Cabo Trafalgar

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El 21 de octubre de 1805, la flota hispano-francesa y la británica se enfrentaron en una de las batallas más decisivas de la historia. Doscientos años después, la pluma de Arturo Pérez-Reverte revive el combate en toda su crudeza, en un relato de estilo vibrante y pleno de rigor histórico que Punto de Lectura ofrece a todos los lectores.

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,2004

About the author

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Arturo Pérez-Reverte Gutiérrez, is a Spanish novelist and ex-journalist. He worked as a war reporter for twenty-one years (1973 - 1994). He started his journalistic career writing for the now-defunct newspaper Pueblo. Then, he jumped to news reporter for TVE, Spanish national channel. As a war journalist he traveled to several countries, covering many conflicts. He put this experience into his book 'Territorio Comanche', focusing on the years of Bosnian massacres. That was in 1994, but his debut as a fiction writer started in 1983, with 'El húsar', a historical novella inspired in the Napoleonic era.

Although his debut was not quite successful, in 1988, with 'The Fencing Master', he put his name as a serious writer of historic novels. That was confirmed in 1996, when was published the first book of his Captain Alatriste saga, which has been his trademark. After this book, he could leave definitely journalism for focusing on his career as a fiction writer. This saga, that happens in the years of the Spanish golden age, has seen, for now, seven volumes, where Pérez-Reverte shows, from his particular point of view, historical events from Spanish history in the 16th century.

Apart from these, he also penned another successful works like Dumas Club and Flanders Panel, titles that, among others, made Pérez-Reverte one of the most famous and bestseller authors of Spanish fiction of our era.

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
39(39%)
4 stars
30(30%)
3 stars
31(31%)
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100 reviews All reviews
July 14,2025
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With the Captain Alatriste series, one has the impression that Pérez Reverte wants to be an emulator of Alexandre Dumas (for whom he feels great admiration, as was evidenced in The Dumas Club).

With this novel, he shows his desire to follow in the footsteps of Benito Pérez Galdós. The truth is that the novel is read avidly, showing the brutality of combat without any limitation. Solid (like all of Pérez Reverte's works), with popular heroes... A very good choice.

Moreover, Pérez Reverte's detailed descriptions bring the historical setting to life. The reader can almost envision the dusty streets, the clashing of swords, and the turmoil of war. The characters are well-developed, with their own motives and flaws, making them relatable and engaging.

The Captain Alatriste series not only provides an exciting adventure but also offers a glimpse into a bygone era. It is a testament to Pérez Reverte's skill as a writer and his ability to transport the reader to another time and place. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or simply looking for a good read, this series is definitely worth checking out.
July 14,2025
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It is interesting. I was expecting to find a comprehensive narration about such an important battle, and I came across a great story of an impressive battle.


From the beginning, it focuses on the operations that took place, deviating only slightly with small narrations based on memories or references of the characters. What might seem to leave little context, due to its focus on the battle, is exactly what is necessary to present the best of both worlds; understanding how we got there, what happened, and a slight refresher on what it represented.


It was so good that it gave me a huge desire to resume an old video game where I controlled a galleon like those in the narration. Fortunately, I couldn't find the game that my memory was referring to; otherwise, I would have lost a good ten hours getting into the narration of Cape Trafalgar, hahaha.

July 14,2025
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The article is quite entertaining. However, it seems that the author expends more effort in showcasing how much they know about nautical terminology rather than narrating the story. This focus on terminology can sometimes overshadow the actual narrative flow. While it is interesting to learn about the various nautical terms, it might be more engaging if the author balanced this with a stronger emphasis on telling the story in a more captivating way.


Perhaps the author could have used the nautical terms more sparingly and integrated them more seamlessly into the narrative. This would allow the reader to better understand and appreciate the story without getting bogged down in a barrage of technical jargon. Additionally, the author could have added more details and descriptions to bring the story to life and make it more vivid for the reader.


Overall, the article has potential, but with a few adjustments, it could be even more engaging and enjoyable to read.

July 14,2025
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Casi dejo de leer porque el cabrón del Reverte se pone muy pesado con terminología marinera.

