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Captain Alatriste

Written by: Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Margaret Sayers Peden
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Publisher's Summary

Captain Alatriste is the story of a fictional 17th-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.
©2005 Arturo Perez-Reverte (P)2005 Penguin Audio and Books on Tape, Inc.
Historical Literary Fiction 17th Century
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What the critics say

"Splendidly paced and filled with a breathtaking but not overwhelming sense of the history and spirit of the age, this is popular entertainment at its best: the characters have weight and depth, the dialogue illuminates the action as it furthers the story, and the film-worthy plot is believable throughout." (Publishers Weekly)

“Pérez-Reverte’s moody, wounded semi-hero - part cantankerous mercenary, part man of honor in a roiling society of pomp, pistols, and provocation - is a whole-cloth invention out ofa17th-century Madrid that has led to a 21st-century literary phenomenon.... The clash and dash are thrilling; the swordplay is a bonus." (Entertainment Weekly)

“Equipped with a quick-witted, charismatic hero and much to provoke and goad him, Mr. Pérez-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.” (The New York Times)

What listeners say about Captain Alatriste

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Profile Image for Christian G. Cameron

Wonderful book!

A great book with an excellent reader. Thoroughly enjoyed it!. Am immediately buying the sequel 😊

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