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螚 螞苇蟽蠂畏 芦螖慰蠀渭维蟼禄 萎 螚 蟽魏喂维 蟿慰蠀 巍喂蟽蔚位喂苇
螠蟺慰蟻蔚委 苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委慰 谓伪 纬委谓蔚喂 伪谓蟿喂魏蔚委渭蔚谓慰 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏萎蟼 苇蟻蔚蠀谓伪蟼 蟽伪谓 谓伪 蔚蟺蟻蠈魏蔚喂蟿慰 纬喂伪 苇谓伪 苇纬魏位畏渭伪, 渭蔚 委蠂谓畏 蟽蟿喂蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀, 蟽蟿喂蟼 纬魏蟻伪尾慰蠉蟻蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 魏伪喂 蟽蟿伪 未喂伪魏蟻喂蟿喂魏维 蟿畏蟼 蔚魏蟿蠉蟺蠅蟽萎蟼 蟿慰蠀; 螣 螞慰蠉魏伪蟼 螝蠈蟻蟽慰, 苇谓伪蟼 渭喂蟽胃慰蠁蠈蟻慰蟼 蟿畏蟼 尾喂尾位喂慰蠁喂位委伪蟼, 魏蠀谓畏纬蠈蟼 尾喂尾位委蠅谓 纬喂伪 位慰纬伪蟻喂伪蟽渭蠈 维位位蠅谓, 蟺蟻苇蟺蔚喂 谓伪 尾蟻蔚喂 蟿畏谓 伪蟺维谓蟿畏蟽畏 蠈蟿伪谓 伪谓伪位伪渭尾维谓蔚喂 渭喂伪 未喂蟺位萎 伪蟺慰蟽蟿慰位萎 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺蔚位维蟿蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀: 谓伪 蔚尉伪魏蟻喂尾蠋蟽蔚喂 蟿畏 纬谓畏蟽喂蠈蟿畏蟿伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 蠂蔚喂蟻蠈纬蟻伪蠁慰蠀 魏蔚蠁伪位伪委慰蠀 蟿蠅谓 "韦蟻喂蠋谓 危蠅渭伪蟿慰蠁蠀位维魏蠅谓". 魏伪喂 谓伪 位蠉蟽蔚喂 蟿慰 伪委谓喂纬渭伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 蟺伪蟻维尉蔚谓慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 蟺慰蠀 魏维畏魏蔚 蟿慰 1667 渭伪味委 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 维谓胃蟻蠅蟺慰 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰 蟿蠉蟺蠅蟽蔚. 螚 苇蟻蔚蠀谓伪 伪蠀蟿萎 胃伪 蟿慰谓 慰未畏纬萎蟽蔚喂 蟽蟿伪 伪蟻蠂蔚委伪 蟿畏蟼 螜蔚蟻萎蟼 螘尉苇蟿伪蟽畏蟼, 蟽蔚 伪蟺伪纬慰蟻蔚蠀渭苇谓伪 尾喂尾位委伪, 蟽蔚 蟽魏慰谓喂蟽渭苇谓伪 蟻维蠁喂伪 尾喂尾位喂慰蟺蠅位蔚委蠅谓 魏伪喂 蟽蟿喂蟼 蔚魏位蔚魏蟿苇蟼 尾喂尾位喂慰胃萎魏蔚蟼 蠁畏渭喂蟽渭苇谓蠅谓 蟽蠀位位蔚魏蟿蠋谓.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
1657 people are currently reading
28848 people want to read
About the author
Arturo P茅rez-Reverte
178听books5,966听followersArturo P茅rez-Reverte Guti茅rrez, 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 h煤sar', 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 P茅rez-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 P茅rez-Reverte one of the most famous and bestseller authors of Spanish fiction of our 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 P茅rez-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 P茅rez-Reverte one of the most famous and bestseller authors of Spanish fiction of our era.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,669 reviews
March 24, 2022
Arturo P茅rez-Reverte - image from Periodistadigital.com
Corso is an unscrupulous dealer in and acquirer of rare books. When a famous collector is found dead, he is called in to authenticate what is supposedly an original manuscript chapter of The Three Musketeers. He is subsequently engaged to find the remaining known copies of a mysterious book that may have the power to summon Satan himself. The flap copy portrays this as in intellectual thriller and it is indeed that. It would help to be familiar with the work of Dumas, but still fun even in the absence. There are references aplenty that presume an eidetic memory of great literature, or, in the absence of that, at least an eagerness to engage the Google engine to add some light. Whether the refs are obvious or require research, the author makes this a fun-filled journey, a puzzle with literary clues and a surprise ending. Quite recommended.
P茅rez-Reverte is one of the best known, and best-selling contemporary authors of Spanish fiction.
============================EXTRA STUFF>
Links to the author鈥檚 personal, and pages
November 27, 2024
My review of The Club Dumas is published at .
The Club Dumas by Arturo P茅rez-Reverte is quite a thrill ride for bibliophiles, with a dark, labyrinthine story full of gray morality. The protagonist, Lucas Corso, is an antiquarian book dealer and investigator known for doing whatever it takes to meet the demands of his privileged clientele. As the novel opens, Corso is approached by a wealthy client asking him to authenticate a manuscript which is supposedly a rare original document by the famed French writer Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
Corso鈥檚 investigation in The Club Dumas leads him on a path toward finding a legendary occultist book, supposedly containing instructions on how to summon Satan. Corso deduces that there are actually three copies of the book. Much of the plot centers on Corso locating these copies and studying their subtle differences to determine which is real and which are fake.
Arturo P茅rez-Reverte does excellent work incorporating artwork into the novel, using images of nine plates contained from the legendary Satanic book and explaining the subtle differences between the authentic and forged versions. The study of these slight differences leads Corso to an unexpected conclusion regarding the person who has hired his services.
The Club Dumas is a ton of fun, and Lucas Corso is highly compelling as the main protagonist. Corso is equal parts book scholar, philosopher, hardboiled detective, and James Bond-style superspy, but with morally gray overtones that will be especially appealing to grimdark fans.
I won鈥檛 give away any more of the plot in The Club Dumas, which is filled with action involving antiquarian book lovers, femme fatales, and Satanists. The ending of the novel has a twist so big that it left me in complete disbelief, questioning everything I had read up to that point.
The Club Dumas is the type of novel that will stimulate the mind at a deep level while also keeping you entertained throughout. Overall, The Club Dumas is highly recommended for fans of dark fiction.
The Club Dumas by Arturo P茅rez-Reverte is quite a thrill ride for bibliophiles, with a dark, labyrinthine story full of gray morality. The protagonist, Lucas Corso, is an antiquarian book dealer and investigator known for doing whatever it takes to meet the demands of his privileged clientele. As the novel opens, Corso is approached by a wealthy client asking him to authenticate a manuscript which is supposedly a rare original document by the famed French writer Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
Corso鈥檚 investigation in The Club Dumas leads him on a path toward finding a legendary occultist book, supposedly containing instructions on how to summon Satan. Corso deduces that there are actually three copies of the book. Much of the plot centers on Corso locating these copies and studying their subtle differences to determine which is real and which are fake.
Arturo P茅rez-Reverte does excellent work incorporating artwork into the novel, using images of nine plates contained from the legendary Satanic book and explaining the subtle differences between the authentic and forged versions. The study of these slight differences leads Corso to an unexpected conclusion regarding the person who has hired his services.
The Club Dumas is a ton of fun, and Lucas Corso is highly compelling as the main protagonist. Corso is equal parts book scholar, philosopher, hardboiled detective, and James Bond-style superspy, but with morally gray overtones that will be especially appealing to grimdark fans.
I won鈥檛 give away any more of the plot in The Club Dumas, which is filled with action involving antiquarian book lovers, femme fatales, and Satanists. The ending of the novel has a twist so big that it left me in complete disbelief, questioning everything I had read up to that point.
The Club Dumas is the type of novel that will stimulate the mind at a deep level while also keeping you entertained throughout. Overall, The Club Dumas is highly recommended for fans of dark fiction.
February 18, 2011
6.0 stars. Another book on my list of "All Time Favorite" novels. This is a book that I started reading with very high expectations and, lo and behold, those expectations were actually met if not exceeded. This book had so many aspects to it that were right in my wheelhouse. First, it is set in the world of rare book collectors with endless references to rare editions to excite the book nerd in us all. Second, there are two related subplots involving (i) an original manuscript of that tracks the life of and explores many of his works and (ii) a rare book written in 1666 and reputed to have been written in partial collaboration with Satan himself that contain puzzles that need to be solved in order to [???....no spoilers]. Third, you have a superb main character in Lucas Corso, a cynical, amoral book detective (played very well by Johnny Depp in the film version known as The Ninth Gate).
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth etc.. you have secret societies, satanic rituals, exotic locals, femme fatales, quirky and memorable supporting characters, supernatural guardians and pacing that moves along very quickly.
Add all of that up and you have what the front of the book accurately describes as "a beach read for intellectuals." I loved it and I give it my HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!
Nominee: World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
Fourth, Fifth, Sixth etc.. you have secret societies, satanic rituals, exotic locals, femme fatales, quirky and memorable supporting characters, supernatural guardians and pacing that moves along very quickly.
Add all of that up and you have what the front of the book accurately describes as "a beach read for intellectuals." I loved it and I give it my HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!
Nominee: World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
December 8, 2024
鈾狅笍 tenebris mysterium - dark mystery
馃敟 鈥淎 terrible book kept in secret, burned many times, sold for huge sums by the few privileged to own it. These illustrations are really satanic hieroglyphs. Interpreted with the aid of the text and the appropriate knowledge, they can be used to summon the prince of darkness." 馃敟
Can you call up the devil with the right spell from an old, old book?
A very esoteric work about antique books, arcane knowledge, and finding the devil in the details. If you鈥檝e seen the movie (Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp as the book hunter) it鈥檚 really nothing like that, but for a few events at the beginning. It is overall a journey that grows more complicated, labyrinthine, and complex, particularly in the final chapters.
Lots of musings about the reality of the devil and hell and God. A parallel reality that ushers in the storyline of The Three Musketeers and the characters of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, d鈥橝rtagnan, Milady, Richelieu, and Rochefort. En garde 馃棥锔�
鈾狅笍 A brain bender and a mystery the reader wonders if they鈥檝e solved by the end. Impeccably written but not lightly written. Intriguing, deep, and dark, with mere fragments of light and a beautiful emerald-eyed companion, almost a version of Virgil, who guides without leading or explaining - who is she? She whimsically (perhaps truthfully?) calls herself 鈥渢he devil in love.鈥�
馃敟 鈥淎 terrible book kept in secret, burned many times, sold for huge sums by the few privileged to own it. These illustrations are really satanic hieroglyphs. Interpreted with the aid of the text and the appropriate knowledge, they can be used to summon the prince of darkness." 馃敟
Can you call up the devil with the right spell from an old, old book?
A very esoteric work about antique books, arcane knowledge, and finding the devil in the details. If you鈥檝e seen the movie (Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp as the book hunter) it鈥檚 really nothing like that, but for a few events at the beginning. It is overall a journey that grows more complicated, labyrinthine, and complex, particularly in the final chapters.
