Library Journal, starred review, April 1, 2005
Captain Alatriste's powerful personality fairly radiates from the page. Highly recommended.

Book Description
The first in a magnificent series of historical novels from the acclaimed, bestselling author of The Club Dumas and The Queen of the South.

Captain Alatriste is the story of a fictional seventeenth-century Spanish soldier who, after being wounded in battle during the Thirty Years' War, is forced to retire from the army. Now he lives the comparatively tame-though hardly quiet-life of a swordsman-for-hire in Madrid. Approached with an offer of work, Alatriste is told to go with another hired blade to an unfamiliar part of the city at midnight and wait. They are received by men who explain that they want Alatriste and his companion to ambush two travelers the following evening, stage a robbery, and give the men a fright. "No blood," they are told.

But then a third figure enters the room. He says the job requires some clarification: he increases the pay, and tells them that, instead, they must murder the two travelers. Then he reveals his identity: Emilio Bocanegra. It is a name synonymous with the Spanish Inquisition, the bloodiest name in Europe. This is a man whose requests cannot be denied.

But the following night, with the attack imminent, it becomes clear to Alatriste that these aren't ordinary travelers. And what happens next is only the first in a series of riveting twists and turns, with implications that will reverberate throughout the courts of Europe.

For anyone who loves the work of Arturo Pirez-Reverte-and those who have not yet discovered the delights of this extraordinary writer-Captain Alatriste is one of the most stylish, singular pleasures to come along in years.

About the Author
Arturo Perez-Reverte lives near Madrid. Originally a war correspondent, he now writes fiction full-time. His novels include The Flanders Panel, The Club Dumas, The Fencing Master, The Seville Communion, The Nautical Chart, and The Queen of the South. In 2002, he was elected to the Spanish Royal Academy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The first in a magnificent series of historical novels from the acclaimed, bestselling author of The Club Dumas and The Queen of the South.

The novels of Arturo Pérez-Reverte have captivated readers around the world and earned him a reputation as "the master of the intellectual thriller" (Chicago Tribune). His books have been published in fifty countries and translated into twenty-eight languages. His most recent novel, The Queen of the South, was a commercial and critical triumph hailed as "an epic suspense story of heart and grit" (Entertainment Weekly). Now, beginning with Captain Alatriste, comes Pérez-Reverte's most stunning creation to date: a riveting series of historical novels featuring an iconic hero.

Captain Alatriste is the story of a fictional seventeenth-century Spanish soldier who, after being wounded in battle during the Thirty Years' War, is forced to retire from the army. Now he lives the comparatively tame-though hardly quiet-life of a swordsman-for-hire in Madrid. Approached with an offer of work, Alatriste is told to go with another hired blade to an unfamiliar part of the city at midnight and wait. They are received by men who explain that they want Alatriste and his companion to ambush two travelers the following evening, stage a robbery, and give the men a fright. "No blood,"they are told.

But then a third figure enters the room. He says the job requires some clarification: he increases the pay, and tells them that, instead, they must murder the two travelers. Then he reveals his identity:Emilio Bocanegra. It is a name synonymous with the Spanish Inquisition, the bloodiest name in Europe. This is a man whose requests cannot be denied.

But the following night, with the attack imminent, it becomes clear to Alatriste that these aren't ordinary travelers. And what happens next is only the first in a series of riveting twists and turns, with implications that will reverberate throughout the courts of Europe. For anyone who loves the work of Arturo Pérez-Reverte-and those who have not yet discovered the delights of this extraordinary writer-Captain Alatriste is one of the most stylish, singular pleasures to come along in years.

Author Biography: Arturo Perez-Reverte lives near Madrid. Originally a war correspondent, he now writes fiction full-time. His novels include The Flanders Panel, The Club Dumas, The Fencing Master, The Seville Communion, The Nautical Chart, and The Queen of the South. In 2002, he was elected to the Spanish Royal Academy.

FROM THE CRITICS

Janet Maslin - The New York Times

Equipped with a quick-witted, charismatic hero and much to provoke and goad him, Mr. P￯﾿ﾽrez-Reverte has the makings of a flamboyantly entertaining series. Captain Alatriste ends with a wicked flourish, an evil laugh and a strong likelihood that the best is yet to come.

Library Journal