Customer Reviews

Captain Alatriste

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I picked up Arturo Perez-Reverte's "Captain Alatriste" recently. I put another recent book down while I read the first couple of chapters, just to get a feel for the book. I ended up reading "Captain Alatriste" in virtually one sitting. The other book was placed on hold. I consider that high praise.

Captain Alatriste is set in Madrid, Spain in the early 17th-century. The Spanish Armada had already been defeated but Spain was still the world's greatest superpower. The Captain is recently home from fighting in Flanders in the Dutch war for independence from Spain. He has come home because of a serious wound that has left him unfit for the military. However, and like many of veterans of Spain's wars, he is fit enough to eke out a meager living as something of a gun, or sword, or knife for hire. He collects debts, avenges the honor of cuckolded husbands, and even kills for the right price. He is very good at his job.

The story is narrated by Inigo, the son of one of Alatriste's friends who died in combat while fighting alongside Alatriste. Inigo is sent to Madrid by his impoverished mother, to work for Alatriste. As Inigo notes with some irony, if the mother did not know how the Captain earned a living. The style of the narration is reminiscent of Watson's narratives in Sherlock Holmes.

The plot is rather simple and evokes memories of the plot lines of the swashbuckling books of yesteryear. Alatriste is summoned to meet with some mysterious, yet clearly influential people. He is hired to waylay two young British civilians on their way to Madrid. He receives conflicting information about the extent of the damage he is to inflict on the young men. Partnered up with a sinister accomplice the assault does not go according to plan. Alatriste is swiftly embroiled in the political intrigues that swirl around the Spanish royal court. Danger lurks everywhere. It would reveal too much of the plot to say much more but events careen rapidly until they reach the inevitable climax.

I think it fair to say that Reverte has not invented a new genre. Reverte honors the basic outlines of the romantic swashbuckling novel. A man of honor (and yes there is honor amongst hired guns) gets swept up, and almost swept awa in a sea of political intrigue. The corruption of the court and its courtiers is a given. In essence, the individual takes on a society that is morally bankrupt or rapidly on its way there. So although there is nothing uniquely new here, I think it also fair to say that Reverte does justice to the genre. The story is well written and fresh even if it follows a tried and true formula. Reverte does an excellent job making the streets, and street-life of 17th-century Madrid seem realistic. Reverte also has a flair for describing the changing status of Spain as a world power. He writes with clarity, of Spain's status (even after the Armada) or image to the world as the world's great superpower while conveying with great skills the internal corruption and decay that would soon topple Spain from those exalted heights.

Margaret Sayers Peden's translation seems very skillful. Captain Alatriste is filled with bits of poetry from Alatriste's group of friends. Poetry may be the most difficult work to translate while retaining the power of the words used in the original language. Yet the poems as translated by Pedens retain a certain gracefulness that is often lost in translation. This makes the book that much more satisfying to someone reading Reverte in English.

Captain Alatriste is a fast-paced enjoyable romp that can trace its literary heritage back to the likes Scaramouche, Captain Blood, and the Three Musketeers. It is a perfect book to read on a summer afternoon (or a winter evening for that matter).

A veteran of the Flemish Wars, the brave and gallant Captain Triste has now been reduced to hiring out his sword. In this first installment, the Captain, along with an Italian mercenary, has been hired by two masked men of obvious wealth and power to "scare" two Englishmen, and to steal their belongings -- especially all their papers and documents. But when the more powerful of the two masked men leaves the room, the Captain and the Italian are told that their actual orders are to kill the Englishmen. The new orders make no difference to the Italian, but this change in instruction makes the Captain uneasy, especially when they come from the President of the Holy Tribunal of the Inquisition, Fray Emilio Bocanegra. But the Captain has little choice: he needs the money and doesn't have the luxury of going against the wishes of the tribunal. On the night of the attack however, the behaviour of the Englishmen, makes the Captain realise that these Englishmen are not merely two ordinary travelers and he puts a halt to the whole thing, earning himself the enmity of the Italian and the tribunal. And once the identities of the Englishmen are revealed and their purpose for being in Spain, Captain Alatriste realises that he has put himself in the middle of court politics, that the likelihood of surviving this mess is slim and that his enemies, who think that he has betrayed them, implacable and deadly...