Lots of musings about the reality of the devil and hell and God. A parallel reality that ushers in the storyline of The Three Musketeers and the characters of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, d鈥橝rtagnan, Milady, Richelieu, and Rochefort. En garde 馃棥锔�
鈾狅笍 A brain bender and a mystery the reader wonders if they鈥檝e solved by the end. Impeccably written but not lightly written. Intriguing, deep, and dark, with mere fragments of light and a beautiful emerald-eyed companion, almost a version of Virgil, who guides without leading or explaining - who is she? She whimsically (perhaps truthfully?) calls herself 鈥渢he devil in love.鈥�
April 8, 2020
"A beachbook for intellectuals" (NY Times) indeed! Its brilliance is subtle, the prose is accessible, the themes are grand. How hard, really, is the creation of a postmodern "beachbook"? Very. And to wrangle with the conventions without overstepping unto dreaded cliche... And to keep the characters charismatic & vivid... & to keep a labyrinthine mystery going... etc. Very difficult, and this novel does not quite cross into the inanity of Jasper Fforde's terrain nor into the uber-popular, comical turf of Mr. Dan Brown. It is original and entertaining in equal measure. It is, perhaps, one of the sole post-modern neonoir contenders to be forged unto the Must 1001 List.
I watched the Roman Polanski/Johnny Depp film, "The Ninth Gate" a while back and I still remember just how searing reviews had been. I know now why: the book is a minor gem whereas the film is a major flop. Did you know that only half (almost, precisely) of the book exists in that cinematic format? It is because the screenplay destroyed the marvelous effect constructed o-so masterfully by Perez-Reverte, only grabbing one strand of plot (the demonic one) & doing with it what it wanted, that we don't have a good version of a book that, frankly, MUST be read (not heard, or watched). "The Club Dumas" is at its most basic good solid fun.
I watched the Roman Polanski/Johnny Depp film, "The Ninth Gate" a while back and I still remember just how searing reviews had been. I know now why: the book is a minor gem whereas the film is a major flop. Did you know that only half (almost, precisely) of the book exists in that cinematic format? It is because the screenplay destroyed the marvelous effect constructed o-so masterfully by Perez-Reverte, only grabbing one strand of plot (the demonic one) & doing with it what it wanted, that we don't have a good version of a book that, frankly, MUST be read (not heard, or watched). "The Club Dumas" is at its most basic good solid fun.
May 22, 2008
After reading Jeri's review, I don't really have a lot to add.
I thought the premise was interesting, but the climax was disappointing, the characters were one-dimensional (this might have been purposeful, as he was trying to draw parallels to Dumas' book, but didn't really work for me), and the was protagonist off-putting. I wasn't bothered by the details about bookbinding and famous books as much; those, in my opinion, were more interesting than the plot itself.
I think one of the problems with the book was that the author took two plots that could have been very interesting if fleshed out on their own (the devil book story and the Anjou wine story) and tried to mash them together. The result: neither was really fully developed. Each plot line just seemed to get in the way of the other.
Also, I really thought that if Corso talked about the girl's light green eyes or the way she smelled like "youth and fever" one more time, I was going to have to flush the thing down the toilet.
I thought the premise was interesting, but the climax was disappointing, the characters were one-dimensional (this might have been purposeful, as he was trying to draw parallels to Dumas' book, but didn't really work for me), and the was protagonist off-putting. I wasn't bothered by the details about bookbinding and famous books as much; those, in my opinion, were more interesting than the plot itself.
I think one of the problems with the book was that the author took two plots that could have been very interesting if fleshed out on their own (the devil book story and the Anjou wine story) and tried to mash them together. The result: neither was really fully developed. Each plot line just seemed to get in the way of the other.
Also, I really thought that if Corso talked about the girl's light green eyes or the way she smelled like "youth and fever" one more time, I was going to have to flush the thing down the toilet.
September 5, 2022
Descifrar el misterio de un libro que invoca al demonio, del que s贸lo quedan tres ejemplares en el mundo, se convirti贸 para Lucas Corso, comprador de libros antiguos por encargo, en peligrosa aventura. Pero por si esto fuera poco, un cap铆tulo manuscrito de los tres mosqueteros de Alejandro Dumas entra en escena y se entremezclan historias para dar origen a un apasionante thriller al mejor estilo de Arturo P茅rez-Reverte.
"El club Dumas" a帽o 1993, una de las novelas m谩s emblem谩ticas de Arturo P茅rez-Reverte, constituye un modelo ejemplar de utilizaci贸n de los m谩s genuinos ingredientes de la novela de intriga, como de investigaci贸n criminal, ambientaci贸n hist贸rica y ficci贸n culturalista, adem谩s de ser un homenaje al maestro del follet铆n decimon贸nico, Alejandro Dumas.
Esta novela ha sido llevada a la gran pantalla por Roman Polanski con el t铆tulo "La Novena Puerta" interpretada por Johnny Deep.
S铆, lo s茅. S茅 lo que est谩is pensando, banda, "Le ha dado cuatro estrellas a este"..
Soy el que mejor lo ha puntuado incluso con sus cosas y dificultades. P茅rez-Reverte me conquist贸 como autor, por su mano a la hora de escribir y crear. La sabidur铆a y conocimiento detr谩s de sus palabras, el enganche e inter茅s pasando las p谩ginas y aqu铆 me ha dado cosas que me han gustado.
Bueno, la dificultad mejor dicho, pues b谩sicamente es una y es que es un libro de libros.
Innumerables referencias, algo densas y a partes extensas.
Corso es un comerciante por llamarlo de alguna manera, mercenario bibli贸filo otra, adquirente sin escr煤pulos de libros raros y 煤nicos.
Se encuentra muerto a un famoso coleccionista, se le llama para autentificar lo que es nada menos que un manuscrito original de "Los tres Mosqueteros". Posteriormente, se compromete a encontrar las copias restantes conocidas de un libro misterioso que puede tener el poder de convocar al mismo Satan谩s.
Se retrata esto como un thriller intelectual y de hecho, es as铆. Se necesitaran todas las neuronas activas y terminan K.O.
Pero me mol贸.
Abundan mucho las referencias que suponen una memoria eid茅tica de la literatura, o, mejor dicho, estas inundan las p谩ginas que es el pie donde cojea el libro para muchos. Con raz贸n, no es f谩cil y puede fastidiarte la lectura.
Reverte hace de este un complejo viaje de aprendizaje lleno informaci贸n. Tambi茅n es un rompecabezas con pistas literarias y un final a la altura.
LO S脡.. joder.. no tengo remedio, lo s茅...馃檮
Qu茅 me fascin贸, primero, est谩 ambientado en el mundo de los coleccionistas de libros raros con referencias interminables a ediciones raras para entusiasmar al bibli贸filo que llevo dentro.
En segundo lugar, hay dos tramas secundarias relacionadas una que involucra un manuscrito original de los tres mosqueteros que rastrea la vida de Alexandre Dumas y explora muchas de sus obras y la segunda un libro raro escrito en 1666 y se dice que fue escrito en colaboraci贸n parcial con el mism铆simo Satan谩s que contiene rompecabezas para.. leedlo..
Su brillantez es sutil, la prosa es accesible a la vez que firme, muy embaucadora y sobretodo con una gran sabidur铆a, los temas de la trama son libros pero vaya libros, y vaya historias.
Ademas logra mantener a todos los personajes carism谩ticos, y con su marcada personalidad, muy humanos y v铆vidos durante el trayecto.
Especialmente logra mantener un enorme y dif铆cil misterio casi laber铆ntico. Pero a este libro le hubieran venido bien ciertas cosas.
Es un libro muy denso m谩s que novela es una bibliograf铆a. La trama del libro de las nueve puertas est谩 mejor que la de Dumas. Cost贸 e intent茅 no leer en horizontal.
Hay que tener en cuenta todo esto, yo le he dado 4 estrellas por c贸mo est谩 escrito y porque me gustaron muchas cosas. Pero esas cosas son un 60% el otro 40% pierde mucho, y sobretodo cuesta. Para muchos os supondr谩 el abandono o ponerle menos nota. Es un libro a dedicarle rato y neuronas para no leer en horizontal.
La diferencia es que el esfuerzo en mi caso lo mereci贸 y lo pase muy bien con ciertas partes e informaci贸n.
As铆 pues, dejo constancia de mi pu帽o y letra de lo acontenido con esta lectura. Firmado y sellado.
..翱惫别谤...鉁嶏笍
"El club Dumas" a帽o 1993, una de las novelas m谩s emblem谩ticas de Arturo P茅rez-Reverte, constituye un modelo ejemplar de utilizaci贸n de los m谩s genuinos ingredientes de la novela de intriga, como de investigaci贸n criminal, ambientaci贸n hist贸rica y ficci贸n culturalista, adem谩s de ser un homenaje al maestro del follet铆n decimon贸nico, Alejandro Dumas.
Esta novela ha sido llevada a la gran pantalla por Roman Polanski con el t铆tulo "La Novena Puerta" interpretada por Johnny Deep.
S铆, lo s茅. S茅 lo que est谩is pensando, banda, "Le ha dado cuatro estrellas a este"..
Soy el que mejor lo ha puntuado incluso con sus cosas y dificultades. P茅rez-Reverte me conquist贸 como autor, por su mano a la hora de escribir y crear. La sabidur铆a y conocimiento detr谩s de sus palabras, el enganche e inter茅s pasando las p谩ginas y aqu铆 me ha dado cosas que me han gustado.
Bueno, la dificultad mejor dicho, pues b谩sicamente es una y es que es un libro de libros.
Innumerables referencias, algo densas y a partes extensas.
Corso es un comerciante por llamarlo de alguna manera, mercenario bibli贸filo otra, adquirente sin escr煤pulos de libros raros y 煤nicos.
Se encuentra muerto a un famoso coleccionista, se le llama para autentificar lo que es nada menos que un manuscrito original de "Los tres Mosqueteros". Posteriormente, se compromete a encontrar las copias restantes conocidas de un libro misterioso que puede tener el poder de convocar al mismo Satan谩s.
Se retrata esto como un thriller intelectual y de hecho, es as铆. Se necesitaran todas las neuronas activas y terminan K.O.
Pero me mol贸.
Abundan mucho las referencias que suponen una memoria eid茅tica de la literatura, o, mejor dicho, estas inundan las p谩ginas que es el pie donde cojea el libro para muchos. Con raz贸n, no es f谩cil y puede fastidiarte la lectura.
Reverte hace de este un complejo viaje de aprendizaje lleno informaci贸n. Tambi茅n es un rompecabezas con pistas literarias y un final a la altura.
LO S脡.. joder.. no tengo remedio, lo s茅...馃檮
Qu茅 me fascin贸, primero, est谩 ambientado en el mundo de los coleccionistas de libros raros con referencias interminables a ediciones raras para entusiasmar al bibli贸filo que llevo dentro.
En segundo lugar, hay dos tramas secundarias relacionadas una que involucra un manuscrito original de los tres mosqueteros que rastrea la vida de Alexandre Dumas y explora muchas de sus obras y la segunda un libro raro escrito en 1666 y se dice que fue escrito en colaboraci贸n parcial con el mism铆simo Satan谩s que contiene rompecabezas para.. leedlo..
