I discovered this historical fiction series written by noted Spanish author Arturo Perez-Reverte several years ago when it appeared in America in translation. It follows the adventures of Captain Diego Alatriste and his young apprentice Inigo Balboa as they negotiate the perilous pathways of Seville, Madrid, Cadiz and the Netherlands in service of king and country in the early 1600s. In my ignorance of Spanish history, it took me several books to realize that the characters in these books are real, and that Perez-Reverte is mining Spanish archives for the incidents on which these books are based. One of Alatriste's companions was the noted poet, Don Francisco de Quevedo, and the books are peppered with quotes from his poetry, with a bonus selection of additional poetry related to the plot of the book included at the end. Who could ask for more in a book that combines cold steel, derring-do, political maneuvering, personal vendettas and culture in one neat package?
The King's Gold (#463) sees Diego Alatriste and Inigo Balboa returning from action in Flanders and Holland. No sooner are they disembarked at Cadiz when they are recruited for a secret mission to seize the contents of a ship returning with the King's Treasure Fleet from the New World. The problem is that this particular ship is known to be carrying gold and silver as an undeclared cargo. Who profits from such an enormous haul? Certainly not the king and his treasury, but a delicate balance must be maintained to restore the treasure to its rightful owner without upsetting the political applecart. Captain Alatriste is just the man for the job...
While on its surface, this is an adventure story, it also delves into the questions of loyalty and honor. To whom does Alatriste own his allegiance, and at what cost to his personal morals? Can he justify his duty when it requires sacrificing the lives of the poor to foster the ambitious of the greedy few? It's amazing how these issues still resonate in today's world. Who is clean and who is not? These stories are highly recommended.
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