Photo source: Arturo PĂ©rez-Reverte: Royal Spanish Academy
Arturo PĂ©rez Reverte is one of the most renowned Spanish writers. A bestseller in some of his books, he's recently back in the news with the release of a new novel about Captain Alatriste, one of his best-selling and most famous novels, which even got adapted into a novel. But what are Arturo PĂ©rez Reverte's most notable books?
If you haven't read anything by him, or on the contrary, you have, How about we review some of this author's most important books and the reasons why, for many, they are essential reading? Go for it.
The Dumas club
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We begin with a thriller novel that introduces us to a character, Lucas Corso. Corso is a rare book seeker who, at one point, becomes embroiled in an investigation into a manuscript by Alexandre Dumas and the possible connection this author may have with demonic invocations.
We could say that the book He wants to make it clear that authors, and anyone in general, can be double-faced and hide more than one might think.
In fact, once you read it, you'll know it was adapted for film by Roman Polanski, although the title changed quite a bit. It wasn't called The Dumas Club, but rather "The Ninth Gate." Have you seen it?
The Flanders table
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Another of PĂ©rez Reverte's great books is this novel, which many consider one of his most sophisticated and intellectual. The writer's career took off internationally thanks to this book.
What's it about? Well, we have like The protagonist is an art restorer who discovers, when analyzing a 15th-century Flemish painting, that there is a hidden inscription related to a chess game and an ancient crime. Through art, history, and logic, it tells a plot that will keep you hooked until the end.
Drum skin
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Another of Arturo PĂ©rez Reverte's great novels is this one, adapted into a television series, although in this case it was based on the novel's protagonist. Its title was Quart. The Man from Rome.
And what is this novel about? Well, it places us in the Vatican City in 1995, where a hacker breaks into the Pope's computer and warns of a series of deaths taking place in a Seville church.
Upon hearing this news, Father Lorenzo Quart is sent to investigate the deaths and what is happening there.
Comanche territory
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This novel is one of the recommended ones, but it actually goes beyond what can be considered a "novel." In the few pages of the book, He shares his own experience as a war reporter in Sarajevo and in other conflict zones. To do so, he talks about two journalists who are at odds over armed conflict.
In the opinion of many readers, this book is one of the author's most personal, which is why it is included in this selection.
Queen of the south
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If you like the world of drug trafficking, the rules and regulations that apply there, and a bit of action, politics, and social criticism, Queen of the South might surprise you. In fact, it's based on a real character, Teresa Mendoza, A woman who was part of the Mexican drug trade and how she was able to rise in a world that is supposedly dominated only by men.
Of PĂ©rez Reverte's many novels, this is one of the most widely read.
The Adventures of Captain Alatriste
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Considering that Captain Alatriste is one of the characters that have made the greatest impact on many readers, there's no doubt it had to be here. However, we're not talking about just one book, but eight (including the one to be published in September 2025). The titles are as follows:
- Captain Alatriste.
- Blood cleansing.
- The sun of Breda.
- The king's gold.
- The knight in the yellow doublet.
- Corsairs of the Levant.
- The assassins' bridge.
- Mission in Paris.
Captain Alatriste is set in 17th-century Madrid and features a main character, Diego Alatriste y Tenorio, as well as his page, Íñigo Balboa. Diego is a veteran soldier from the Flanders Alps who ekes out a living in Madrid. To do so, he rents out his sword to anyone he doesn't need (and pays him, of course).
A new book will be published in September 2025, following the adventures of the last one, published in 2011. And It has already been announced that there will be another book, Alquézar's Revenge.
Falco
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The same thing that happens with the previous books, here FalcĂł is not just a book, but a trilogy that began with this one and continued with Eva and Sabotage.
In Falcó's case, you'll meet Lorenzo Falcó, a character who straddles espionage and intelligence services. However, at one point, he infiltrates Republican territory during the Spanish Civil War with the goal of freeing José Antonio Primo de Rivera.
Thus, you find a character who is a spy, a trafficker, a scoundrel, a patriot, and many more Spanish characteristics.
Sidi
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We continue with Arturo PĂ©rez Reverte's recommended readings with Sidi, a novel based on the story of El Cid Campeador. In this case, Rodrigo DĂaz is a pragmatic, unpretentious frontier leader.
As reflected in its synopsis: He had no country or king, only a handful of loyal men. They had no hunger for glory, only hunger.
The book focuses more on the historical aspect and how they must have lived in that era to form a Spanish myth.
Hussar
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The Hussar is Arturo PĂ©rez Reverte's first novel, and although there may be a significant difference between the writing style of that novel and his last, it remains one of his most important.
In this case, it is set during the Napoleonic Wars, where you'll meet the young officer Frederic GlĂĽntz. It's a raw novel that addresses war in the harshest possible way, but also contains messages full of ethics and reflection.
As you can see, there are many novels by Arturo PĂ©rez Reverte that you consider essential and recommended. Aside from the ones we've mentioned, are there any others by the author that you think are essential reading? We'll read your comments.