Su brillantez es sutil, la prosa es accesible a la vez que firme, muy embaucadora y sobretodo con una gran sabidur铆a, los temas de la trama son libros pero vaya libros, y vaya historias.
Ademas logra mantener a todos los personajes carism谩ticos, y con su marcada personalidad, muy humanos y v铆vidos durante el trayecto.
Especialmente logra mantener un enorme y dif铆cil misterio casi laber铆ntico. Pero a este libro le hubieran venido bien ciertas cosas.
Es un libro muy denso m谩s que novela es una bibliograf铆a. La trama del libro de las nueve puertas est谩 mejor que la de Dumas. Cost贸 e intent茅 no leer en horizontal.
Hay que tener en cuenta todo esto, yo le he dado 4 estrellas por c贸mo est谩 escrito y porque me gustaron muchas cosas. Pero esas cosas son un 60% el otro 40% pierde mucho, y sobretodo cuesta. Para muchos os supondr谩 el abandono o ponerle menos nota. Es un libro a dedicarle rato y neuronas para no leer en horizontal.
La diferencia es que el esfuerzo en mi caso lo mereci贸 y lo pase muy bien con ciertas partes e informaci贸n.
As铆 pues, dejo constancia de mi pu帽o y letra de lo acontenido con esta lectura. Firmado y sellado.
..翱惫别谤...鉁嶏笍
May 31, 2022
A decent thriller built around a well developed Literary Detective - hard edged, cynical, gin swilling Lucas Corso. Arturo Perez Reverte joins with his debut novel a club of writers for book lovers who built their stories around rare books, dusty libraries, obscure texts or frequent references to popular novels. I'm talking about Umberto Eco, who gets a nod in the Club Dumas and may have inspired the author, and of the likes of Jasper Fforde and Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I've considered and discarded Dan Brown from this lists, as he seemed more interested in conspiracy theories and cheap tricks than in ancient manuscripts and the people who wrote them.
The story in Club Dumas has two major components that weave around one another and drive the mystery forward: the popular authors of adventure serials in 19th Century France and the esoteric / cabalistic researchers of 17th Century Toledo, Prague or Venice. Lucas Corso is on a mission to find the connection between the loose pages of the original handwritten draft of a chapter from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and the Devil summoning tome of a Venetian printer burned by the Inquisition in the year 1666.
I didn't give 5 stars because, although I enjoyed the story, this is one of the books where the journey is more important than the destination. It is also apparent for me that this is a debut novel, and the author is still searching for his particular style. The lovingly chosen quotes from Dumas, Zevaco, Sabatini, Poe, Melville or Doyle give flavour and illuminate some of the story points, but in other places the extensive research done on the above mentioned subjects feel like infodumps. Some other passages where Reverte uses dark streets , stormy nights and mysterious shadows to create the desired mood feel like exercises in imitating his favourite authors.
Conclusion: a good starting point for Arturo Perez-Reverte showing a lot of promise for his later work, and a well of information about Dumas and his fellow adventure writers
The story in Club Dumas has two major components that weave around one another and drive the mystery forward: the popular authors of adventure serials in 19th Century France and the esoteric / cabalistic researchers of 17th Century Toledo, Prague or Venice. Lucas Corso is on a mission to find the connection between the loose pages of the original handwritten draft of a chapter from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and the Devil summoning tome of a Venetian printer burned by the Inquisition in the year 1666.
I didn't give 5 stars because, although I enjoyed the story, this is one of the books where the journey is more important than the destination. It is also apparent for me that this is a debut novel, and the author is still searching for his particular style. The lovingly chosen quotes from Dumas, Zevaco, Sabatini, Poe, Melville or Doyle give flavour and illuminate some of the story points, but in other places the extensive research done on the above mentioned subjects feel like infodumps. Some other passages where Reverte uses dark streets , stormy nights and mysterious shadows to create the desired mood feel like exercises in imitating his favourite authors.
Conclusion: a good starting point for Arturo Perez-Reverte showing a lot of promise for his later work, and a well of information about Dumas and his fellow adventure writers
September 28, 2015
韦慰 尉蔚魏委谓畏蟽伪 渭蔚 渭喂伪 蠂伪位伪蟻萎 未喂维胃蔚蟽畏 魏伪喂 蟽蔚位委未伪 渭蔚 蟿畏 蟽蔚位委未伪 渭蔚 魏苇蟻未喂味蔚 蠈位慰 魏伪喂 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻慰, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 畏 苇谓蟿伪蟽畏 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺位慰魏萎 慰位慰苇谓伪 伪蠀尉维谓蔚蟿伪喂.
韦慰 苇蟻纬慰 蔚蠂蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蟿维蟽畏 谓伪 蟽蠀谓慰渭喂位蔚委 渭蔚 蟿伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿畏蟼 魏位伪蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪蟼. 螒蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻谓维 慰 危蔚蟻位慰魏 围慰位渭蟼, 慰 螒渭位蔚蟿, 畏 螣未蠀蟽蟽蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 蠁蠀蟽喂魏维 慰喂 蟿蟻蔚喂蟼 蟽蠅渭伪蟿慰蠁蠉位伪魏蔚蟼, 蟺慰蠀 畏 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 尾伪蟻蠉谓慰蠀蟽伪蟼 蟽畏渭伪蟽委伪蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 蟺位慰魏萎 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀. 螘魏蟿蠈蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蠀蟺慰胃苇蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿蠅谓 苇蟻纬蠅谓, 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻苇蟼 魏维谓蔚喂 魏 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼, 蟿喂蟼 尾喂慰纬蟻伪蠁委蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 魏伪喂, 慰 巍蔚尾蔚蟻蟿蔚 伪蟻苇蟽魏蔚蟿蔚 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂 位慰纬慰蟺伪委纬谓喂伪 渭蔚 伪蟿维魏蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿慰蠀蟼.
螤蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚委谓伪喂 畏 蠂伪蟻维 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位喂蠈蠁喂位慰蠀. 危畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈蟼 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蟼 蟽蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 伪蠁喂蔚蟻蠋谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰 谓伪 渭喂位萎蟽蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬委伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 蟿慰 蠂伪蟻蟿委 蟿慰蠀, 蟿慰 渭蔚位维谓喂 魏伪喂 蠁蠀蟽喂魏维 蟿慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟿蠉位喂纬渭伪. 螌位伪 伪蠀蟿维 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰蠀 渭蔚 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蠀蟽喂魏苇蟼 蟺蟻慰蔚魏蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 谓慰蠀维蟻 未喂维胃蔚蟽畏. 螤蟻慰蟿蔚委谓蔚蟿蔚 蟽蔚 尾喂尾位喂慰蠁维纬慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 位维蟿蟻蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰蠀. 螁渭伪 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚蟿蔚 伪蟽蠂慰位畏胃蔚委 苇蟽蟿蠅 魏 位委纬慰 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪 蟿蠅谓 未蠀慰 蟺蟻慰畏纬慰蠉渭蔚谓蠅谓 伪喂蠋谓蠅谓 蟿慰蠀位维蠂喂蟽蟿慰谓, 渭畏谓 渭蟺蔚委蟿蔚 蟽蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟺慰 谓伪 蟿慰 未喂伪尾维蟽蔚蟿蔚, 胃伪 渭蟺蔚蟻未蔚蠀蟿蔚委蟿蔚 魏伪喂 胃伪 蟿伪 蠂维蟽蔚蟿蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟺维渭蟺慰位位蔚蟼 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻苇蟼鈥�
韦慰 苇蟻纬慰 蔚蠂蔚喂 蟿畏谓 蟿维蟽畏 谓伪 蟽蠀谓慰渭喂位蔚委 渭蔚 蟿伪 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟽蠈蟿蔚蟻伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿畏蟼 魏位伪蟽喂魏萎蟼 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪蟼. 螒蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟽蔚位委未蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺蔚蟻谓维 慰 危蔚蟻位慰魏 围慰位渭蟼, 慰 螒渭位蔚蟿, 畏 螣未蠀蟽蟽蔚喂伪 魏伪喂 蠁蠀蟽喂魏维 慰喂 蟿蟻蔚喂蟼 蟽蠅渭伪蟿慰蠁蠉位伪魏蔚蟼, 蟺慰蠀 畏 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚委谓伪喂 尾伪蟻蠉谓慰蠀蟽伪蟼 蟽畏渭伪蟽委伪蟼 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 蟺位慰魏萎 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀. 螘魏蟿蠈蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蠀蟺慰胃苇蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿蠅谓 苇蟻纬蠅谓, 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻苇蟼 魏维谓蔚喂 魏 纬喂伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟽蠀纬纬蟻伪蠁蔚委蟼, 蟿喂蟼 尾喂慰纬蟻伪蠁委蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 魏伪喂, 慰 巍蔚尾蔚蟻蟿蔚 伪蟻苇蟽魏蔚蟿蔚 谓伪 魏维谓蔚喂 位慰纬慰蟺伪委纬谓喂伪 渭蔚 伪蟿维魏蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 苇蟻纬伪 蟿慰蠀蟼.
螤蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏维 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚委谓伪喂 畏 蠂伪蟻维 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位喂蠈蠁喂位慰蠀. 危畏渭伪谓蟿喂魏蠈蟼 蠂蟻蠈谓慰蟼 蟽蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蔚蟺委蟽畏蟼 伪蠁喂蔚蟻蠋谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿慰 谓伪 渭喂位萎蟽蔚喂 纬喂伪 蟿畏谓 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬委伪 蔚谓蠈蟼 尾喂尾位委慰蠀, 蟿慰 蠂伪蟻蟿委 蟿慰蠀, 蟿慰 渭蔚位维谓喂 魏伪喂 蠁蠀蟽喂魏维 蟿慰 蟺蔚蟻喂蟿蠉位喂纬渭伪. 螌位伪 伪蠀蟿维 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰蠀 渭蔚 渭蔚蟿伪蠁蠀蟽喂魏苇蟼 蟺蟻慰蔚魏蟿维蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 谓慰蠀维蟻 未喂维胃蔚蟽畏. 螤蟻慰蟿蔚委谓蔚蟿蔚 蟽蔚 尾喂尾位喂慰蠁维纬慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 位维蟿蟻蔚喂蟼 蟿慰蠀 渭蠀蟽蟿萎蟻喂慰蠀. 螁渭伪 未蔚谓 苇蠂蔚蟿蔚 伪蟽蠂慰位畏胃蔚委 苇蟽蟿蠅 魏 位委纬慰 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 位慰纬慰蟿蔚蠂谓委伪 蟿蠅谓 未蠀慰 蟺蟻慰畏纬慰蠉渭蔚谓蠅谓 伪喂蠋谓蠅谓 蟿慰蠀位维蠂喂蟽蟿慰谓, 渭畏谓 渭蟺蔚委蟿蔚 蟽蟿慰谓 魏蠈蟺慰 谓伪 蟿慰 未喂伪尾维蟽蔚蟿蔚, 胃伪 渭蟺蔚蟻未蔚蠀蟿蔚委蟿蔚 魏伪喂 胃伪 蟿伪 蠂维蟽蔚蟿蔚 伪蟺蠈 蟿喂蟼 蟺维渭蟺慰位位蔚蟼 伪谓伪蠁慰蟻苇蟼鈥�
February 4, 2025
啸邪褉械褋邪 屑懈 鈥炐斝敌残笛傂把傂� 锌芯褉褌邪鈥�, 胁褗锌褉械泻懈 褔械 懈屑邪褏 锌芯-谐芯谢械屑懈 芯褔邪泻胁邪薪懈褟. 袣褉懈屑懈薪邪谢薪懈褟褌 褋褞卸械褌 懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸懈褌械 薪械 屑械 胁锌械褔邪褌谢懈褏邪 芯褋芯斜械薪芯, 芯斜邪褔械 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟褌邪 械 褉邪蟹泻邪蟹邪薪邪 褋谢邪写泻芯写褍屑薪芯 懈 褋褗褋 褋懈谢薪邪 谢褞斜芯胁 泻褗屑 泻薪懈谐懈褌械, 泻芯械褌芯 薪褟屑邪 泻邪泻 写邪 薪械 屑械 褉邪蟹胁褗谢薪褍胁邪... 袗胁褌芯褉褗褌 锌芯 屑薪芯谐芯 锌褉懈褟褌械薪 薪邪褔懈薪 芯褌写邪胁邪 锌芯褔懈褌 薪邪 谢械谐械薪写邪褉薪懈褟 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪褋泻懈 褉芯屑邪薪 鈥炐⒀€懈屑邪褌邪 屑褍褋泻械褌邪褉懈鈥�!
