Pérez-Reverte, Arturo. Fencing Master. [Margaret Jull Costa, trans.] Harvest 2000 [Originally published by Harcourt Brace in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition. Dove Books Audio has produced an audio casette version of this novel. "Another colorful novel of intrigue from accomplished Spanish author Pérez-Reverte. . . . [The main character is] Don Jaime Astarloa, an aging ''fencing master'' who supports himself by teaching his art to Madrid's nobility while planning his treatise on 'the unstoppable thrust' to be written as soon as he develops and masters this ultimate skill. . . . Pérez-Reverte efficiently places Don Jaime at the center of an exfoliating chain of intrigue whose individual developments are keyed to fencing moves and terms (''The Short Lunge,'' ''Glissade,'' etc.). . . . it succeeds admirably both as a vivid picture of an unfamiliar culture and as high, sophisticated entertainment." -- Kirkus. ". . . part of the fun of Pérez- Reverte's books is that the reader does not immediately identify with the heroes. They are built outside of stereotype. Here is the true art. Pérez-Reverte leads us through this intellectual thriller with the rhythm of a fencing match: thrust, parry, feint; thrust, parry feint. We follow the ploys spectators able to spot the mistakes, the opportunities for the opponent, the fatal errors. Any by the end, we care about the honorable fencing master, a dying breed, the hero described at one point as the 'only honest person I know.'" -- Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune, May 30, 1999. "a novel no less dramatic and certainly no less atmospheric than its predecessor. . . . walloping ending." -- Booklist. "As always, Pérez-Reverte offers literary excellence, a thumping good mystery, and fascinating insight into an arcane practice, in this case, fencing. Though the 19th-century politics in the book may resonate more with a Spanish audience than with English readers, the moral at the heart of The Fencing Master is universal: "to be honest, or at least honorable--anything, indeed, that has its roots in the word honor." In this, Don Jaime and Arturo Pérez-Reverte both succeed." -- Alix Wilber, Amazon.com. "The boundaries of the crime novel are largely imaginary, and good writers don't so much transcend them as ignore them. Arturo Pérez-Reverte, a Spanish newspaper columnist and former television journalist . . . is one such writer. . . . Yet Pérez-Reverte is a writer who knows how to keep readers turning the pages. He has a deft way with a sward fight, and there are duels here as swashbuckling as anything in The Mask of Zorro. There are enigmatic messages in the night; there are violent confrontations; there are hired thugs. And after the final, most horrific revelations, there is a dramatic surprise of an ending. . . . All in all, The Fencing Master is a splendid performance." -- Walter Satterthwait, The New York Times Book Review, June 6, 1999. "Listeners who enjoyed last year's recording of THE THIRD MAN should enjoy this as well. . . . [I]t thrusts an innocent man of honor--in this case, fencing master Don Jaime de Asterola--into a world of passion and betrayal. De Asterola's search for answers after the murder of one of his clients becomes a life-and-death fencing match, a theme stressed by the passages of fencing advice that follow each plot twist. Michael York conveys de Asterola's newfound passions--for love, vengeance and survival--with his own master's touch. He also draws a few laughs with the dry wit that leavens the novel." -- AudioFile. "Here is the true art. Pérez-Reverte leads us through this intellectual thriller with the rhythm of a fencing match: thrust, parry, feint; thrust, parry feint." -- Jane Bussey, Miami Herald, May 30, 1999.]
What follows are various editions of the great historical novel featuring D'Artagnan and his three comrades -- Athos, Aramis, and Porthos -- as they engage is swordplay and adventure. The Three Musketeers was written by Alexandre Dumas and it first appeared in France (Les Trois Mousquetaires) in 1844. Dumas is also well-known for classics such as The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Man in the Iron Mask. Below you will find the hardcover, paperback, children's, and audiotape versions of The Three Musketeers.
Lightyear Press Limited Edition. Lightyear Press 1996. Dimensions (in inches): 8.83 x 5.85 x 1.02. Available from Amazon.com.]
Buccaneer Books 1984. Dimensions (in inches): 8.85 x 5.78 x 1.09. Available from Amazon.com.]
World's Classics series. Oxford University Press 1992. Dimensions (in inches): 7.34 x 4.56 x 1.23. Available from Amazon.com. For a larger image of the book's cover, click here.]
Tor Books 1994. Dimensions (in inches): 6.77 x 4.16 x 1.30. Available from Amazon.com.]
Bantam Classics series. Bantam Books 1990. Dimensions (in inches): 6.85 x 4.16 x .91. Available from Amazon.com. For a larger image of the book's cover, click here.]
