“Don Francisco de Quevedo me dirigió una mirada que interpreté como era debido, pues fui detrás del capitán Alatriste. Avísame si hay problemas, habían dicho sus ojos tras los lentes quevedescos. Dos aceros hacen más papel que uno. Y así, consciente de mi responsabilidad, acomodé la daga de misericordia que llevaba atravesada al cinto y fui en pos de mi amo, discreto como un ratón, confiando en que esta vez pudiéramos terminar la comedia sin estocadas y en paz, pues habría sido bellaca afrenta estropearle el estreno a Tirso de Molina. Yo estaba lejos de imaginar hasta qué punto la bellísima actriz María de Castro iba a complicar mi vida y la del capitán, poniéndonos a ambos en gravísimo peligro; por no hablar de la corona del rey Felipe IV, que esos días anduvo literalmente al filo de una espada. Todo lo cual me propongo contar en esta nueva aventura, probando así que no hay locura a la que el hombre no llegue, abismo al que no se asome, y lance que el diablo no aproveche cuando hay mujer hermosa de por medio.” La nueva novela del capitán Alatriste se desarrolla en el mundo de los corrales de comedias del Madrid del XVII. Cruzándose con viejos amigos y viejos enemigos, y con los personajes famosos de la época, como Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca y el capitán Alonso de Contreras, Diego Alatriste e Íñigo Balboa se enfrentarán a una conspiración en la corte de Felipe IV. Lances, estocadas, intrigas palaciegas y aventuras amorosas salpican un relato de acción trepidante.Lo arriba referido es lo que leemos en la parte trasera del libro publicado por Reverte, en la que hasta la fecha es la última aventura, la quinta del Capitán Alatriste e Iñigo Balboa. En este libro Reverte nos mantiene entretenidos de principio a fin. Emplea un rico lenguaje, maneja e introduce los datos históricos justos para evitar que el libro se haga árido. En este libro hay traiciones, amores palaciegos, engaños, emboscadas, todo ello acontece en Madrid, a lo largo del siglo XVII. Asistimos embobados a los quehaceres de los grandes de la literatura de la época, estamos codo con codo, incluso sentimos la respiración de personajes ilustres como Quevedo, Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca. Somos testigos de las rencillas, odios velados y amores sin condiciones que se profesan la flor y nata de las letras hispánicas. Madrid es un lugar siniestro, peligroso, de calles oscuras donde se suceden las emboscadas, en muchos casos fatales, en donde impera la ley del más fuerte o del mejor enterado, un lugar donde Gualterio Malatesta sigue incomodando a Alatriste, tendiéndole trampas, queriendo implicarles en conspiraciones de altos vuelos. Sabemos que Alatriste va a morir, no ocurre en esta quinta entrega, pero el autor ya lo deja caer. Entendemos pues que Iñigo Balboa tomará el testigo del Capitán y seran suyos los ojos a través de los cuales vivamos las nuevas aventuras que Reverte nos tiene preparadas. Además Iñigo coge de la mano a su idolatrado capitán, y lo bajo del pedestal en el que lo tenía, incluso en alguna ocasión se ve obligado a pararle los pies, cuando los sólidos principios de su capitán comienzan a desquebrajarse.El caballlero del jubón amarillo es un libro estupendo, divertido, de rica prosa, que engancha y nos hace vivir como si estuviéramos presentes las aventuras y desventuras de Alastriste, Iñigo, Quevedo…
Arturo Pérez-Reverte fills this fifth Captain Alatriste / Íñigo Balboa novel with the literary ambience of sixteenth century Madrid, less with the swashbuckling action that made earlier Alatriste novels happy exciting reads. As the title suggests, the King plays a central role in the regicide plot. The womanizing Phillip IV becomes Alatriste's rival for the same woman, putting the Captain on the collision course plot that ends well, but by the skin of his teeth.Sadly, the novel bogs down after the first swordfight in the opening pages, but picks up as now-16 year old Balboa accompanies playwright Francisco de Quevedo into the royal apartments, as the artist's scribe. There, Íñigo finally enjoys the pleasures of his scheming paramour and maid-in-waiting to the Queen, Angélica de Alquézar, along with her dagger in his back. Love hurts, the young man learns.The evil nemesis Gualterio Malatesta returns to the scene, first escaping Alatriste's hands, later capturing Alatriste intending to toss the soldier to the Inquisition's chief torturer and frame the Captain as regicide.Readers familiar with Arturo Pérez-Reverte's earlier works will enjoy the character development of storyteller Balboa. A homeless ruffian, boy-soldier, his master Alatriste ensures the boy takes a classical education at the feet of acknowledged literary lions, hence these novels, told by an aged Íñigo decades past the events of the novels.Those not yet acquainted with Pérez-Reverte's Golden Age of Spain novels owe themselves a treat by reading the series in any sequence. Each comprises a stand-alone story, with Balboa's narration linking elements from earlier and, presumably, future tales. In the current volume, Margaret Jull Costa proffers an outstanding translation that reads smoothly absent cultural lacunae that mar so many translated-from works.