鈥炐毿拘承把傂� 谐芯胁芯褉懈屑 蟹邪 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪褌邪 泻邪褌芯 褋褉械写邪, 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪懈褟褌 褔懈褌邪褌械谢 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 薪邪褋谢邪卸写邪胁邪 薪邪 褋褌褉邪褌械谐懈褟褌邪, 锌芯褋褉械写褋褌胁芯屑 泻芯褟褌芯 褋邪屑 褌芯泄 斜懈胁邪 懈蟹屑邪屑械薪. 袨褋薪芯胁薪懈褟褌 锌芯写褌懈泻 蟹邪 褍褔邪褋褌懈械 胁 懈谐褉邪褌邪 械 褍写芯胁芯谢褋褌胁懈械褌芯. 小褗褖芯褌芯 胁邪卸懈 蟹邪 褔械褌械薪械褌芯 懈谢懈 锌懈褋邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 写邪写械薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟.鈥�
鈥炐毿拘承把傂� 谐芯胁芯褉懈屑 蟹邪 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪褌邪 泻邪褌芯 褋褉械写邪, 懈薪褌械谢懈谐械薪褌薪懈褟褌 褔懈褌邪褌械谢 屑芯卸械 写邪 褋械 薪邪褋谢邪卸写邪胁邪 薪邪 褋褌褉邪褌械谐懈褟褌邪, 锌芯褋褉械写褋褌胁芯屑 泻芯褟褌芯 褋邪屑 褌芯泄 斜懈胁邪 懈蟹屑邪屑械薪. 袨褋薪芯胁薪懈褟褌 锌芯写褌懈泻 蟹邪 褍褔邪褋褌懈械 胁 懈谐褉邪褌邪 械 褍写芯胁芯谢褋褌胁懈械褌芯. 小褗褖芯褌芯 胁邪卸懈 蟹邪 褔械褌械薪械褌芯 懈谢懈 锌懈褋邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 写邪写械薪邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟.鈥�
April 22, 2024
3.5. Lo que m谩s me gust贸 fueron las referencias a materias como la literatura y el ocultismo. La historia y los personajes, por alg煤n motivo que atribuyo a la peculiar prosa del autor, se me hicieron bastante pesados. El libro me dur贸 demasiado y no lo abr铆a con especial entusiasmo cada que lo retomaba, por m谩s que me apasionen los temas que aborda. Me agotaron bastante la longitud de las escenas y la falta de realismo en los personajes femeninos (los m谩s importantes son preciosos floreros unidimensionales: o totalmente perversos o totalmente ang茅licos). Al final, qued茅 hastiada por la cantidad de descripciones repetitivas sobre esa jovencita de 18 a帽os con pechos turgentes, cintura diminuta, largas piernas firmes y bronceadas, etc., etc. Me quedo con lo que el libro me remiti贸 a investigar fuera de s铆 mismo. Es una pena, porque mi edici贸n de aniversario es preciosa y fue un regalo de un buen amigo.
May 20, 2011
the protagonist Corso is a lot of fun. a shady, efficient, highly intelligent, deeply contemptuous, globe-trotting purveyor of literature from antiquity - the gumshoe transformed into book detective. he is perhaps the most enjoyable part of the novel and it is a pleasure (although a familiar one) to be seeing events through his eyes. in a way, he saves The Club Dumas from being completely forgettable.
the narrative is shaped as a fast-paced mystery, perhaps along the lines of The DaVinci Code (a book i never finished). it is, unfortunately, a very shallow mystery. well, actually, two mysteries and two pieces of literature at the heart of these mysteries: one an unpublished chapter by alexandre dumas and another a diabolical tome of which only three exist and whose publisher was burned at the stake. the mysteries are - perhaps - entwined. unfortunately, the mysteries are rather standard and the identities of the two villains (one per mystery!) are grindingly obvious. was this intended? i certainly hope so, because otherwise including a quote from a very relevant agatha christie novel as one of the chapter sub-headings was an amateurish move. why show your cards that way, unless it is intentional?
nevertheless, this is a quick and rather agreeable read. highly disposable and annoyingly repetitious at times (about a zillion descriptions of Corso looking rabbity and his companion's wise face and constantly bare feet - wtf?)...but the tight plotting, witty dialogue, and the obvious erudition of the author make it all easy to swallow. i just wish there was more to it all. sigh.
the narrative is shaped as a fast-paced mystery, perhaps along the lines of The DaVinci Code (a book i never finished). it is, unfortunately, a very shallow mystery. well, actually, two mysteries and two pieces of literature at the heart of these mysteries: one an unpublished chapter by alexandre dumas and another a diabolical tome of which only three exist and whose publisher was burned at the stake. the mysteries are - perhaps - entwined. unfortunately, the mysteries are rather standard and the identities of the two villains (one per mystery!) are grindingly obvious. was this intended? i certainly hope so, because otherwise including a quote from a very relevant agatha christie novel as one of the chapter sub-headings was an amateurish move. why show your cards that way, unless it is intentional?
nevertheless, this is a quick and rather agreeable read. highly disposable and annoyingly repetitious at times (about a zillion descriptions of Corso looking rabbity and his companion's wise face and constantly bare feet - wtf?)...but the tight plotting, witty dialogue, and the obvious erudition of the author make it all easy to swallow. i just wish there was more to it all. sigh.
July 22, 2008
This book is a confidence trick. I mean that in the most complimentary way possible however; Perez-Reverte takes a perverse delight in not just yanking the rug out from under you but practically rebuilding the house around you while you are reading, without you noticing until it is almost too late!
Put simply, this is a Quest novel. The protagonist (Corso) takes the Hero's Journey and all the archetypes are present and correct - indeed, one of them may be more of an archetype than even Corso (or the reader) suspects - and yet neither Corso nor the reader are truly aware of what quest they are actually on.
It also falls into that group of novels that require other reference points to properly appreciate. Just like a whole layer of Bridget Jones' Diary is lost if the reader is not well acquainted with Pride and Prejudice, so too The Dumas Club is much better if you've read the d'Artganan books (notably The Three Musketeers.)
And the clever intertwining plotlines that keep the reader as baffled as Corso, whilst allowing you to remain just that half-a-step ahead is a fine juggling act that only really loses its way right at the end (indeed The Ninth Gate - the film version - manages to improve on the ending of the book, although it should be observed that it only does so by abandoning one whole half of the plot!)
And this hook also belongs in that small group of novels in which the illustrations form an essential part of the plot (I can only think of 's First Among Sequels that uses illustrations as an integral part of the story in a similar way.)
So, despite the small flaw in the ending (which doesn't truly diminish the book, but is disappointing), this is a genuine classic.
Put simply, this is a Quest novel. The protagonist (Corso) takes the Hero's Journey and all the archetypes are present and correct - indeed, one of them may be more of an archetype than even Corso (or the reader) suspects - and yet neither Corso nor the reader are truly aware of what quest they are actually on.
It also falls into that group of novels that require other reference points to properly appreciate. Just like a whole layer of Bridget Jones' Diary is lost if the reader is not well acquainted with Pride and Prejudice, so too The Dumas Club is much better if you've read the d'Artganan books (notably The Three Musketeers.)
And the clever intertwining plotlines that keep the reader as baffled as Corso, whilst allowing you to remain just that half-a-step ahead is a fine juggling act that only really loses its way right at the end (indeed The Ninth Gate - the film version - manages to improve on the ending of the book, although it should be observed that it only does so by abandoning one whole half of the plot!)
And this hook also belongs in that small group of novels in which the illustrations form an essential part of the plot (I can only think of 's First Among Sequels that uses illustrations as an integral part of the story in a similar way.)
So, despite the small flaw in the ending (which doesn't truly diminish the book, but is disappointing), this is a genuine classic.
August 19, 2021
No, no me afilio yo a este club. Tres estrellas y casi, casi le caen dos.
M谩s bibliograf铆a que novela, m谩s explayarse en conocimientos sobre Dumas y dem谩s libros que pululan por la obra que en una trama interesante, he le铆do en diagonal gran parte.
驴Veis como a pesar de ser 鈥渞evertiano鈥� no me caso con todo lo que escribe?
M谩s bibliograf铆a que novela, m谩s explayarse en conocimientos sobre Dumas y dem谩s libros que pululan por la obra que en una trama interesante, he le铆do en diagonal gran parte.
驴Veis como a pesar de ser 鈥渞evertiano鈥� no me caso con todo lo que escribe?
January 26, 2024
Rating: 猸愨瓙 陆
Genre: Mystery Thriller
"The Ninth Gate," the film starring Johnny Depp, captivated me with its blend of mystery and bibliophilia. Eager to delve deeper, I sought the source material, Arturo P茅rez-Reverte's "The Club Dumas." While the initial premise鈥攁 rare Dumas manuscript, shadowy book collectors, and a potentially real-life Athos鈥攐ozed with promise, the experience fell short of expectations.
The writing, likely due to the translation, felt dry and academic, struggling to capture the dynamism of the film's atmosphere. Perhaps the Spanish version had a different energy, but in English, the prose lacked the necessary spark to fully ignite the story.
The book's greatest strength lies in its ambitious concept. The blurring lines between reality and fiction, the tantalizing secrets hidden within dusty tomes, and the whispers of a world beyond the printed page鈥攖hese elements are undeniably captivating. However, the execution stumbles. The story goes off in too many directions, with side plots that do not add anything to the plot and come across as narrative filler. At times, I felt lost in a maze of subplots, struggling to keep track of the central thread.
