Read in Cáceres 2021 - 2022 (aged 31 - 32).

It was read in Spanish. This work is exceptionally difficult to read due to its high brow style and excellently accurate dialectical prose.

I couldn't help but notice that it seemed slightly hateful of the British. However, I also thought that surely the Spanish were pretty damn hateful of the incompetent French too?

Thanks to my maritime history background, some of the more difficult vocabulary became easier to understand.

Overall, it's a tricky book to read from a literary master. I would like to try again in a few years' time.

Without a doubt, Pérez - Reverte is a master of the study and art of Spanish history. His works offer a deep and detailed exploration of the past, presenting a unique perspective that challenges readers to think and reflect.

Although this particular book was challenging, it was also rewarding, as it allowed me to gain a greater understanding of Spanish history and culture.

I look forward to reading more of his works in the future and continuing to expand my knowledge and appreciation of this fascinating subject.

A naval lexicon course of a certain category.

In general, it has been an enjoyable rereading: Reverte's narrative voice (he uses alliteration) is powerful and the rancors (which there are) are perfectly camouflaged in the historical context in which the events unfold (October 1805 and such).

Moreover, the atmosphere of the battle is great and immersive, as crude as one imagines it would be.

I understand that the tangents the story takes, or its form, are not for everyone (the tone can sometimes veer a bit too much between the serious and the vulgar for some tastes) but I have enjoyed it, you know.

Overall, this naval lexicon course offers a unique and engaging experience. The detailed exploration of naval terms and their historical context provides a rich backdrop for the story. Reverte's writing style, with its use of alliteration and vivid descriptions, brings the events to life. While the tone may not be to everyone's liking, it adds to the authenticity and charm of the narrative. Whether you are a history buff or simply interested in a good story, this course has something to offer.

Cabo Trafalgar, commissioned by Pérez-Reverte's publisher, Alfaguara, to commemorate the second centenary of the battle, does an excellent job of transporting you to that bloody turning point in the Napoleonic wars. However, it presents the events from the Spanish perspective, which is unusual for the English reader accustomed to regarding this as a glorious victory.

Without any preamble or preparation, the reader finds themselves on a Spanish ship, scouting out the British fleet commanded by Lord Nelson. The fog gives the author enough time to have the characters lay out the scene through memory and conversation. Using a small cast of characters, ranging from a low-life conscript manning a cannon for the first time in his life to a captain of a Spanish ship of the line, Pérez-Reverte skillfully weaves historic background with the developing action. Eventually, the battle is joined.

All who read this book will know who won that battle, but Cabo Trafalgar points out why the outcome was inevitable. From the start, every Spaniard with an understanding of the situation knew the enterprise was doomed. The leader of the combined French/Spanish fleet, Villeneuve, was a fearful, self-absorbed, and incompetent idiot. Moreover, the French and Spanish ships were manned largely by untrained men pressed into service. The list of handicaps goes on, and the weather, which was crucial for sailing ships of war, favored the English.

This is a tale of men foredoomed, and Pérez-Reverte tells it well. Sailing ships of war in the early nineteenth century were hugely complex machines designed to cause unimaginable carnage. The author effectively conveys both the complexity of the ships and the bloodbath they produced. As someone who has read all of C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian, I must say that neither of them portrays what it is like to fight and die in such ships more vividly. Perhaps, this aspect of such tales is best told by the defeated.

In terms of language, Cabo Trafalgar often employs a mix of Spanish, Spanish dialects, and English and French phonetically made Spanish. This, combined with technical nautical terms, makes it a rich, wonderful, and sometimes challenging read. Overall, I was completely engrossed from cover to cover.

It is recommended particularly for Pérez-Reverte fans and for fans of sailing ships of war in general.

The raw account of the Battle of Trafalgar is filled with black and cheeky humor, irony, and unease. It's a brutal and effective way to try to show what happened there. Reverte maintains the dirty and mischievous style of other accounts and tells us the story in such a close and accessible way that we almost feel part of the battle.

The Battle of Trafalgar was a significant naval engagement that had a profound impact on history. Reverte's description brings to life the chaos and carnage of the battle, as well as the personalities and emotions of the sailors involved.

Through his use of humor and irony, Reverte is able to humanize the events and make them more relatable to the reader. We can see the sailors' fears, hopes, and frustrations, and we can understand the absurdity of war.

Overall, Reverte's account of the Battle of Trafalgar is a powerful and engaging read that offers a unique perspective on this important historical event.

Vibrante, pocas veces me he metido tanto en un libro.

Es como si me hubiera sumergido en un mundo completamente diferente, un mundo lleno de emociones y aventuras.

