击剑大师 (1988)

《击剑大师》是西班牙作家阿图洛·贝雷兹-雷维特于1988年出版的小说，曾于1992年由贝德罗·欧雷阿(Pedro Olea)执导成同名改编电影，并获得当年的西班牙雅哥奖。

故事简介

已踏入中年的击剑大师海门突然被一位奥特萝女士要求指导剑术，原本海门并不愿意，不过被奥特萝的剑术造诣及美色所吸引，最终收了奥特萝为徒。奥特萝学习了约一个月的剑术，借机请海门介绍另一位门生阿伦希雷侯爵认识，两人相识后奥特萝更退出不再学击剑，海门认为自己是被人利用。过了一段时间，侯爵请海门保管一封秘密信件，不过无道出当原由。不过侯爵后来死于非命，海门解开了信件，发现是一堆与政治有关的信件。但海门本人基本上与世隔绝，根本不了解政治的情况，只好委托一位朋友解说，怎料到这位朋友亦死于酷刑。奥特萝最终突然出现，指这些信件与一位达官贵人有关，要讨回这些信件，结果却被海门一剑刺死，替朋友报仇。

The Fencing Master is a 1988 historical novel by Spanish writer Arturo Pérez-Reverte set in Madrid, Spain in 1868. Amid the political turmoil of the Glorious Revolution where conspiracy and intrigue are commonplace, fencing master Don Jaime Astarloa tries to live as he always has. Subsisting on meager funds gained through teaching fencing to the sons of the nobility, the anachronistic Don Jaime lives by one universal code: "to be honest, or at least honorable--anything, indeed, that has its roots in the word honor."

The Fencing Master is presented in the third person with the focus on the protagonist.

Historical references

The historical context of the novel is similar to what actually occurred in the Glorious Revolution of Spain. Much of the speculation by characters in the novel revolve around General Juan Prim, who did indeed lead the revolution. The events, too, were taken from actual historical record. A concierge, at one point, mentions to Don Jaime that the navy has rebelled in Cadiz, which actually occurred when Admiral Juan Bautista Topete mutinied. Some characters speculated on Francisco Serrano, who eventually became regent. Some discussions in the book run contrary to historical fact, such as Carreño's guess that Baldomero Espartero would become regent. Although this did not occur, Espartero was a significant enough man that it would not be out of the question if he did assume the post.

Even much of the talk about Queen Isabella II had some basis in fact. Luis de Ayala and Minister Marfori are said to have had intimate relations with the Queen, which is wholly possible due to her alleged nymphomania.

Plot summary

Prologue

A minister, later revealed to be Joaquin Vallespin Andreu, uncle of Luis de Ayala, meets with an apparently wealthy blackmailer. Shortly, money and an envelope full of "names and addresses" changes hands, and the scene ends with a reference to the historical time frame, 1866 during the reign of Queen Isabel.

Chapter 1: The Fencing Bout

Luis de Ayala is a friend of Don Jaime Astarloa, a fencing master, who fences with him every morning. One day after fencing, they talk over glasses of sherry from Andalusia.

The subsequent discussion reveals that Luis de Ayala has apparently resolved to abstain from politics despite invitations to resume his post. Luis de Ayala's weakness for love is revealed, as is his propensity for gambling. Later, Luis mentions a Holy Grail, which turns out to be the "Treatise on the Art of Fencing," that Don Jaime is working on. The depth of Don Jaime's passion for fencing is revealed by a description of the lengths to which he has gone in search of an "unstoppable thrust" that is impossible to parry, which he is not sure even exists.

Don Jaime spends his time teaching fencing to the sons of the nobility. Since firearms are becoming more prevalent over swords, the fencing master has only a few students left. He repeatedly praises the pupils in front of their parents, often making gross exaggerations about their talent in order to retain his clients. He is serious about teaching his students, reprimanding them when they treat fencing as a sport instead of a combat art. Tired, he takes a break and heads to the Café Progreso to meet with his discussion group.

The microcosm of Don Jaime's discussion group, which meets at the Café Progreso, serves as a foil to Don Jaime. Cárceles the liberal and Don Lucas the conservative quarrel perpetually over politics, which Don Jaime does not care about. Romero, a music teacher, is similar to Don Jaime in that they are both teachers, and both harbour memories of love. However, Don Jaime teaches only males while Romero teaches at a school for girls. Also, Romero lacks the courage to make his love known. Finally, Carreño shares none of Don Jaime's honor, flaunting wild political theories as fact in order to gain attention.