I can see how this disjointedness could be appealing to some; it is like a maze through literary history and magical lore. However, for me, it left the story feeling unfocused and, ultimately, unsatisfying. The ambiguous ending, while perhaps open to interpretation, felt more like a shrug than a satisfying conclusion.
"The Club Dumas" holds the potential for a thrilling literary adventure, but its execution stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. I'm aware I might be in the minority here, as the book has garnered significant acclaim. Perhaps it's simply a matter of taste, or perhaps, as I suspect, the magic of the Spanish prose is lost in translation. Whatever the reason, my journey through "The Club Dumas" left me wanting, with the promise of a literary treasure hunt ultimately unfulfilled.
Genre: Mystery Thriller
"The Ninth Gate," the film starring Johnny Depp, captivated me with its blend of mystery and bibliophilia. Eager to delve deeper, I sought the source material, Arturo P茅rez-Reverte's "The Club Dumas." While the initial premise鈥攁 rare Dumas manuscript, shadowy book collectors, and a potentially real-life Athos鈥攐ozed with promise, the experience fell short of expectations.
The writing, likely due to the translation, felt dry and academic, struggling to capture the dynamism of the film's atmosphere. Perhaps the Spanish version had a different energy, but in English, the prose lacked the necessary spark to fully ignite the story.
The book's greatest strength lies in its ambitious concept. The blurring lines between reality and fiction, the tantalizing secrets hidden within dusty tomes, and the whispers of a world beyond the printed page鈥攖hese elements are undeniably captivating. However, the execution stumbles. The story goes off in too many directions, with side plots that do not add anything to the plot and come across as narrative filler. At times, I felt lost in a maze of subplots, struggling to keep track of the central thread.
I can see how this disjointedness could be appealing to some; it is like a maze through literary history and magical lore. However, for me, it left the story feeling unfocused and, ultimately, unsatisfying. The ambiguous ending, while perhaps open to interpretation, felt more like a shrug than a satisfying conclusion.
"The Club Dumas" holds the potential for a thrilling literary adventure, but its execution stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. I'm aware I might be in the minority here, as the book has garnered significant acclaim. Perhaps it's simply a matter of taste, or perhaps, as I suspect, the magic of the Spanish prose is lost in translation. Whatever the reason, my journey through "The Club Dumas" left me wanting, with the promise of a literary treasure hunt ultimately unfulfilled.
May 31, 2007
This book is an homage to the swashbuckling adventure story, particularly the Three Musketeers like stories of Alexandre Dumas, pere. But I recommend it to anyone with a deep love for books (... which I would assume would be anyone who has taken the time to join this site in the first place...). I think that you'll recognize yourself in some of the characters, even in their most ridiculous adventures. I found myself variously giggling aloud, gasping in shock, and turning pages faster and faster like a fiend. Which is /exactly/ what a book of the swashbuckling adventure genre should do. Except that this book isn't about that most of the time. It is about wandering scholars, crazed professors, and eccentric, obsessed bibliophiles.
My favorite book of Perez-Reverte's remains "The Flanders Panel," but this book is still very high on those that I love. And it has a higher action/creepout factor for those who like a little more "swash" in their swashbuckling homages.
I highly recommend it. It's a great, absorbing read. One note: I suggest reading some Dumas, or you lose about half of the fun and cleverness of the novel. The end reveal couldn't possibly be as good without that background, I don't think.
As a final note: I heard there was a movie made of this. I chose not to see it, and I heard I chose correctly. Don't judge it by that! This book is absolutely fantastic, and I'm sure the plot was mangled to make it more exciting for Hollywood audiences. Don't base your opinion of it on that.
My favorite book of Perez-Reverte's remains "The Flanders Panel," but this book is still very high on those that I love. And it has a higher action/creepout factor for those who like a little more "swash" in their swashbuckling homages.
I highly recommend it. It's a great, absorbing read. One note: I suggest reading some Dumas, or you lose about half of the fun and cleverness of the novel. The end reveal couldn't possibly be as good without that background, I don't think.
As a final note: I heard there was a movie made of this. I chose not to see it, and I heard I chose correctly. Don't judge it by that! This book is absolutely fantastic, and I'm sure the plot was mangled to make it more exciting for Hollywood audiences. Don't base your opinion of it on that.
July 29, 2022
Lucas Corso is a book detective hired to authenticate a fragment of Alexander Dumas鈥檚 鈥楾hree Musketeers鈥� and is suddenly drawn into the world of the occult. It鈥檚 the novel that gave birth to the movie 鈥楾he Ninth Gate鈥�. To be honest, I felt the book was too clever by half. What is good in it, and there is quite a lot of good in it, is submerged in a sea of the superfluous, and I felt the book could have been at least a hundred to a hundred and fifty pages shorter and better for it.
February 27, 2018
[ITA/ENG]
(Prima lettura: 5/5, seconda lettura: 4/5)
Lessi Il Club Dumas una prima volta e rimasi folgorato dal fascino decadente di questo libro.
Riletto a distanza di qualche anno l'esperienza si 猫 rivelata comunque piacevole, seppur con alcuni difetti che mi hanno impedito di goderne appieno e hanno fatto lievemente abbassare il voto assegnato a questo "thriller".
Uso il termine tra virgolette perch茅 viene definito tale, ma di un thriller questo libro non possiede alcuni dei tratti fondamentali: il ritmo della narrazione 猫 lento, la tensione costruita 猫 poca e non aumenta con l'avanzare della vicenda (aspetto importante, per un thriller degno di questo nome). La parte pi霉 propriamente "investigativa", inoltre, non 猫 particolarmente appassionante e presenta alcune forzature che possono risultare indigeste.
Gli altri difetti riscontrati in questa rilettura possono essere annoverati nella scrittura propriamente detta: i periodi e i capitoli sono lunghi e a volte piuttosto contorti, la prosa (in particolare nelle descrizioni) 猫 spesso ripetitiva.
Nonostante queste pecche, il libro resta a mio parere comunque godibile e molto affascinante, con un immenso pregio: trasuda a ogni pagina amore per i libri. Amore per la carta stampata, per le biblioteche antiche e polverose, per gli autori meno celebri e ingiustamente dimenticati. Amore per la letteratura, nella sua interezza.
Non a caso, il libro pu貌 essere visto come un grande omaggio al feuilleton, tipologia troppo spesso considerata ingiustamente letteratura "di serie b", e in particolare a Dumas, che di tale genere 猫 maestro indiscusso. Gli ammiccamenti e i richiami alle opere di quest'ultimo e di tanti altri autori sono numerosissimi e contribuiscono a creare il "gioco letterario" che Il Club Dumas rappresenta.
Questo libro parla di libri e di letteratura e lo fa con una passione ricca, sincera e incondizionata. Emblematico in tal senso uno dei personaggi pi霉 belli del libro, Fargas, accanito bibliofilo alle prese con uno straziante e insolubile dilemma "letterario".
Tra gli altri personaggi, a onor del vero (volutamente?) piuttosto insopportabili e a volte stereotipati, spicca l'intrigante Irene Adler, con il mistero legato alla sua identit脿.
La scrittura, nonostante i difetti descritti, 猫 ricercata. Trasmette un costante senso di straniamento e un'eterea atmosfera di sospensione e "magia" che sono parte integrante del fascino di queste pagine. Alcuni passaggi, poi, hanno slanci di lirica bellezza.
Non mi soffermer貌 sulla trama, in quanto 猫 difficile parlarne senza fare spoiler sulla storia. Mi limiter貌 a dire che diverse questioni trattate si prestano a molteplici letture, in grado di sovvertire drasticamente e pressoch茅 totalmente il senso del libro a seconda dell'interpretazione scelta. Un meccanismo molto complesso in cui P茅rez-Reverte 猫 riuscito tutto sommato a destreggiarsi bene, a mio parere. E che aggiunge ulteriore fascino alla lettura, specie una volta terminato il volume.
Un avviso ai potenziali lettori: nel testo si parla estesamente della trama dei Tre moschettieri. Attenzione nel caso non l'abbiate letto e abbiate intenzione di farlo!
***
(First reading: 5/5, second reading: 4/5)
When I read The Club Dumas for the first time, I was struck by the decadent charm of this book.
After a few years, the new reading experience turned out to be pleasant, even if with some flaws that have prevented me to fully enjoy it. So I decided to slightly lower the rating assigned to this "thriller".
This is the genre assigned to this book, but The Club Dumas is an atypical thriller. The rhythm of the narration is slow, the tension built is minimal and doesn't increase with the progress of the story (important aspect, for a thriller worthy of the name). Moreover, the "investigative" part is not particularly exciting and has some stretchings which may be unbereable.
The other lacks I found in this second reading are in the writing itself: the periods and the chapters are long and twisted, the prose (in particular in the descriptions) is often repetitive.
Despite these flaws, the book remains in my opinion still enjoyable and very fascinating. With an immense value: it shows in every page a deep love for books. Love for the printed paper, for the ancient and dusty libraries, for the less famous and unjustly forgotten authors. Love for literature, in its entirety.
It is not by chance that the book can be seen as a great tribute to the feuilleton, that is too often considered "second-class" literature, and to Dumas, who is the undisputed master of this genre. Winks and references to the works of Dumas himself and many other authors are numerous. They contribute to create the "literary game" that The Club Dumas represents.
This book talks about books themselves and literature with a rich, sincere and unconditional passion. In this sense, one of the most beautiful characters in the story is Fargas, an avid bibliophile dealing with a harrowing and insoluble "literary" dilemma. Among the other characters, to be honest (deliberately?) rather unbearable and sometimes stereotypical, the intriguing Irene Adler stands out, with the fascinating mistery about her identity.
The writing, despite the flaws described, is refined. It transmits a constant sense of estrangement and an ethereal atmosphere of "magic". Some excerpts are lyrically beatiful.
I will not examine in depth the plot, as it is difficult to talk about it without spoilers. I'll write only that the text offers multiple interpretations, capable of drastically and almost totally subverting the meaning of the book. A very complex mechanism in which P茅rez-Reverte managed to maneuver well, in my opinion. And this ambiguity adds further charm to reading, especially once the volume is finished.
A warning to potential readers: the text speaks extensively about plot of The Three Musketeers! Consider it in case you have not read this book and you intend to do it.
(Prima lettura: 5/5, seconda lettura: 4/5)
Lessi Il Club Dumas una prima volta e rimasi folgorato dal fascino decadente di questo libro.
Riletto a distanza di qualche anno l'esperienza si 猫 rivelata comunque piacevole, seppur con alcuni difetti che mi hanno impedito di goderne appieno e hanno fatto lievemente abbassare il voto assegnato a questo "thriller".
Uso il termine tra virgolette perch茅 viene definito tale, ma di un thriller questo libro non possiede alcuni dei tratti fondamentali: il ritmo della narrazione 猫 lento, la tensione costruita 猫 poca e non aumenta con l'avanzare della vicenda (aspetto importante, per un thriller degno di questo nome). La parte pi霉 propriamente "investigativa", inoltre, non 猫 particolarmente appassionante e presenta alcune forzature che possono risultare indigeste.
Gli altri difetti riscontrati in questa rilettura possono essere annoverati nella scrittura propriamente detta: i periodi e i capitoli sono lunghi e a volte piuttosto contorti, la prosa (in particolare nelle descrizioni) 猫 spesso ripetitiva.