La mitad del libro son jarcias, vergas y lona rota, y la otra mitad barcos virando y proas, popas y nudos.

Que pueden hacer pa un par de escenas interesantes, y al fin y al cabo es un libro de un combate naval. Pero cansa.

Lo que le salva es la parte de ficción que le pone, el Marrajo y su inusitado arco de personaje. Además, el humor gamberro y negro del que hace gala el autor también es una característica atractiva.

Si bien la terminología marinera puede resultar abrumadora en ocasiones, la ficción y el humor del libro logran compensar en parte este problema.

Quizás no sea un libro para todos los gustos, pero aquellos que disfrutan de la historia naval y un toque de humor negro seguramente lo aprecien.
July 14,2025
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Very disappointing. It's only 2 stars because the research is good. So those stars go to Perez-Reverte's research team and friends who provided the information.
The narrative, however, is truly terrible. He is extremely repetitive, constantly using the same ideas and phrases over and over again. Moreover, he attempts to write the whole book using cheap jokes and colloquial vocabulary that was used in Spain in the year it was written. The book is full of parentheses with people talking in English or French but with a forced Spanish accent. For example, "a les anfant de la patri" or "no espiting inglis". I mean, really? For such an important battle? What a joke! I can't imagine how #alfaguara allowed this trash to be published. It's a real shame that the good research is overshadowed by the poor narrative.
This book had the potential to be a great read, but unfortunately, it fails to deliver on many levels. The author should have focused more on presenting the historical facts in a clear and engaging way, rather than relying on these gimmicks. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a serious and well-written account of the battle.

July 14,2025
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Cabo Trafalgar, penned by Arturo Perez-Reverte, is an enthralling historical fiction novel.

Set during the Battle of Trafalgar, it vividly depicts the intense confrontation between the combined fleets of the Spanish and French navies and the British Royal Navy.

The objective was to undermine the military dominance that Napoleon Bonaparte held across Europe.

What makes this novel unique is that it is presented from the Spanish and French perspectives.

The protagonist, Louis Quelennec, a Frenchman, is an old and wise ship captain.

He has an intimate knowledge of the waters around Trafalgar, as if it were the palm of his hand.

This novel is a must-read for any reader who has a passion for history and enjoys getting lost in a captivating work of fiction.

It offers a fascinating glimpse into a significant event in history while also telling a compelling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Whether you are a history buff or simply looking for an engaging read, Cabo Trafalgar is sure to satisfy.
July 14,2025
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One of my favorite books is by Pérez Reverte.

He explains in detail the reasons that gave Nelson his triumph.

If you are interested in understanding the turning points of history in a fun and entertaining way, Pérez Reverte is a great option.

His writing style is engaging and he presents historical events in a vivid manner.

You will be able to immerse yourself in the world of Nelson and learn about his strategies and the circumstances that led to his success.

Whether you are a history buff or just looking for an interesting read, this book is sure to satisfy.

So, pick up a copy of Pérez Reverte's book and discover the fascinating story of Nelson's triumph.
July 14,2025
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2.5/5 Stars.

Rounded up to 3 due to the exhaustive documentation work and the recreation of the battle in naval terms.

Now I take out the ax because the tone of the narration itself, the dialogues in French and anglicized Spanish or in low-class Andalusian have seemed to me to be embarrassing. It's as if it were laughing at me, not to mention all kinds of anachronistic and current terms that it uses without any complex. Yes, everything is valid and the author tries to give a humorous and close tone to the events, but the importance of the battle, the transcendental consequences that this terrible battle had for Spain, in my opinion, deserved another type of treatment.

That said, the brilliance in the combat narration, the mastery in the handling of naval terms (exhaustive to the extreme, for God's sake, how many different sails did these ships have?), the tension of the action that is maintained at all times, has made me not abandon the book, although I have been tempted.

In its line of acidic criticism of the system, of generalized corruption, of sloth, nothing to object to in this. In the Alatriste series, he leaves much more memorable phrases.

Yes, I'm a very serious and dull guy, but there are things that you don't play with, I've said.

That said, I would not recommend it, and look, I like Reverte, but here I feel that he has lost his touch. We will have to read or reread Galdós.
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