Overview

• After a 14‑year pause, the eighth Alatriste novel is out, with Alfaguara printing 180,000 copies for Spain and the series already exceeding seven million sales.
• Set in 1628 Paris, the story weaves Alatriste’s path across Alexandre Dumas’ musketeers without revealing outcomes to their encounters.
• Francisco de Quevedo travels with the protagonists under orders from the Count‑Duke of Olivares, against the backdrop of Richelieu’s campaign and the siege of La Rochelle.
• At the Madrid presentation, Pérez‑Reverte said writing Alatriste “reconciles” him with Spain and noted the book draws rejection from both the extreme left and extreme right.
• The author describes an older and more remorseful Alatriste who kills for money yet clings to loyalty, honor and dignity despite his disillusionment.