Nonostante queste pecche, il libro resta a mio parere comunque godibile e molto affascinante, con un immenso pregio: trasuda a ogni pagina amore per i libri. Amore per la carta stampata, per le biblioteche antiche e polverose, per gli autori meno celebri e ingiustamente dimenticati. Amore per la letteratura, nella sua interezza.
Non a caso, il libro pu貌 essere visto come un grande omaggio al feuilleton, tipologia troppo spesso considerata ingiustamente letteratura "di serie b", e in particolare a Dumas, che di tale genere 猫 maestro indiscusso. Gli ammiccamenti e i richiami alle opere di quest'ultimo e di tanti altri autori sono numerosissimi e contribuiscono a creare il "gioco letterario" che Il Club Dumas rappresenta.
Questo libro parla di libri e di letteratura e lo fa con una passione ricca, sincera e incondizionata. Emblematico in tal senso uno dei personaggi pi霉 belli del libro, Fargas, accanito bibliofilo alle prese con uno straziante e insolubile dilemma "letterario".
Tra gli altri personaggi, a onor del vero (volutamente?) piuttosto insopportabili e a volte stereotipati, spicca l'intrigante Irene Adler, con il mistero legato alla sua identit脿.
La scrittura, nonostante i difetti descritti, 猫 ricercata. Trasmette un costante senso di straniamento e un'eterea atmosfera di sospensione e "magia" che sono parte integrante del fascino di queste pagine. Alcuni passaggi, poi, hanno slanci di lirica bellezza.
Non mi soffermer貌 sulla trama, in quanto 猫 difficile parlarne senza fare spoiler sulla storia. Mi limiter貌 a dire che diverse questioni trattate si prestano a molteplici letture, in grado di sovvertire drasticamente e pressoch茅 totalmente il senso del libro a seconda dell'interpretazione scelta. Un meccanismo molto complesso in cui P茅rez-Reverte 猫 riuscito tutto sommato a destreggiarsi bene, a mio parere. E che aggiunge ulteriore fascino alla lettura, specie una volta terminato il volume.
Un avviso ai potenziali lettori: nel testo si parla estesamente della trama dei Tre moschettieri. Attenzione nel caso non l'abbiate letto e abbiate intenzione di farlo!
***
(First reading: 5/5, second reading: 4/5)
When I read The Club Dumas for the first time, I was struck by the decadent charm of this book.
After a few years, the new reading experience turned out to be pleasant, even if with some flaws that have prevented me to fully enjoy it. So I decided to slightly lower the rating assigned to this "thriller".
This is the genre assigned to this book, but The Club Dumas is an atypical thriller. The rhythm of the narration is slow, the tension built is minimal and doesn't increase with the progress of the story (important aspect, for a thriller worthy of the name). Moreover, the "investigative" part is not particularly exciting and has some stretchings which may be unbereable.
The other lacks I found in this second reading are in the writing itself: the periods and the chapters are long and twisted, the prose (in particular in the descriptions) is often repetitive.
Despite these flaws, the book remains in my opinion still enjoyable and very fascinating. With an immense value: it shows in every page a deep love for books. Love for the printed paper, for the ancient and dusty libraries, for the less famous and unjustly forgotten authors. Love for literature, in its entirety.
It is not by chance that the book can be seen as a great tribute to the feuilleton, that is too often considered "second-class" literature, and to Dumas, who is the undisputed master of this genre. Winks and references to the works of Dumas himself and many other authors are numerous. They contribute to create the "literary game" that The Club Dumas represents.
This book talks about books themselves and literature with a rich, sincere and unconditional passion. In this sense, one of the most beautiful characters in the story is Fargas, an avid bibliophile dealing with a harrowing and insoluble "literary" dilemma. Among the other characters, to be honest (deliberately?) rather unbearable and sometimes stereotypical, the intriguing Irene Adler stands out, with the fascinating mistery about her identity.
The writing, despite the flaws described, is refined. It transmits a constant sense of estrangement and an ethereal atmosphere of "magic". Some excerpts are lyrically beatiful.
I will not examine in depth the plot, as it is difficult to talk about it without spoilers. I'll write only that the text offers multiple interpretations, capable of drastically and almost totally subverting the meaning of the book. A very complex mechanism in which P茅rez-Reverte managed to maneuver well, in my opinion. And this ambiguity adds further charm to reading, especially once the volume is finished.
A warning to potential readers: the text speaks extensively about plot of The Three Musketeers! Consider it in case you have not read this book and you intend to do it.
October 13, 2007
I normally wouldn鈥檛 pick up something like this, but it was given to me as a gift, so I cracked it. It took me until about half-way through before I realized that it was the basis for the Johnny Depp/Roman Polanski flop 鈥淭he Ninth Gate.鈥� (Which I've yet to see).
The Club Dumas was probably only the second detective novel I鈥檝e read in the past five years, the other being Jonathan Lethem鈥檚 Motherless Brooklyn. While the novels have very little in common, I couldn鈥檛 help but notice the formulaic similarities, and though one is about a rare book collector in Spain and the other about a Tourette鈥檚-inflicted driver in New York, neither seems able to avoid (or resist?) the clich茅s of the genre:
鈥oth begin with the death of an older patron of the protagonist.
鈥ur bumbling protagonist is then hesitantly lured into investigating the crime.
鈥he protagonist is met with resistance by the dead man鈥檚 鈥渟ultry widow with a murky past鈥� who tries to seduce him, but doesn't. (It is later revealed that the widow is sleeping with the protagonist鈥檚 presumed only ally(s).)
鈥 beautiful younger woman (both described as being between 18 and 20 with short, black hair) comes out of nowhere and becomes instantly infatuated with our admittedly unattractive protagonist for reasons never stated.
鈥 shadowy, violent figure stalks, then attacks our protagonist. He is rescued by the younger woman.
鈥lues lead him to a city up the coast where the main events of the plot are revealed to be the machinations of a clandestine, conspiratorial organization.
Unfortunately, the strikingly familiar formula makes the only original and interesting aspects of each 鈥� Lionel鈥檚 battle with Tourette鈥檚 befuddling his efforts to solve the crime, or The Club Dumas鈥� references to esoterica and arcane literature which are clearly designed to appeal to pretentious literati (okay, so it worked ;P) 鈥� seem like little more than window dressing, leaving the core of the novel a warmed-over re-run. Hell, even the DaVinci Code contained most of the above formula.
Motherless Brooklyn, with its exploration of small-time crime syndicates and short, sporadic sub-chapters (some no more than a few sentences long) which parallel the main character's own tourettic outbursts, was clearly the better written of the two. The Club Dumas鈥� constant dwelling upon 鈥渃lues鈥� which have all the subtlety of an out-of-control Sherman tank, results in the reader knowing exactly what is going to happen before they're even half-way through.
The Club Dumas was probably only the second detective novel I鈥檝e read in the past five years, the other being Jonathan Lethem鈥檚 Motherless Brooklyn. While the novels have very little in common, I couldn鈥檛 help but notice the formulaic similarities, and though one is about a rare book collector in Spain and the other about a Tourette鈥檚-inflicted driver in New York, neither seems able to avoid (or resist?) the clich茅s of the genre:
鈥oth begin with the death of an older patron of the protagonist.
鈥ur bumbling protagonist is then hesitantly lured into investigating the crime.
鈥he protagonist is met with resistance by the dead man鈥檚 鈥渟ultry widow with a murky past鈥� who tries to seduce him, but doesn't. (It is later revealed that the widow is sleeping with the protagonist鈥檚 presumed only ally(s).)
鈥 beautiful younger woman (both described as being between 18 and 20 with short, black hair) comes out of nowhere and becomes instantly infatuated with our admittedly unattractive protagonist for reasons never stated.
鈥 shadowy, violent figure stalks, then attacks our protagonist. He is rescued by the younger woman.
鈥lues lead him to a city up the coast where the main events of the plot are revealed to be the machinations of a clandestine, conspiratorial organization.
Unfortunately, the strikingly familiar formula makes the only original and interesting aspects of each 鈥� Lionel鈥檚 battle with Tourette鈥檚 befuddling his efforts to solve the crime, or The Club Dumas鈥� references to esoterica and arcane literature which are clearly designed to appeal to pretentious literati (okay, so it worked ;P) 鈥� seem like little more than window dressing, leaving the core of the novel a warmed-over re-run. Hell, even the DaVinci Code contained most of the above formula.
Motherless Brooklyn, with its exploration of small-time crime syndicates and short, sporadic sub-chapters (some no more than a few sentences long) which parallel the main character's own tourettic outbursts, was clearly the better written of the two. The Club Dumas鈥� constant dwelling upon 鈥渃lues鈥� which have all the subtlety of an out-of-control Sherman tank, results in the reader knowing exactly what is going to happen before they're even half-way through.
June 6, 2012
HUH? was my reaction to the end of this book and that is not a good reaction to have. I had such high hopes for this book - the premise seemed so entertaining - set in the world of rare book collecting, a mystery involving both Satan and Dumas. Talk about a let down!
The main character, Corso, is so dull, I could care less what happens to him. His one friend - so irritating and their friendship is never explained. And don't get me started on the beautiful young girl who inexplicably falls for Corso. If I had to read one more time about her stunning green eyes & long, sexy tan legs....talk about a middle aged man's fantasy. Oh please. Same with every other character - a big fat who cares.
The mystery is no better. Turns out there are two and neither are resolved very satisfactorily. The Dumas plotline peters out into a no big deal & the Satan plot is just abruptly dropped - hence my "huh" moment. Ok, maybe I'm an idiot who just didn't get it. SPOILERS:.........................................
What the hell happened at the end? Did Corso kill Borja? Did Borja kill himself? Did the devil show up and take Borja to hell? Did Corso just leave Borja on the floor, acting crazy? And please please please tell me that the young girl was not a fallen angel? Oh, good grief.
I am sad that I wasted part of my life reading this book. Do not make my mistake! I warn you!
The main character, Corso, is so dull, I could care less what happens to him. His one friend - so irritating and their friendship is never explained. And don't get me started on the beautiful young girl who inexplicably falls for Corso. If I had to read one more time about her stunning green eyes & long, sexy tan legs....talk about a middle aged man's fantasy. Oh please. Same with every other character - a big fat who cares.
The mystery is no better. Turns out there are two and neither are resolved very satisfactorily. The Dumas plotline peters out into a no big deal & the Satan plot is just abruptly dropped - hence my "huh" moment. Ok, maybe I'm an idiot who just didn't get it. SPOILERS:.........................................
What the hell happened at the end? Did Corso kill Borja? Did Borja kill himself? Did the devil show up and take Borja to hell? Did Corso just leave Borja on the floor, acting crazy? And please please please tell me that the young girl was not a fallen angel? Oh, good grief.
I am sad that I wasted part of my life reading this book. Do not make my mistake! I warn you!