Do You like book El Caballero Del Jubón Amarillo (2005)?
This is a great addition to the Captain Alatriste series. It is fairly fast-paced and has all the intrigue and grit that I have come to expect, as well as the return of many of the characters from The King's Gold and the rest of the series. Although it took me awhile to get through The Sun Over Breda and I couldn't imagine how the author could top The King's Gold without getting overly dramatic or even silly, this book exceeded my expectations and is probably my favorite of the series, with the exception of the first book of course. I can't wait to read the next one.
—Allissa
Translated by Margaret Jull Costa. The fifth Captain Alatriste novel. The Captain and his young (but now rather handy with a blade) ward Inigo are in Madrid, walking a tightrope between their strict standards of honor and their rather lowly status among the pomp, poetry, and provocation of that city’s many cavaliers and officials. Alatriste begins an affair with a famous and beautiful actress, María Castro (whose husband serves as some sort of half-jocular, half-bitter pimp), but is warned to stay away, as her favors are being enjoyed by none other than the king himself. The Captain, of course, cannot be told what to do, and alienates friends and enemies alike by continuing to see the actress. This, unfortunately, makes him the perfect patsy for a plot against the royal wastrel – and when Alatriste’s old enemy, the Italian mercenary Malatesta, pops up, they both know one of them must die at the hands of the other.This is a superb historical novel, perhaps the best in the series. The vanity of the swordsmen for a decaying empire, duels over one wrong glance, strict adherence to considerations of honor, pageantry, assignations, plays, poets whose stars rise and fall at the whims of the court: this is Perez-Reverte’s 17th century Madrid, in all its gritty cinematic glory. The suspense is masterful, with Alatriste and Inigo both independently betrayed by their foolish pride or love, and racing, swords in hand, against a very short deadline separately but toward the same goal. Alatriste is not at all what the modern reader would think a hero – he’s a tired cynical old killer with no fear of death and his every action is mandated by his sense of pride and honor, not fairness or magnanimity – but he has a shred of sympathy for those over their heads and a few sparks of love in him, and that makes him a complex, fascinating figure. He’s the perfect centerpiece for these thrilling, swashbuckling adventures of a grittier, prouder time.
—Ensiform
[9/10] great addition to the Alatriste Saga. This volume started a little slow with the first half focused on the Madrid cultural scene and setting up the pieces for the drama about to unfold. The second half made up for the leisure pace of the beginning with emotional intensity ramped up and actual cloak and dagger duels. The first person narrator - the young page Inigo Balboa - made me think of the Arthurian knight from Bernard Cornwell Warlord Chronicles: a very old soldier recalling his youthfull adventures and the strong personality that marked his life. Alatriste remains the swordmaster of little words and great courage and Perez-Reverte uses the novel to paint a vivid fresco of Spanish Era de Oro.on a side note : I skipped some volumes in the series due to my fumbling of library requests, but reading the fifth book after the first was not really a problem - the plot is self-contained and various references to events in previous books are not really spoilerish. I think this is deliberate on the part of the author, to plan the books so you can jump in at any point.
—Algernon
