Up at my family cottage we have a couple small bookcases filled with the detritus of four decades of books brought up and left there, it is one of the most varied and bizarre literary collections you will ever see. Searching for something to read, I pulled out a book I never heard of by an author I never heard of, and then found I could not put it down until I was finished. The book is The Fencing Master, written in Spanish by Arturo Perez-Reverte in 1988, and translated into English in 1998. Apparently it received rave reviews and was a bestseller when it was translated, but this had all escaped me, I came upon it entirely by accident.

The book follows the aging Fencing Master Don Jamie Astarloa in 1868 Madrid, Spain: one of the few remaining master practitioners of a dying art as the ancient studies of swordplay are replaced by firearms even in settling matters of honour. He bristles at those who call his life’s work a ‘sport’ or a pastime, and earns his money teaching the sons of rich Spanish nobles this ancient skill, as well as sparring weekly with a wealthy Spanish noble and bon-vivant of some repute.

The story takes place in turbulent times, as the monarchy of Isabella II is crumbling and nobody knows which way the government will fall. This is the source of much discussion amongst the lunchtime friends of Don Jamie, though he remains aloof and disinterested, his only passion being the furthering of his art and the discovery of the legendary ‘perfect strike’ in fencing, against which there can be no defence. The plot is somewhat convoluted, and presents an interesting take on an old, not terribly original story. I will reveal nothing more of it here, because what makes this book magnificent is not the plot, but the strong writing and most of all, the magnificent character of Don Jamie. This book is first and foremost a character study, and Don Jamie is one of the most fascinating and unique characters I have encountered in literature. He is a rare combination of an unusual person with a very atypical perception of the world, but who is entirely believable and reasonable. He is an anachronism in a modernizing age, and is well aware of this and even takes a certain amount of pride in the fact. His actions are always in line with his rather archaic views of honour, views that extend down to the cut of his clothing.

Here the second exceptional element of the book comes into play, and that is the exceptional writing. I always wonder, how much of the writing skill in a translated book comes from the author and how much from the translator? Spanish is after all such a florid language; the book cannot have been rewritten word for word. Regardless, the skill is remarkable, the author manages to set beautiful visual images with his words, describing the clothes on Don Jamie’s back to the point where I can see them, with abstract as well as concrete descriptors. The writing brings you in, addressing seemingly inconsequential facts such as sounds and irrelevant events just to set the scene, which is does exceptionally well. However, the skills of the writer include more than just simple description. As the main character is consumed by the art of fencing, so it the book: chapter titles and opening quotes always deal with fencing, and, when Don Jamie is trying to deal with a problem, you can see the mind of a fencer at work in trying to judge attack, counter, parry and riposte even in the world of politics. The writing becomes a perfect parable for the identity of the main character, absorbed to the sake of all else with the pursuit of his discipline.

The story end in a manner which at first might seem a bit cliché, but which is redeemed beautifully by the last two paragraphs, which manage on one hand to surprise, but upon reflection leave you realizing that the book could not have ended any other way.

I picked up this book by happenstance, but could not put it down until I had completed it, a luxury I was allowed due to my being at the cottage. I cannot recommend this book highly enough: it is not long (only 240 pages) but was one of the most satisfying reads I have had in some time.