November 3, 2018
Sensacional, qualquer um que ame a literatura deve ler esse livro. Traz elementos de bibliofilia, romance policial e uma ca莽a implac谩vel e incr铆vel a um exemplar de 'As Nove Portas do Reino das Sombras', de A. Torchia. Lembrou-me muito 'O assassinato de Roger Ackroyd', mas 茅 melhor eu me calar daqui pra diante...
April 1, 2018
I liked this. I really, really liked this.
Give me some modern day people figuring out hidden meanings in classical literature, and I鈥檓 all over it. Thank you, , for suggesting this to me. It was PERFECT.
Give me some modern day people figuring out hidden meanings in classical literature, and I鈥檓 all over it. Thank you, , for suggesting this to me. It was PERFECT.
January 27, 2022
I would be very interested in reading another work by this author, because his writing is remarkable. I feel, however, that it is not used to its potential sometimes. For example, on page 263, a sexual scene is described, but the extreme use of figurative language, especially the references in the similes and/or metaphors, are completely out of place with the tone of the rest of the chapter; the rest of the novel, actually. "Like the Titanic. Straight to the bottom", "Wellington... in a remote Belgian village...", "The Old Guard, or what remained of it, was glancing desperately", "... Chasing Prussians miles from the battlefield." Yes, Perez-Reverte is referring to Corso's penis and him becoming flaccid. Sometimes it works, but in scenes like this, it is awkwardly obvious that he is trying too hard. To utilize as many literary, historical, intelligent-seeming references as possible. To seem erudite. I say, to be pretentious.
So when does it work? In many of his descriptions of individuals, from the physical traits to personality mannerisms, Perez-Reverte has a proficiency with using the right words. He often takes a page to introduce a character, but, amazingly, it never seems too long. A difficult thing to achieve. It is a rare occasion that I feel I know the character so well by the end of a story, let alone after the introductions.
Literary references. Obviously, Alexandre Dumas is the most prevalent. Perez-Reverte dedicates two pages (87-88) to listing all of Dumas's novels. The entire series of events resembles exact scenes in The Three Musketeers; characters such as Athos Porthos, Aramis, D'Artagnan, Milady de Winter, Cardinal Richelieu, The Marquis (The Chevalier de la Maison Rouge) are featured. Even from Dumas's real life, like collaborator Auguste Maquet. The prologue, the very first murder, is in regards to Dumas's serial story, "The Anjou Wine". The protagonist is unraveling the mystery behind The Nine Doors. In short, there are three copies in three different collections in the world. Lucas Corso is hired by one of the owners, Varo Borja, to compare these copies. He is confident that his is a forgery. Corso is also told to acquire the other two, by "whatever means necessary".
The differences are all in the engravings and the printer's marks. The title page and nine engravings and/or illustrations are actually included for the reader's visual references, along with diagrams Lucas Corso drew to aid his investigations, and a few illustrations directly from The Three Musketeers.
As if all this is not enough, classic films from Casablanca to Goldfinger to Roman Holiday are also somehow given appearances. Now, I am the first to love a reference to other titles, be it authors,
films, historical figures, etcetera, but it has to actually work with the story. Not forced.
I always love when adult titles feature relevant illustrations. Other things are mentioned to make this a classic book lover's paradise, from woodcuttings to first editions to typesets. Definitely a noir, dark feel; black magic, numerous mentions of angels, fallen angels, Lucifer, Faust, The Brothers Karamozov, Dante. Latin manuscripts, tarot cards, philosophers, The Middle Ages, labyrinths. His "guardian angel" has the alias Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes. She lives on Baker Street, of course. He met his close friend Flavio La Ponte through their mutual affinity for Melville (The Brotherhood of Nantucket Harpooners). My personal favorite is Corso's old lover, named Nikon. A photographer, of course. So, my point? There are many references. Too many. Some may find it the right number, maybe even not enough. Maybe I would agree, was I acquainted with all of the titles. Unfortunately, my favorite Dumas title is The Count of Monte Cristo (sparingly mentioned), I have not read many of these other classics (not my choice genre), and noir/gothic/mythology is not my forte. It thus seemed quite excessive, as if Perez-Reverte was trying to put everything he possibly could, provide cameo opportunities for all the things he loved, in this one novel. Including the typical, cliche detective story template.
As for the thread of our novel regarding The Ninth Door, I honestly could not care less. For most of the story, Corso erroneously saw them as indubitably connected. But I never wanted them to be. The occult, black magic, gothic, religious material was trivial at best. I felt Perez-Reverte should have chosen one path there. (I recommend Susanna Clarke for an illuminating black magic/gothic novel done right). Again, more is not always better....
In all, an informative, suspenseful, enlightening read at best, but pretentious, unoriginal, and excessive at its worse. I wanted more from what I could see was great writing. More originality. More creativity. Less cliche. Less focus on referencing other stories. More of his story. The story I am confident his writing has the potential for. But lovers of classic Alexandre Dumas, especially The Three Musketeers, may be far more forgiving.
So when does it work? In many of his descriptions of individuals, from the physical traits to personality mannerisms, Perez-Reverte has a proficiency with using the right words. He often takes a page to introduce a character, but, amazingly, it never seems too long. A difficult thing to achieve. It is a rare occasion that I feel I know the character so well by the end of a story, let alone after the introductions.
Literary references. Obviously, Alexandre Dumas is the most prevalent. Perez-Reverte dedicates two pages (87-88) to listing all of Dumas's novels. The entire series of events resembles exact scenes in The Three Musketeers; characters such as Athos Porthos, Aramis, D'Artagnan, Milady de Winter, Cardinal Richelieu, The Marquis (The Chevalier de la Maison Rouge) are featured. Even from Dumas's real life, like collaborator Auguste Maquet. The prologue, the very first murder, is in regards to Dumas's serial story, "The Anjou Wine". The protagonist is unraveling the mystery behind The Nine Doors. In short, there are three copies in three different collections in the world. Lucas Corso is hired by one of the owners, Varo Borja, to compare these copies. He is confident that his is a forgery. Corso is also told to acquire the other two, by "whatever means necessary".
The differences are all in the engravings and the printer's marks. The title page and nine engravings and/or illustrations are actually included for the reader's visual references, along with diagrams Lucas Corso drew to aid his investigations, and a few illustrations directly from The Three Musketeers.
As if all this is not enough, classic films from Casablanca to Goldfinger to Roman Holiday are also somehow given appearances. Now, I am the first to love a reference to other titles, be it authors,
films, historical figures, etcetera, but it has to actually work with the story. Not forced.
I always love when adult titles feature relevant illustrations. Other things are mentioned to make this a classic book lover's paradise, from woodcuttings to first editions to typesets. Definitely a noir, dark feel; black magic, numerous mentions of angels, fallen angels, Lucifer, Faust, The Brothers Karamozov, Dante. Latin manuscripts, tarot cards, philosophers, The Middle Ages, labyrinths. His "guardian angel" has the alias Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes. She lives on Baker Street, of course. He met his close friend Flavio La Ponte through their mutual affinity for Melville (The Brotherhood of Nantucket Harpooners). My personal favorite is Corso's old lover, named Nikon. A photographer, of course. So, my point? There are many references. Too many. Some may find it the right number, maybe even not enough. Maybe I would agree, was I acquainted with all of the titles. Unfortunately, my favorite Dumas title is The Count of Monte Cristo (sparingly mentioned), I have not read many of these other classics (not my choice genre), and noir/gothic/mythology is not my forte. It thus seemed quite excessive, as if Perez-Reverte was trying to put everything he possibly could, provide cameo opportunities for all the things he loved, in this one novel. Including the typical, cliche detective story template.
As for the thread of our novel regarding The Ninth Door, I honestly could not care less. For most of the story, Corso erroneously saw them as indubitably connected. But I never wanted them to be. The occult, black magic, gothic, religious material was trivial at best. I felt Perez-Reverte should have chosen one path there. (I recommend Susanna Clarke for an illuminating black magic/gothic novel done right). Again, more is not always better....
In all, an informative, suspenseful, enlightening read at best, but pretentious, unoriginal, and excessive at its worse. I wanted more from what I could see was great writing. More originality. More creativity. Less cliche. Less focus on referencing other stories. More of his story. The story I am confident his writing has the potential for. But lovers of classic Alexandre Dumas, especially The Three Musketeers, may be far more forgiving.
August 21, 2018
鈥淥ne is never alone with a book nearby, don't you agree? Every page reminds us of a day that has passed and makes us relive the emotions that filled it. Happy hours underlined in red pencil, dark ones in black...鈥�
I almost never re-read books but I will be reading this one again... Once I get myself a copy :)
This book is like the epitome of everything I like... dark, mysterious, a bit thrilling, literary and nerdy, devilish, and of course the occult. I didn't want it to end! I love Corso, but Irene is the real HBIC.
EDIT: It's my lucky day. walked to Book Off and found a hardcover for only five bucks!
I almost never re-read books but I will be reading this one again... Once I get myself a copy :)
This book is like the epitome of everything I like... dark, mysterious, a bit thrilling, literary and nerdy, devilish, and of course the occult. I didn't want it to end! I love Corso, but Irene is the real HBIC.
EDIT: It's my lucky day. walked to Book Off and found a hardcover for only five bucks!
dnf
March 19, 2025DNF (didnotfinish). 43. sayfada 莽eviri ve iml芒 hatalar谋 y眉z眉nden okumay谋 b谋rakt谋m. 28. sayfaya gelinceye kadar yerli yersiz kullan谋lan noktalama i艧aretleri sinirimi bozdu. Sonra bir paragrafa tak谋ld谋m. Burada anlat谋c谋 de臒i艧iyor mu, zaman atl谋yor mu, Doktor Watson ne alaka gibi d眉艧眉ncelerle okudu臒umu anlamakta zorlan谋nca 陌ngilizce 莽eviriye bakay谋m dedim. 陌ngilizce paragraf 艧枚yle;
"Some time later, when it was all over, Corso agreed to tell me the rest of the story. So I can now give a fairly accurate picture of a chain of events that I didn't witness, events that led to the fatal denouement and the solution to the mystery surrounding the Club Dumas. Thanks to what Corso told me I can now tell you, like Doctor Watson, that the following scene took place in Makarova's bar an hour after our meeting:
Flavio La Ponte came in shaking off the rain, leaned on the bar next to Corso, and ordered a beer while he caught his breath. Then he looked back at the street, aggressive but triumphant, as if he had just come through sniper fire. It was raining with biblical force."
Kitaptaki T眉rk莽e 莽evirisi 艧枚yle;
"Her 艧ey olup bittikten bir s眉re sonra, Corso hik芒yenin kalan k谋sm谋n谋 anlatmay谋 kabul etti. B枚ylece 艧imdi, tan谋k olmad谋臒谋m baz谋 olaylan ger莽e臒e olduk莽a yak谋n olarak, yeniden s谋ralayabilirim: 脰l眉mle sonu莽lanan olaylar zincirini haz谋rlayan ko艧ullar ve Dumas Kul眉b眉鈥檔眉n 莽evresinde olu艧an esran谋n nas谋l 莽枚z眉mlendi臒i. Kitap avc谋s谋n谋n verdi臒i s谋rlardan yola 莽谋k谋p, Doktor Watson鈥檜n bu olaya katk谋s谋n谋 da g枚z 枚n眉nde tutarak, sizlere ikinci perdenin Corso ile Makarova鈥檔谋n bar谋ndaki g枚r眉艧memizden bir saat sonra ba艧lad谋臒谋n谋 s枚yleyebilirim. Flavio La Ponte 眉zerideki ya臒mur damlalar谋n谋 silkeleyerek, barda oturan Corso鈥檔un yan谋na gitti ve kendine gelmek i莽in hemen bir bira 谋smarlad谋. Sonra d枚n眉p kinle soka臒a bakt谋, art谋k rahatlam谋艧t谋, ama kendini biraz evvel iki ate艧 aras谋ndan ge莽mi艧 gibi hissediyordu. 艦ak谋r 艧ak谋r ya臒mur ya臒谋yordu."
