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THE KNIGHT OF DAWN (CHRONIC FIVE YEARS) - Sebastian Roa 
Posted by Josep
Posted by Josep
Or how throw seven keys to the tomb of Hartzenbusch.
I will go to grain. Is it good? Yes, a lot.
Some time ago I bought a book that, like many others, was on the stack of "outstanding." When that happens, I usually do not review any, because I hate that I recommend a book that I will not be able to buy. And as I read too many books lately late, I make no review, which has led to harsh rebukes of the most industrious hislibreños have reached threatened with expulsion fulminant and irreversible by my laziness. However, I can see that this book is on sale (and 10 euros!), So take the opportunity to wash my honor.
I repeat: how to throw seven keys to the tomb of Hartzenbusch (yes, I know that abuse of the phrase Joaquín Costa). Why do I mention the nineteenth Juan Eugenio?, Because that's what this novel of the Lovers of Teruel. Although, unlike the romantic playwright, who just a few sentences devoted to the adventures of Diego Martínez de Marcilla and reveled in the rough morbo the time of final meeting, this is a historical novel and focuses specifically on the story of events during the five-year deadline set by Mr. de Segura, something already announced in the subtitle successful.
The story begins with the famous lover back counting their sorrows in a gloomy dungeon. The choice of narrator is impeccable. I'm sick of first artificial persons, who are bent on telling that of which the protagonist is not a witness to unbelievable circumlocutions, memories that focus on trivialities impossible to remember, moral anachronisms the character is psychologically deep, long tirades instructive. Diego de Marcilla his memoirs in a first right person, no cheating. His vision of Las Navas de Tolosa is the rightful, including dust cloud, not "bird view" without rambling descriptions of where each unit was beyond the news coming into place, without an attempt to demonstrate that we have studied the diorama, without a bookish child unlikely that tells all as if that is what normal people do during a battle. This pattern continues throughout the novel, although Diego is gaining importance in time to witness makes the situation more and more detailed, however, still can not tell what I know and seeing what is not is within reach. I love that description of Sagunto without saying that Diego is ... because no knows. At the end, however, changes the narrator in a resource already used by other authors (such as Mika Waltari in the siege of Constantinople) to narrate an epilogue that connects us with the best known part of history, avoiding open-ended.
The language used has the right degree of arcaización. It seems that someone is talking to us old, but not exceeded. We have all read imitations of language that make reading time is tedious, even impossible, and it is not easy to find the average. The text of Roa, on the contrary, it reads well and, while we environmental.
literary text quality is also good. Has the right degree of beauty so that we can praise, but not enough to be cumbersome. The dominance of Castilian and wealth is also worth noting.
Rhythm is the corresponding. Anyone seeking action novels that "hooked" from first to last page in a marathon session you may feel disappointed, but it has its high points well proportioned and the interest is maintained throughout the text. The journey of Diego in search of wealth to do so deserve Isabel leads to adventures at the wheel of fortune rises and knocks the hero, and gives us a pleasantly entertaining reading.
The epic feel is right. Flee, as I said, the perfect description of the battles, but the character tells us enough to understand that and, above all, to make us feel on your skin. Las Navas or Muret can be found in any encyclopedia (in the serious, at least), and is not as important as not tell the whole mess up. Roa not tell everything or gaffe: not trying to overwhelm us demonstrate what they know, but it demonstrates what is silent. The run-Muret, especially, may piss off a fan of Peter the Catholic nobility, to which I have presented on occasion as the champion of justice by dying heroically defended their vassals against the overwhelming superiority of the French: for will might not, neither is as fierce as the lion or the chivalrous knight.
Emphasizing the epic sense, this time in smaller scale, I must admit my envy by some ability of the author, Roa is a master at what I'm clumsy: the description of the unique grief. When I see a seal between two swordsmen in a movie, think how hard it must be to bring the choreography to the written word and I admire those who are capable of doing. Well Roa is capable. The feints, shock, motion, immerse you in the moment as the best scene of the best movies.
The characters are believable, adjusted in time, without anachronisms, well built, and a consistent personal development. The character, but too cute for my taste (judging from the passions that up), it is plausible: it is not perfect, not saved miraculously impossible dangers, not always making the right decisions. The secondaries are introduced to their time and fulfill their role.
regard to historical accuracy, knowledge of the time is impeccable, which is more to admire taking into account the variety of scenarios: Teruel, Al-Andalus, Occitan, the Holy Land. The events described have been chosen so that the character to fulfill his five-year adventures, without changing dates or invent falsehoods without licenses. Micro-history (although it escapes an ear) is also correct, and costumes, weapons, food and customs are perfect accurately reflected. You know I have the reputation of "bookish", "thorough" and other epithets (some a little more unpleasant), but stumbled with the name of Alcuin of York (and that's why I wrote it a hundred times, you remember). You all know what limping foot (the left hump me in '90 in a tree pit of Barcelona) and which hand I'm lame. That is, if no protest is because I could not find kits (good ear).
Did I mention that I liked it? For compradla. Factsheet
Title: El Caballero del Alba. Five chronic Years.
Author: Sebastian Roa Mesado.
Editorial: Editors Tremens Librum SL Madrid, 2008.
Paperback, 445 pages.
PVP: 10 euros.
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