Abbreviated Puffin edition. Reading Level: Grades 7-9, Young Adult. Paperback, 224 pages. Puffin 1995. Dimensions (in inches): 7.77 x 5.07 x .87. Available from Amazon.com.]
Classics Illustrated/Acclaim Books series edition. Sherwood Smith, editor. Paperback, 64 pages. Acclaim Books 1997. Dimensions (in inches): 7.60 x 5.30 x .20. Available from Amazon.com.]
Ladybird Picture Classics hardcover edition. Leslie Kimmelman, editor; David Barnett, illustrator. Ladybird Books 1996. Reading Level: Ages 4-9. Dimensions (in inches): 6.98 x 4.63 x .29. Available from Amazon.com.]
Bullseye Step into Classics series edition. Deborah G. Felder, editor. Reading Level: Ages 8-12. Paperback, 107 pages. Bullseye Books 1994. Dimensions (in inches): 7.62 x 5.17 x .31. Available from Amazon.com.]
Dumas, Alexandre. The Three Musketeers. [Audio Theatre Series] Monterey SoundWorks 1999 [This is quite a good, solid, and lively audiocassette edition of the classic Dumas tale. It uses the talents of the St. Charles Players so the story is told with multiple voices representing the many characters rather than relying on a single narrator. The voices are articulate, the recording is clear and easy to understand, and it features background sounds and music. The adaptation, by John M. McKinley, is faithful to the novel, and one doesn't feel the story is excessively cut, nor is too much of it crammed into the 139 minutes of tape on two cassettes. This work is geared for the young teen to adult age range, but younger children familiar with the tale will have no trouble following the plot. My 10-year-old listened along with me on the drive to the NAC (a Div. I fencing tournament) in Columbus and he understood what was occurring -- he also loved the way the actors performed their roles. "With swelling musical background and the clash of swordplay, the St. Charles Players bring back the feeling of radio theatre. . . . The players' voices and every nuance required to let listeners experience the swashbuckling deeds of the famous threesome." -- School Library Journal. "Outstanding example of a classic receiving high drama in audio." -- Reviewer's Bookwatch. "The St. Charles cast brings energy and gusto to Dumas' classic." -- Booklist.]Dumas, Alexandre. The Three Musketeers. New Millennium Audio 2001 [This is an abridged edition of the story narrated by Michael York (star of the 1974 film version). I have not heard this edition and cannot speak to its quality.]
Captain Blood. [This is the classic swashbuckling film available in a black & white videotape version. Released in 1935, this movie is based on the novel by Rafael Sabatini. Directed by Michael Curtiz, it stars Errol Flynn (in his first film with Curtiz), Olivia de Havilland, and Basil Rathbone. The rousing music in this folm was scored by the noted composer, Erich Wolfgang Korngold. "Director Michael Curtiz builds from one set piece to another, including a nimble beachside sword fight with pirate nemesis Basil Rathbone and climaxing with a grand sea battle that belies the film's modest budget. Flynn's bravado and charisma are apparent from his entrance, but once he leaps into action he takes command of the picture, overcoming his still-green dramatic skills with sheer personality. Captain Blood made stars of Flynn and de Havilland and catapulted Curtiz to the top ranks of Warner directors." -- Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com.]
The Count of Monte Cristo. Walt Disney Home Video 2002 [The classic Alexandre Dumas tale comes alive in this new version starring James Caviezel under the direction of Kevin Reynolds. This widescreen DVD version has numerous interesting features, especially for fencers. One feature, "En Garde," is a swordfighting multi-angle feature. I very much appreciated the elborate work that went into the fight scenes, and this comes through in "The Clash Of Steel" -- extensive discussion of swordfighting with the fencing expert who choreographed the scenes of swordplay. This DVD also includes a commentary by Kevin Reynolds; a feature on Alexandre Dumas; a useful discussion on the difficulties of screenwriting when dealing with a classic, well-known story; a production design feature on recreating the Napleonic era; deleted scenes (with director's commentary); and a layer by layer interactive sound design feature. The movie, without all of the added features, is also available in a VHS videotape version.]
