It's one of the books I was able to read in 2020. Written by Arturo Perez Reverte, a Spaniard dedicated to writing and journalism. It should be note that he is also a member of the Royal Spanish Academy since 2003. He is an author who stands out for the historical armed conflicts he introduces in his books.
What is it about?
Let's begin. Captain Alastriste, is a fictional novel set in 17th century Spain. It's the first installment of a collection for young readers.
In it, we will meet a soldier who has been retired from his job for a long time, who sometimes works as a mercenary to survive. Like any story, the life of this character will change when he takes the tutorship of Iñigo Balboa, a boy who will witness the acts of bravery and courage that the captain unravels.
What does it communicate?
It's an extraordinarily poetic novel, when you read it you fall in love with the writer's prose. Besides, the words he uses are old and unknown, so you learn their different meanings with the help of the dictionary.
What the novel really evokes are the hardships that soldiers go through in their time, but not only that. It gives us a glimpse of life in Madrid at that time, even if only on the surface of the wanderings of the poets or the wiles of the court.
My opinion as a writer
I know several novels of the writer. He is a good example for those who want to dabble in the historical genre. It takes not only the talent of good writing, but also the discipline to research. This is what one notices when reading it, authenticity, or at least the way to introduce us to history and ignore the real world.
Not only this must be emphasize, but also the descriptions he uses, the way the novel is narrate from a different point of view. There are too many elements to learn from the book. Moreover, I hope it will be both a delicacy and a learning manual for anyone who wants to write.
P.D: The book or compendium of books in its movie version, which I have not yet seen.
source
Separator made in Photoshop