established himself as a major figure in European fiction. The English translation of The Fencing Master, first published in Spanish in 1988, follows the critical success of The Flanders Panel and The Dumas Club. Contemplative, skilful, and--in a quiet way--melancholy, The Fencing Master is a foray into historical fiction: Perez-Reverte draws his figures against the background of a Madrid sweltering on the eve of Spain's September Revolution in 1868. Each of its eight chapters begins with an epigraph to the art which emerges as a way of interpreting the world through this novel: fencing. Jaime Astarloa, the master, has made fencing his life and legacy, and it's through his eyes--the eyes of a man who wants to resist the vulgar progress of 19th-century politics and passions--that the mystery, and tragedy, of the book unfold. It begins with a woman who wants to learn fencing--"At that moment, someone knocked at the door, and nothing would ever again be the same in the fencing master's life"--, a woman who draws Astarloa into a world of political and erotic intrigue which will test his art to the limit.--Vicky Lebeau
Advantages: Murder and Mystery in Modern Madrid Disadvantages: Historical drama is not everyones cup of tea
...based drama/mysteries are not my reading of choice and, had I not been given this book on recommendation I would never have considered it. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by ‘The Flanders Panel’ as it provided me with an unusual mixture of fact and fiction with which to solve a complex murder puzzle.
Admittedly I was unable to fully comprehend the history and the chess aspects of the story, having a shamefully limited knowledge of either subject, but this did not prevent me from enjoying the unfolding mystery and striving to expose the murderer before all was revealed.
ArturoPerez-Reverte has worked as a journalist and reporter specialising in coverage from the world’s most serious trouble spots. Turning his talents to novel writing, his books have been widely acclaimed, earning him recognition as one of Europe’s best...
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Advantages: A wide range of references Disadvantages: A wide range of references
...would not have read this book but for the urgings of friends who were similarly reading this, and wanted to compare notes. Thanks, guys!
Now, I must hasten to add at this point, I did find myself enjoying the book several times. I don't mind the digressions, but I found the attempts (subtle but there) to equate Corso with a Holmesian character unconvincing (and the attempts were subtle enough that Perez-Reverte could claim they aren't actually there). Apart from Holmes, he ignores most of English literature--when he talks of those who wrote in serial form, i.e, Stendahl et alia, he neglects those such as Dickens.
I would love to have the card catalogue Perez-Reverte was sitting next to as he wrote this; perhaps he used Amazon.com and other internet search engines to add that final irrelevant entry in each of the listings of books.
I am...
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Advantages: Entertaining novel with unusual backdrop Disadvantages: Not the author's best effort, a little predictable
...The Fencing Master was Perez-Reverte's first novel, which was first published in Spain under the title 'El maestro de esgrima' in 1998, and was published in the UK in 1999. Since this novel was published, Perez-Reverte has become one of Spain's bestselling authors.
The book is set in Madrid in 1868, and Spain is on the brink of revolution. Jaime Astarloa is a fencing master, reputedly the best fencing master in Madrid, and rapidly approaching old age. He is a fencing master of the old school who sees fencing as an art, yet most of Spain now see fencing as a sport, and pistols are becoming the weapon of the day. Jaime's life's work is the writing of his 'Treatise on the Art of Fencing' which, when published, would be one of the major works on the subject of fencing. However, Jaime believes that in order for the work...
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helpful 15.06.2006
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