The Duellists. Paramount Home Video 2002 [This is the new widescreen DVD edition of what is arguably one of Ridley Scott's best pictures, originally made in 1977. It stars two French officers, Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel, in a running duel that stretches for 20 years throughout the Naploeonic Wars. Carradine had insulted Keitel, and Keitel dogs him, but with each duel they are interrupted, until their final confrontation. This film is popular with both military history buffs and the fencing community. Being a military historian and a fencer, you can imagine how glad I am to see this new DVD release. It is loaded with features: theatrical trailer; commentary by Director Ridley Scott; commentary and isolated score by Howard Blake; photo galleries; storyboards; a featurette with Ridley Scott's first short film, "Boy and Bicycle; and more. A VHS videotape version, without all the extras, is available. "Strong performances . . . and amazing cinematography, as well as a cast that includes Albert Finney, Edward Fox, and Tom Conti." -- Marshall Fine, Amazon.com.]
The Mark of Zorro. [This is the B&W videotape version of the wonderful Zorro film made in 1940. It stars Tyrone Power as Zorro, Basil Rathbone as his nemesis, and Linda Darnell as his love interest. The movie was ably directed by Rouben Mamoulian. The music is superb and earned Alfred Newman an Academy Award nomination. This movie is a favorite with us adults, and also with the kids. Easily recognizable are several scenes that the 1998 Mask of Zorro draws on (e.g., in the chapel). If you like any of the Zorro films, you will love this movie!]
The Mark of Zorro. [This is the B&W videotape version of the 1920 silent film starring stars Douglas Fairbanks in the lead role. Marguerite de la Motte and Noah Beery also starred, while Fred Niblo directed. The movie is based on the novel, The Curse of Capistrano. This movie gave rise to Fairbanks' career as a swashbuckler, however many (probably most) still find the 1940 Tyrone Power film to be quite the better of the two.]
The Mask of Zorro. [This is the 1998 hit which brought new life to the Zorro legend -- and swordpaly -- on the big screen. It stars Antonio Banderas as the "new" Zorro, Anthony Hopkins as the older and wiser Zorro, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the stunning daughter of the older, and the love interest of the younger. The movie, directed by Martin Campbell is very exciting, as it features good swordplay and lots of action, along with the twist of two Zorros. Many of the Zorro fans still favor Tyrone Powers, but Banderas clearly expressed a range of acting I had not seen before. Hopkins showed why he remains a box-office star, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is certainly proved that she may soon become one of the top movie actresses. This film is available in a standard videotape, a widescreen videotape edition, a Spanish subtitled videotape edition, and a DVD edition. The DVD version features THX, Dolby, a making of featurette, a theatrical trailer, a photo gallery, and a widescreen anamorphic format.]
The Sea Hawk. [This is the black & white videotape version of the classic 1940 swashbuckling film based on Rafael Sabatini's novel. There is also a colorized videotape available. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the movie stars Errol Flynn and Brenda Marshall.]
Treasure Island. Turner Home Entertainment 1990 [This video will appeal to all who love swashbuckling tales -- it is a fantastic version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale! It was shot on location under the direction of Fraser C. Heston. The Admiral Benbow Inn has the look and feel of a tavern of the time, Treasure Island is a lush island, not a back lot in Hollywood. The actors are also first-rate. Charlton Heston leads a talented cast in his role as Long John Silver. Even the role of Jim Hawkins is well cast -- Christian Bale turns in a solid performance, and unlike so many child actors, he does not come off as obnoxious. (Others in the cast include Richard Johnson, Julian Glover, Christopher Lee as Blind Pew, and Oliver Reed as Billy Bones.) The dialogue is solid, especially since the cast provides a convincing rendition of the vagaries of the English language at that time. The music was composed by Paddy Maloney and performed by The Chieftains. It is a great asset to the film as it underscores the drama with a sound contemporary to the story. This video has been a hit with both adults and children in our family, and it has proven a favorite gift for birthdays. It carries a rating of "F" for "Family."]
There is a great fencing game that we would like to recommend to all titled, Duell. Basically, two opponents play cards with different point values that allow them to move back and forth along an outdoor piste attempting to land a touch. First one to five touches wins. Reiner Knizia, the genius of game designing, created this quick-paced, fun game. As the rules take just a few minutes to learn, you will be playing the game shortly after opening the box. [This game used to be known as En Garde when it was published by Abacus Spiele in Germany. It used a sport fencing theme as opposed to the new dueling theme, hence the piste remains from the old design. Note that it is also updated with several new rules, cards, and graphics.] For a review of this game by Mike Siggens, please click here. For a review by Steffan O'Sullivan, please click here. The game is endorsed by the German Fencing Federation. Click on the image at the right for more info about the game, and how to order it at a discount from Funagain Games. Larger photos of the game box and images of the contents can be found at the Funagain site and/or with the game reviews.
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