As has been already noted, Arturo Perez-Reverte's "Captain Alatriste" is for the reader who enjoys a good swashbuckling read that's deeply imbued with the history and spirit of early 17th century Spain. However, I'd have to say that it is not the most breathtakingly fast paced read, because things do sag a little about a third way from the end, as our whimsical narrator, Captain Alariste's page, Inigo Balboa, goes into great detail in order to give the reader an idea about the history, politics and culture of Spain in the 1600s. This, in itself, is not a detraction. But because it came right about the time when things picked up and became rather exciting and suspenseful, the break in the "action" in order to give a more vivid picture of Spain at that moment, felt like an intrusion. Which was a rather strange reaction for someone like me to have because I for one always appreciate it when an author takes the time and effort to paint in the historical realities of the moment. The problem was that "Captain Alatriste" is the first installment in a series of adventures, and it is a short novella. And because it is the first installment in a series of five adventures, the author spends quite a bit of time setting things up for future books -- the politics and intrigues of the period, as well as thumbnail sketches of the various characters who figure in this adventure, and who will obviously figure in the subsequent adventures. So that what actually occurs in "Captain Alatriste" is a very short accounting of how the gallant Captain manages to make so many enemies, and yet survives to fight another day. And as I noted all this is great fun and makes for very enthralling reading. However, the narrator's musings and ruminations do get in the way, especially when they come at the point where the Captain is about to face another attempt on his life, and all I wanted was to read on, instead of which I was treated to a few pages of stanzas from the period. And while this added to the charm of the novel, I found myself skimming these bits in order to get to the "action." All in all, however, "Captain Alatriste" was a very fantastic read, and one that I would recommend wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys heroic historical novels. I just cannot believe however, that I have to wait till January of 2006 to read the next Captain Alatriste installment!

This is a wonderful read for anyone who loves Dumas, Sabatini, and the rest of the swashbuckler canon. Perez-Reverte gives us all the classic elements: a devious political plot, a sword-swinging hero (hooray!), a few eminently slimy villains (boo!), and a colorful cast of minor characters.

There's also a terrific sense of mood and place. The tone is introspective--the narrator is an older man remembering his youth--and the wealth of detail makes seventeenth-century Spain spring vividly to life. The level of literary ability is unusually high; kudos to both the author and to the translator.

There are only two shortcomings in _Captain Alatriste_. First, our hero (the eponymous captain) is rather passive throughout the story. He lets events come to him, rather than taking an active part. Second, much of the book seems to be set-up for later volumes in the series. That's not wholly a bad thing; it certainly made me eager to read the next volume. But it does lend the book a faintly unfinished quality.

Those kvetches aside, I can heartily recommend _Captain Alatriste_ to anyone who likes swordfights, historical novels, or both. And if you don't . . . try it anyway. You might find yourself sucked in.

My first exposure to Arturo Perez-Reverte was "The Fencing Master" which I truly enjoyed and which was a deep, complex, moody, literate, five-star masterpiece. I was looking forward to reading Captain Alatriste, which was given to me as a gift, based upon my prior experience.

Captain Alatriste is an uninspired work that I found insulting on some levels. It was not of the same caliber as the Fencing Master, not even in the ball park. It felt to me as if Perez-Reverte has suddenly gone commercial and is just churning out a novel for a buck and trading upon his past success. Those whose first exposure to this author is this book will probably be questioning my judgement now thinking that this is an OK book. That may be true, but it is certainly not an inspired work, it is not a work of passion, and it shows none of the genius that I know this author is capable of. This book is extremely short, touts it's own upcoming sequel, and is a bare minimum effort from an author who could do much more. This book is a commercial sell-out designed to make a quick buck which is bad enough, but chopping the book in half and releasing it in installments so they can charge twice for what is really one novel really ticks me off. The foregoing comments aside I didn't actually find the book interesting enough to be interested in reading the next installment. There is much better historical fiction out there than this novel. I'd recommend Colleen McCullough or Owen Parry for starters.

