Johnny Depp in the film based on “The Dumas Club”

Arturo Perez-Reverte was a war reporter and journalist with one of Spain’s leading newspapers. He aspired to write entertaining novels that have an historical context – often with insight and compassion for the the values and destiny of Spain. The early books that appeared in English translation such as The Flanders Panel (1990), The Dumas Club (1993) display his rare gift for displaying and exploiting to the full the range of mystery, suspense and action. These first editions quickly became sought after by collectors and established the author as a must-have with lovers of mysteries with a depth of culture. His subsequent books are historical adventures with the swordsman Alatriste or standalone thrillers as a the female drug baron The Queen of the South (2003).

The Fencing Master is Perez-Reverte’s second novel but was not published in English until 1999. It is a tale possessed of Perez-Reverte’s typically meticulous attention to detail, and some might argue that it is the blueprint of the Alatriste novels, particularly when it touches upon the main character’s (Jaime Astarloa) archaic sense of honour and the friends that he meet in the tavern. However, it a novel which joints history, suspense, romance and adventure with its gallery of distinctly original characters. It posits an ageing fencing master that is taunted by a cad and villain who likes word-play as well as crossing swords; enter a vivacious swordswoman who begs Don Jaime to train her. The finale to the story is explosive.

This book was issued in an edition of 110 numbered and signed copies in a special binding in 1999 with an appreciation by Diamond Dagger winning author Andrew Taylor.