9780297848462
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240