Captain Alatriste is the swashbuckler Arturo Perez-Reverte wrote about Madrid a few years before the events in Three Musketeers, and it's also the book on which Viggo Mortensen's forthcoming movie is based. It's got plays by Lope, dastardly inquisitors, drunken duelists, disguised foreigners, deadly insults in the form of satirical poetry, mysterious 12-year-old beauties, and much more. Madrid and the times are as much characters as Diego Alatriste and his cronies and enemies. Still, even with all these with all these elements, my main reservation is that it's a bit too slim of a book to stand completely on its own.

Alatriste really feels like the opening chapter of a longer work--and, in fact there are already four or five other titles out, in Spanish. Perez-Reverte tells his story at a leisurely pace, filling a large percentage of the book with flashbacks and exposition and digressions, all told in the voice of Inigo Balboa, Alatriste's young ward. He succeeds in creating a real sense of place, bringing early 17th century Madrid to life without lingering too long on the details. Likewise with the Captain. And likewise with his friend Francisco Quevedo, who is based on the real-life poet, courtier, satirist, and general ne'er do well by the same name. And so with his landlady, the lovely Caridad La Lebrijana, an ex-whore (who is still a whore from time to time, for Alatriste, with whom she is desperately in love) the owner of the tavern The Turk's Head, which serves as Alatriste's base of operations.

The problem is, with all of this elegantly crafted exposition, and all these instantly appealing characters, there's really not all that much space for story. There are few brief plot points, a bare handful of duels, and a couple of interviews where Alatriste is called onto the carpet by people who could make him disappear. And that's pretty much it. Of all the great characters besides Alatriste, only Quevedo has more than a few lines.

Make no mistake, it's all well written, and it's a good, entertaining read, but there's really not much more plot here than it would take to fill a 90 minute movie, without cutting much out. That speaks well for the movie, perhaps, but it left me a little cold. I don't mind desultory storytelling, but I want that in a big book filled with enough plot to balance out the wistful reminiscence. Let's face it, in a book whose plot is undoubtedly an adventure, set in the time of, and even referring to, the Three Musketeers, readers want a few more reversals, a little more repartee, a touch more rodomontade--in short, more romp, more rollick. Okay, fine: this book doesn't strive for the same light tone as Dumas' do. It's more thoughtful, wistful. But still, a book whose basic plot is intrigue and adventure needs to have a certain amount of each to succeed, regardless of tone.

I suppose you have to look at this as the first expository book of the series, and hope that the other books combine to form a larger work that might satisfy this desire. Unfortunately, the English translations of the other books are scheduled to come out only one per year, so it's going to be ages until we can easily find out.

Speaking of the translation, I have to say that I wasn't particularly thrilled with the way Alatriste was Englished; other books by Perez-Reverte, such as The Club Dumas, have faired better. This is all the more ironic in that when I went to Perez-Reverte's recent appearance in NYC and asked him when the then-unreleased Alatriste was coming out, he said the problem was the translation. He began writing these books several years ago, but would never let them be released in English because he was never satisfied with the translations. I honestly believe that the current translation must owe more to the fact that there's a need for movie tie-in book sales than that the translation is particularly good. I've read parts of the original Spanish and read a French translation: both were better than this.

For those who don't know Arturo Perez-Reverte, he was a war correspondent who for twenty years covered Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans. The man has seen death upclose and knows how to write about it. He is also a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Language: the folks who decide how Spanish is to be written. The man knows how to write. Period.

The Captain himself is an anachronism: the embodiment of modern cynicism applied to Spain's neverending, pointless wars for religion, honor, or glory, of which Flanders was the most pointless. On the other hand, the author is trying to inmerse the reader in the baroque feel of the Siglo de Oro, Spain's Golden Century of literature: the age of Cervantes, Calderon de La Barca, and Quevedo (all of whom were also soldiers and the latter two in fact served in Flanders). If the writing feels wordy it is because Sr. Perez-Reverte wrote this book as if he was in the 17th century. He makes you feel as if you are not only there, but then.

