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Summary: A dazzling character study--mystery, history, and fencing.
Review: This is the study an older man (56) who knows who he is and is content with books, introspection, and the quiet life. I don't claim to be any fencing master, but I fenced in college and his study of foil moves like a chess match convinced me.There is foreshadowing and symbolism here, but they are well disguised. Like all of Perez-Reverte's works, this book is many things--history, mystery, and a mindgame. I didn't think his mystery lady here was a stereotype, but rather a sexy femme-fatale befitting the nature of the yarn. And he kept me guessing until the smashing end. Bravo!
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: I got lured to read Perez-Reverte's Fencing Master on the double account that all my friends were big fans of him (especially impressed by La tabla de Flames, his book on chess and Renaissance paintings), and that I am a keen fencer, having learnt the art of foil with an authentic Spanish-speaking Master. I should have known better. Perez-Reverte's fencing technicalities are bogus, but that's OK because nobody has ever really been able to express what a sword fight feels like in writing, not since the art the literary duel fell out of fashion at any rate. But what was so disappointing was the plot and the one-dimensional characters, which completely failed to live up to the author's reputation for clever mystery. Also, either the traduction (in French) was very poor or the style was terrible.
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Summary: Perez Reverte- Maestro of mystery
Review: This unique mystery by Perez-Reverte yet again demonstrates his ability to combine beautifully descriptive imagery with a plot that is intellectual and gripping. Amidst the political turmoil of late 19th century Madrid stands Jamie Astarloa, fencing instructor of noblemen and fighter of lost causes. When he is reluctantly made the central link of a conspiracy, Don Jaime is forced to fight for the old ideals he still believes in. This is one more in the descriptive style of the Seville Communion. The plot is not as intricate as the Club Dumas or Flanders panel but still brilliant nonetheless- ends fantastically. A must read for anyone wanting an escape from the standard crime format.
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Summary: This book has been made into a film! (a few years ago)
Review: It should be noted that this book has been made into a excellent little film (in Spanish, of course). Judging from the reviews the film conveyed many of the same emotions in a typically Spanish theme of love and death. (or so I am told!). The protaganist is an aging fencing master, lost in the arcane study of his art; untill he is bewitched by a lovely young woman, and from here his troubles really begin. A lovely film, charged with erotic tension at parts, and a shocking climax. It left me with a wistfull view into the dying world of a professional fencer in the late 18th C. This is one of the few films that I have seen worthy to view a number of times; if not just for its dramatic conclusion.
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Summary: Different from his other books
Review: For those who have read other books by this author, The Fencing master will be either a positive or a negative surprise. This time he resists the childish temptation and dreams of being Alexandre Dumas of the late 20th century, and thereby manages to combine his historical knowledge with an impressive and well-structured story. The abundancy of fencing techniques may seem unnecessary and complicated at the beginning, but soon you undrestand that the fencing - and the final battle - is an elegant metaphor to describe don Jaime's thoughts and life. Perez Reverte shows why fencing is art, and why it interests us.
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Summary: Read the book, watch the movie!
Review: These reviews of The Fencing Master sounded so familiar----there is a Spanish film based on the book, which is wonderful. Assumpta Serna plays the enigmatic pupil, and Astarloa is the talented Italian actor who was the father in Padre, Padrone. This film came out in 1992---I saw it in London---have no idea if it is available in the US.
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Summary: What a huge disappointment
Review: I'm surprised by these glowing reviews. I've been a huge fan since FLANDERS PANEL but this new one is suspect. The mystery is entirely predictable, and lasts only a hundred pages. The villainess is stereotypic (a sexy, husky-voiced, athletic, dark-eyed vixen who was molded/manipulated by an older man in her youth) and any other supporting cast of any interest is non-existent. And Don Jaime is a pathetically transparent, clueless, and utterly unlikeable character. It's one thing to have a protagonist who's faulted, another to have a bumbling, clueless idiot. I dearly hope Mr. Reverte is not thinking he can blueprint the rest of his mysteries, giving it a hook that readers will think is 'cool' -- chess, books, religion, fencing -- and plastering mediocre plotting around it. However, judging from the feelings below, he can, which is too bad, because he's far too talented for that.
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Summary: Nice, but Pérez-Reverte can do better
Review: Nice book, but I think that a writer as Pérez-Reverte can do much better: as seen in "The Seville Communion" and "The Club Dumas".
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Summary: Another wonderful accomplishment by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Review: To write a review that does The Fencing Master justice one wishes for the talent of Perez-Reverte. Beautifully crafted as all his books are, the Fencing Master draws you into the life of Don Jaime until you find yourself walking straighter and feeling for the sword at your side! So clearly does the author define the art, that you find yourself thinking like a fencer joining Don Jaime in trying to solve the mystery like a fencing match. Characters jump off the page into your life. No book by Mr. Reverte ever disappoints, this one is no exception.
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Summary: Better than the rest
Review: I very much enjoyed this work, finding it less cluttered and more finished that his other novels. While it is perhaps a smaller tale in scope, the lack of blind alleys allows for a more focused and richer reading experience. This was one of Reverte's earlier works, and an excellent movie was made of this book.
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