Corso ile barda g枚r眉艧en ki艧i anlat谋c谋 de臒il. Barda ger莽ekle艧en g枚r眉艧me anlat谋c谋 ile Corso'nun g枚r眉艧mesinden bir saat sonra ger莽ekle艧iyor. Corso daha sonra bunu anlat谋c谋ya nakletti臒i i莽in anlatabiliyor bize. Doktor Watson gibi diyip ge莽ilse olacakm谋艧. Watson'谋n olaya ne katk谋s谋 var okudu臒um yere kadar anlamad谋m. Paragraf c眉mle c眉mle aynen 莽evrilmi艧. Dilimize daha uygun hale getirebilirdi bence. Events/olaylar tan谋mlanm谋艧, o tamlamay谋 ba艧a al谋rd谋m ben olsam. Neyse uzatmayay谋m 莽eviri okumam谋 zorla艧t谋r谋yor sonu莽 olarak. 陌spanyolca kaynak dilde farkl谋 bir durum varsa bilenler yazs谋n l眉tfen. 陌ngilizce 莽eviriye bakarsak iyi bir i艧 莽谋kart谋lmam谋艧 gibi duruyor.
Not: K眉t眉phaneden 枚d眉n莽 al谋p okumaya 莽al谋艧t谋臒谋m kitap Kas谋m 2020 bask谋s谋, Nora Kitap.
"Some time later, when it was all over, Corso agreed to tell me the rest of the story. So I can now give a fairly accurate picture of a chain of events that I didn't witness, events that led to the fatal denouement and the solution to the mystery surrounding the Club Dumas. Thanks to what Corso told me I can now tell you, like Doctor Watson, that the following scene took place in Makarova's bar an hour after our meeting:
Flavio La Ponte came in shaking off the rain, leaned on the bar next to Corso, and ordered a beer while he caught his breath. Then he looked back at the street, aggressive but triumphant, as if he had just come through sniper fire. It was raining with biblical force."
Kitaptaki T眉rk莽e 莽evirisi 艧枚yle;
"Her 艧ey olup bittikten bir s眉re sonra, Corso hik芒yenin kalan k谋sm谋n谋 anlatmay谋 kabul etti. B枚ylece 艧imdi, tan谋k olmad谋臒谋m baz谋 olaylan ger莽e臒e olduk莽a yak谋n olarak, yeniden s谋ralayabilirim: 脰l眉mle sonu莽lanan olaylar zincirini haz谋rlayan ko艧ullar ve Dumas Kul眉b眉鈥檔眉n 莽evresinde olu艧an esran谋n nas谋l 莽枚z眉mlendi臒i. Kitap avc谋s谋n谋n verdi臒i s谋rlardan yola 莽谋k谋p, Doktor Watson鈥檜n bu olaya katk谋s谋n谋 da g枚z 枚n眉nde tutarak, sizlere ikinci perdenin Corso ile Makarova鈥檔谋n bar谋ndaki g枚r眉艧memizden bir saat sonra ba艧lad谋臒谋n谋 s枚yleyebilirim. Flavio La Ponte 眉zerideki ya臒mur damlalar谋n谋 silkeleyerek, barda oturan Corso鈥檔un yan谋na gitti ve kendine gelmek i莽in hemen bir bira 谋smarlad谋. Sonra d枚n眉p kinle soka臒a bakt谋, art谋k rahatlam谋艧t谋, ama kendini biraz evvel iki ate艧 aras谋ndan ge莽mi艧 gibi hissediyordu. 艦ak谋r 艧ak谋r ya臒mur ya臒谋yordu."
Corso ile barda g枚r眉艧en ki艧i anlat谋c谋 de臒il. Barda ger莽ekle艧en g枚r眉艧me anlat谋c谋 ile Corso'nun g枚r眉艧mesinden bir saat sonra ger莽ekle艧iyor. Corso daha sonra bunu anlat谋c谋ya nakletti臒i i莽in anlatabiliyor bize. Doktor Watson gibi diyip ge莽ilse olacakm谋艧. Watson'谋n olaya ne katk谋s谋 var okudu臒um yere kadar anlamad谋m. Paragraf c眉mle c眉mle aynen 莽evrilmi艧. Dilimize daha uygun hale getirebilirdi bence. Events/olaylar tan谋mlanm谋艧, o tamlamay谋 ba艧a al谋rd谋m ben olsam. Neyse uzatmayay谋m 莽eviri okumam谋 zorla艧t谋r谋yor sonu莽 olarak. 陌spanyolca kaynak dilde farkl谋 bir durum varsa bilenler yazs谋n l眉tfen. 陌ngilizce 莽eviriye bakarsak iyi bir i艧 莽谋kart谋lmam谋艧 gibi duruyor.
Not: K眉t眉phaneden 枚d眉n莽 al谋p okumaya 莽al谋艧t谋臒谋m kitap Kas谋m 2020 bask谋s谋, Nora Kitap.
April 20, 2024
Dopo aver ignorato a lungo questo libro a causa di un mio diminuito interesse nei confronti dell鈥檃utore, lo spagnolo Arturo P茅rez-Reverte, recentemente ho voluto leggiucchiarne le prime pagine perch茅 il titolo mi intrigava particolarmente dopo la mia recente lettura de 鈥淚 Tre Moschettieri鈥� di Alexandre Dumas鈥 devo ammettere che la curiosit脿, pagina dopo pagina, si 猫 rapidamente trasformata in attenzione e una volta preso l鈥檃bbrivio ne ho continuato piacevolmente la lettura fino all鈥檜ltima pagina. Il romanzo ha come protagonista Lucas Corso un segugio di libri antichi che lavora per conto di personaggi pronti a offrire anche grosse somme pur di assicurare alla propria raccolta libri rari: uno di questi collezionisti chiede a Corso di verificare l鈥檃utenticit脿 di un manoscritto apparentemente autografo del capolavoro di Dumas entrato in suo possesso e contemporaneamente di riscontrare la completezza di un antico libro demoniaco stampato nel XVI secolo e corredato da illustrazioni dell鈥檈poca di non chiara interpretazione. Nel mezzo della sua scorribanda attraverso mezza Europa per adempiere all鈥檌ncarico, Corso si accorger脿 ben presto di essere fatto bersaglio di occulte trame da parte di strani personaggi con modalit脿 che all鈥檌ncredulo protagonista richiamano alcuni episodi chiave di agguati e fatti d鈥檃rme narrati nel capolavoro di Alexandre Dumas. Tra momenti esilaranti ed altri drammatici, inseguimenti e omicidi, enigmi e misteri, P茅rez-Reverte d脿 il meglio di s茅 trascinando il lettore in una sarabanda di inseguimenti, depistaggi, morti violente e complicati interrogativi fino allo scioglimento finale un po鈥� nebuloso e 鈥渢irato per i capelli鈥� ma 猫 l鈥檜nica, giustificabile mancanza di una bella lettura.
March 8, 2012
Nothing like a mystery involving books, the rare book trade, bibliophiles involved in various unscrupulous and barely legal dealings, and then, of course, murder. This book has many parts and once it gets going it becomes an addictive read. Enjoy. I call it a cerebral mystery as there is quite a plot to follow. If following the works of Dumas and tracing the back story on some 17th century occult texts sounds interesting (and believe me it is), give this a try.
December 15, 2015
One of those books that get better as they progress. A very surprising ending. Recommended if you're into books about books and thrillers.
March 28, 2017
违蟺苇蟻慰蠂慰 渭委纬渭伪 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭喂魏萎蟼 蟺位慰魏萎蟼 魏伪喂 蠁伪谓蟿伪蟽蟿喂魏蠋谓 蟽蟿慰喂蠂蔚委蠅谓. 螝伪喂 尾喂尾位委伪, 蟺慰位位维 尾喂尾位委伪.
January 31, 2025
Lucas Corso, middle-aged and cynical, is a book detective, a mercenary hired to hunt down rare editions for wealthy and unscrupulous clients. When a well-known bibliophile is found hanged leaving behind part of the original manuscript of Alexander Dumas's 'The Three Musketeers', Corso is brought in to authenticate the fragment. At the same he is given the task of proving the authenticity of three books that that supposedly enable their owners to summon the devil.
The two tasks seems relatively straightforward, but the unsuspecting Corso is soon drawn into a swirling plot involving devil worship, occult practices and swashbuckling derring-do among a cast of characters bearing a suspicious resemblance to those in Dumas's masterpiece. Aided by a mysterious beauty named for a Conan Doyle heroine, Corso travels from Madrid to Toledo to Paris pursued by a sinister and seemingly omniscient killer.
It is apparent that Perez-Reverte has done an awful lot of research into Dumas in particular as well as some art masterpieces. Also it soon becomes apparent to the reader at least that Corso is following two separate trails but the author manages to carry them both off admirably at the same time keeping me interested in both. However, despite really enjoying most of the book I found the endings something of a disappointment. The Dumas Club are simply a group of enthusiasts who like to dress up as their favourite characters and meet up once a year. Corso gives them the missing manuscript but isn't even asked to join. OK the climax of the other thread will be more spectacular. No that rather fizzles out as well although I'm not sure how you could have done it in print rather than techni-colour. Nor is the true identity of Corso's accomplice true identity or why she chose to assist him properly revealed.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable romp that fell at the last fence. A generous 4.
The two tasks seems relatively straightforward, but the unsuspecting Corso is soon drawn into a swirling plot involving devil worship, occult practices and swashbuckling derring-do among a cast of characters bearing a suspicious resemblance to those in Dumas's masterpiece. Aided by a mysterious beauty named for a Conan Doyle heroine, Corso travels from Madrid to Toledo to Paris pursued by a sinister and seemingly omniscient killer.
It is apparent that Perez-Reverte has done an awful lot of research into Dumas in particular as well as some art masterpieces. Also it soon becomes apparent to the reader at least that Corso is following two separate trails but the author manages to carry them both off admirably at the same time keeping me interested in both. However, despite really enjoying most of the book I found the endings something of a disappointment. The Dumas Club are simply a group of enthusiasts who like to dress up as their favourite characters and meet up once a year. Corso gives them the missing manuscript but isn't even asked to join. OK the climax of the other thread will be more spectacular. No that rather fizzles out as well although I'm not sure how you could have done it in print rather than techni-colour. Nor is the true identity of Corso's accomplice true identity or why she chose to assist him properly revealed.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable romp that fell at the last fence. A generous 4.
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