I'm a native Spanish speaker and I read this book in the original Spanish. I consider myself a well-educated person and still I constantly had to look up words in the dictionary, the writing was so rich and elaborate. To translate this book into English must have been a monumental challenge which I couldn't begin to fathom. I do hope, however, readers are able to grasp how brilliantly this book lets us glimpse at 17th century Spain through a modern glass without revealing the glass is there at all.

I discovered Perez-Reverte a couple of years ago in the mystery section of the bookstore and have read everything I could get my hands on since. This is one is a little different. Still beautifully written but less suspenseful and more romantic. It is a character study of a macho mentality which I would not have believed I could be so in sympathy with; it explains the mindset behind the strong silent facade. It is also a bittersweet remembrance of Spain, as she begins her fall from power, and of a Spanish philosophy of life. True to the modern era, it is perhaps a more realistic and less swashbuckling, account of men with swords and capes who know how to use them. If you like historical fiction or Perez-Reverta, you should enjoy this. And we are promised more to come in the saga of Captain Alatriste.

The first 30 pages are very interesting. That next 200 were a chore to read.

I believe that the translation to English is the real problem with this novel. Though true to the spanish language I feel that the energy and vibrancy of the writing was lost in the specificity of meaning.

Avoid this version. Learn spanish and read the original, or wait for a better translation.

It's neither as deep nor as intricate as the author's other works, but, man, is it a lot of fun. To be sure, it is not entirely frivolous. It combines many of the elements that I thought made The Fencing Master a wonderful work. The title character is compelling, complicated, and likeable not just in spite of his flaws but because of them. Moreover, some of the classic Perez-Reverte elements are there, just in somewhat toned-down fashion. For example, the double entendre, more-than-meets-the-eye dialogue is well preserved in this translation. The walk-on cameos by/homages to luminaries like Lope de Vega and Diego Velazquez also are fun diversions in classic Perez-Reverte style.

I enjoyed most the complicated and heart-warming relationship between Inigo and the Captain, and also the climactic scene in the office of the "King's favorite," the Compte d'Olivares. The tension and dialogue in that scene had, I thought, perfect pitch. (Modest spoilers coming.) Perez-Reverte's efficiency with language is on full display in this scene. In one simple exchange, and just a few words, he is able to speak volumes about his hero. When the Count questions Alatriste about why, during the war, he defended against a mutiny the field marshall who was to have him hanged for a prior offense, Alatriste's one line answer doesn't merely help you understand him, it defines him. Similarly, I thought the pay-off line of this first installment -- "you are alive simply because you do not deserve to die" also struck the exact right chord, and told you who these men are and provided insight into the code by which they live.

I could not have enjoyed this novel more. I eagerly await future installments.

And I am happily awaiting the next installment.

I have been a fan of Perez-Reverte for years and like this fine author I am also a fan of swashbuckling fiction (Dumas, Sabitini etc) - so I was sold from the moment that I heard about this series.

To provide a simple overview, this series starts in the 1620's at the start of the reign of Phillip IV of France and details the adventures of Capitan Alatriste as told years later by the Capitan's young page. In the first story, the Capitan who is recovering from a wound received in the Flanders is approached to undertake a little brigandage/ murder in the street of Madrid. The story then traces the consequences when the assignment goes terribly wrong, largely due to Alatriste's sense of honour.

I have read some reviewers that have commented that Alatriste is a detached and reactive rather than proactive hero. I would respond that Alatriste's actions are perfectly understandable given his predicament - he is a very small player in a game which can affect the fate of nations. When playing in a game of that scale, surviving by itself is victory. I would also point out that it is the first book in a series and as such it is intended to establish the characters and the setting, and create a cast of villains and allies who will reappear and grow in coming stories.