Parecía que volaban las astillas a mí alrededor, tan intensa era la experiencia.

Me enganchaba con cada página que leía, ansioso por saber qué pasaría a continuación.

El autor tenía la capacidad de crear un ambiente tan real que me sentía como si estuviera allí mismo, presenciando todo lo que sucedía.

No podía dejar de leer, era como una adicción.

Este libro me ha demostrado que la lectura puede ser una experiencia realmente mágica, capaz de transportarnos a lugares que nunca habíamos imaginado.

Y yo estoy agradecido por haber encontrado este tesoro literario.

I am a great and long-time admirer of Arturo Pérez-Reverte. In my literary coordinate system, he occupies a noble place somewhere between A. Dumas, U. Eco, and P. Coelho.

I know that the author is very passionate about maritime history, sailing ships, and corsairs. But, strangely enough, I like his "land-based" books the most, where "maritime adventures" are only the background or appear in secondary episodes.

When I chose this book to read, of course, I knew that it was all "maritime" from cover to cover. The whole book is about the famous Battle of Trafalgar, which the British are so proud of and which is a historical trauma for the Spaniards. Unfortunately, my experiment failed :( Apparently, the maritime theme is not for me :((

Let me explain. First of all, in my deep conviction, Pérez-Reverte is a master of the non-linear plot, of the cunning and tortuous intrigue hidden among many parallel storylines. Here, this is not the case. This is a "reportage novel". The linear chronology of one battle. Since the battle lasted a long time, I personally got tired of following this reportage...

Secondly, the text is overloaded with maritime terminology. If you are not strong in the sailing fleet (I personally am not), then it is very difficult to get through all this and sometimes even understand what is being talked about.

Thirdly, I somehow didn't match the text in terms of its tempo-rhythm :( One of my acquaintances was very enthusiastic about this book. He said that he was literally immersed in the text, felt like a participant in the battle, heard the roar of guns and the whistle of bullets... I didn't feel this :( In my understanding, the text is "heavy", it's not so easy to get immersed in it...

Among the "pluses":

1) I learned a lot of new things about sailing ships and the history of the Battle of Trafalgar :) /by the way, there are magnificent notes and a historical reference about the battle in the book/.

2) There are some recurring themes that run through Pérez-Reverte's books. For example, this is the criticism of the Spanish political elite (worthless, corrupt, and very similar to the Russian one ;)).

/As a remark, I note that my favorite book by Pérez-Reverte is "With Intent to Offend" - a collection of his fiery journalism :) There are many ideas that are still relevant for Russia, although it was written more than 10 years ago!/.

When reading, you understand that Spain is actually a kindred country for us :) Please don't throw tomatoes, but I can't help but quote at length:

"In the end, in this unfortunate Spain, the only thing that saves us from complete disgrace through the grinding of teeth and desperate swearing is the people. Otherwise, how to explain that, despite the already half-century superiority of the British, we have managed not to lose face all this time: regular maritime communication with America, the victory of Navarro in Toulon, the heroic defense of the Havana fortress of El Morro by Velasco, scientific expeditions, the works of Jorge Juan, the cartography of Tofiño, the campaigns in Algiers and Santa Catalina, the fleets of Barceló, the raids on the English coast, the pressure on Jamaica, the capture of San Antón and San Pedro, the defense of Toulon, Rosas, El Ferrol, Cádiz. Or the battle given by Juan de Lángara between the capes of San Vicente and Santa María, when, covering the retreat of his squadron, his "Phoenix" fought alone for eight hours with several British ships, and when in the end the flag fell, there was not a single mast left on the ship, the commander was seriously wounded, and almost the entire crew was killed. And all this, thinks Carlos de la Rocha with bitterness, and what was before, and what was and is always, all this, despite the vile governments, the disorder, the slovenliness and the idleness, was done by the people. Those same poor people. Who are not paid, who are beaten. Just like those who are fighting today on the "Antilles". Unfortunate good vassals, who have never had good masters."

3) In the book, there are well-recognizable elements of Pérez-Reverte's writing style. For example, one big mystery that he reveals only at the end of the book ;)

...and yes, the book is worth reading at least for the sake of the last chapter ("The Flag"). Very powerful!

PS The book is worthy. I gave it a "three" only because the book didn't match me, my expectations... If you don't have an allergy to the sailing fleet - read it by all means! :)

Aboard the Antilla, one of the ships of the Franco-Spanish combined fleet, Perez-Reverte immerses us in the full-scale Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805. It is a thrilling narrative that makes you feel in your own flesh the constant cannon fire from both sides.

