Captain Alatriste

This article is about the novels. For the film, see Alatriste.
Diego Alatriste y Tenorio
Created by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Information
Nickname(s) Captain Alatriste
Gender Male
Occupation Soldier and Swordsman
Title "Captain"
Significant other(s)

Caridad la Lebrijana, Tavern Keeper and

Former Prostitute
Nationality Spanish

Captain Alatriste (Spanish: El capitán Alatriste, fully titled Las aventuras del capitán Alatriste) is a series of novels by Spanish author Arturo Pérez-Reverte. It deals with the adventures of the title character, a Spanish soldier and man of fortune living in the 17th century.

Series

La rendición de Breda (1634-1635, English: The Surrender of Breda) was inspired by Velázquez's first visit to Italy, in which he accompanied Ambrosio Spinola, who had conquered the Dutch city of Breda a few years prior. This masterwork depicts a transfer of the key to the city from the Dutch to the Spanish army during the Siege of Breda. According to the third novel, Alatriste is in the group on the right, behind the horse.
  1. El capitán Alatriste ("Captain Alatriste", 1996; UK & USA 2005): In 1623, Diego Alatriste and Italian sword-for-hire Gualterio Malatesta are paid by two mysterious masked characters to kill a pair of unknown English visitors in Madrid as news reaches the city that the Spanish siege of Bergen-op-Zoom has been repelled.
  2. Limpieza de sangre ("Purity of Blood", 1997; UK & USA 2006): Madrid, 1623. A woman is found murdered in front of a church. Later, Quevedo seeks help from Alatriste to rescue a girl forced to enter a convent; meanwhile Alatriste's young squire Íñigo Balboa deepens his infatuation with the adolescent maidservant of the Queen, Angélica de Alquézar.
  3. El sol de Breda ("The Sun over Breda", 1998; UK & USA, 2007): Spanish Netherlands, 1624–1625. Alatriste and Íñigo join the Spanish Army and fight in the war against Dutch rebels, in particular the siege of Breda.
  4. El oro del Rey ("The King's Gold", 2000; USA 2008): Seville, 1626. After their participation in the Flanders War, Alatriste and Íñigo return to Spain, where they become involved in an affair involving a ship full of contraband gold newly arrived from the Indies.
  5. El caballero del jubón amarillo ("The Cavalier in the Yellow Doublet" 2003; UK & USA, 2009): Back in Madrid, Alatriste initiates a relationship with the famous actress María de Castro. However, he will encounter a rival for her affections amidst new intrigues at Court.
  6. Corsarios de Levante ("Pirates of the Levant" 2006; UK & USA 2010): Alatriste and Íñigo go through different adventures along the Mediterranean coast, from Southern Spain to Turkey.
  7. El puente de los asesinos ("The Bridge of the Assassins", 2011)

Projected novels, according to the book sleeves:

A movie based on the series, titled Alatriste, was released on September 1, 2006, directed by Agustín Díaz Yanes and starring Viggo Mortensen.

The series started as Pérez-Reverte was disappointed with the lack of treatment of the history of the Spanish Golden Age in the school textbook of his teenage daughter Carlota. He commissioned Carlota to gather documentation for him (hence, she is billed as co-author of the first novel) and developed the stories. Pérez-Reverte is influenced by the works of many novelists, in particular 19th-century writers like Alexandre Dumas, and his D'Artagnan Romances. He also applies the dark tone of his experiences as a war reporter.

The period settings allow him to insert references to the authors (including Lope de Vega and Cervantes)and artists (including Diego Velázquez) read and appreciated at the time, one of the most important in Spanish history. He reflects on Spain and the Spaniards as a united people who, in spite of being at war with all the major European powers, are capable of showing bravery and honour.

List of main characters

External links