Despite using the complicated jargon and naval terminology, the story is easily followed. It is even recommendable for those who, like me, had previously shied away from any book related to naval battles.

The detailed descriptions of the battle scenes, the strategies employed, and the actions of the sailors bring the historical event to life. You can almost envision the chaos and mayhem on the decks, the billowing smoke, and the sounds of the cannons.

Perez-Reverte's writing style is engaging and captivating, making it difficult to put the book down. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply looking for an exciting read, this account of the Battle of Trafalgar is sure to satisfy.

Nadie describe las batallas navales como Pérez Reverte. Y eso es lo mejor de esta novela. Como se deja claro por el título, narra la batalla del Cabo Trafalgar, en la que la flota inglesa se enfrentó a las armadas española y francesa. El resultado, conocido por todos, fue un rotundo triunfo inglés. España nunca se recuperaría de ello, perdiendo definitivamente la hegemonía en el mar.

Es la novela de Arturo que más me ha gustado, quizás porque me fascina todo lo relacionado con el mar. Su fuerza radica en lo bien que detalla los combates y la vida a bordo, las estrategias y todo lo que rodeó a aquella contienda. Además, tiene amplios conocimientos en materia naval, con datos y nombres que, para el profano, pueden llegar a saturar y hacer perder el hilo. Los personajes, aunque están bien construidos, palidecen ante el verdadero protagonista: el combate.

Recomiendo esta novela sin duda. Es una obra que te sumerge en el mundo de las batallas navales, con una descripción detallada y realista que te hace sentir como si estuvieras allí. Si eres amante del mar y de la historia, no te la puedes perder.

Libro 1. Cabo Trafalgar. Arturo Pérez-Reverte.

This is a quick re-reading, and it's in electronic format. It's the first book that I've read completely on my tablet, which is a Toshiba Folio 100.

The story of "Cabo Trafalgar" takes the reader on an exciting journey. Pérez-Reverte's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the pages.

As I'm reading on the tablet, it offers a convenient and modern way to enjoy literature. The electronic format allows for quick access to different sections of the book and the ability to make notes or highlights easily.

Overall, this re-reading experience of "Cabo Trafalgar" on my Toshiba Folio 100 has been a great one. It combines the pleasure of reading a great book with the convenience of modern technology.

Pérez-Reverte has a vast bibliography of books, some of which are good and others not so good. This is one of those not so good ones.

In "Cabo Trafalgar", Pérez-Reverte brings us a "comic" version of the Battle of Trafalgar where the Franco-Spanish alliance faces the English on the coasts of Cádiz.

"Cabo Trafalgar" is a source of literary figures ranging from onomatopoeias to alliteration. The constant use of these literary figures transforms the content of this novel into a cacophony of words, making this book one of those not so good ones.

It seems that Pérez-Reverte may have overemphasized the use of literary devices in this work, resulting in a somewhat chaotic and less engaging reading experience. While the subject matter of the Battle of Trafalgar is interesting, the execution in this novel leaves something to be desired.

Perhaps if Pérez-Reverte had focused more on developing the characters and the plot in a more natural and流畅way, rather than relying so heavily on literary figures, "Cabo Trafalgar" could have been a better book. As it stands, it is a prime example of a novel that sacrifices substance for style.

Difficult to start with, due to all the vocabulary and slang. It seems like a huge mountain standing in front of you, making you feel a bit overwhelmed. However, this initial difficulty is just a part of the learning process. Once you start to break it down and gradually familiarize yourself with the new words and expressions, you will find that it becomes more and more interesting.

But it is worth it. The effort you put in will pay off handsomely. You will be able to communicate more effectively with people from different backgrounds, understand various cultures better, and open up a whole new world of opportunities. Whether it is for academic purposes, career development, or simply for personal growth, mastering the language with all its vocabulary and slang is an achievement that you will be proud of.

The best thing about this book is the mastery that Reverte displays when incorporating nautical terms into his narration.

Reverte's use of these terms adds a unique and immersive element to the story. It allows the reader to truly feel as if they are on the high seas, experiencing the adventures and challenges along with the characters.

The nautical vocabulary not only enriches the descriptions but also gives a sense of authenticity to the setting. It shows Reverte's in-depth knowledge and research, making the story all the more believable.

Whether it's the names of ships, the various parts of a vessel, or the specific nautical maneuvers, each term is seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This not only enhances the reader's understanding of the story but also adds an extra layer of interest and excitement.

Overall, Reverte's incorporation of nautical terms is one of the standout features of this book and is sure to captivate readers who have a love for the sea or historical fiction.