Spain's Golden Age (the 17th-century) is the setting for Arturo Perez-Reverte's Alatriste novels. I have read that there are five of them, and they are being translated into english. Captain Alatriste is the first novel, narrated by Inigo Balboa. Inigo is the son of Diego Alatriste's friend and compatriot who died in battle. When Inigo is about 13 he is sent by his mother to act as page to Alatriste and he tells the stories of their adventures together (at times well into the future looking backwards with experience heavy on his shoulders). In this first novel Alatriste is hired to Kill a pair of Englishmen--their true identities not at first revealed. Alatriste's problems arise when he doesn't kill them much to the dismay of Italian Gualterio Malatesta, his co-assassin. It is what happens afterwards that is the meat of the novel, so to speak. I don't want to give away anymore details. I read this without reading any reviews, and I am happy to have done so. It was much more entertaining to have everything unfold before my eyes without any prior knowledge of the characters and their significance.
I did, however, go back and read the reviews to see if I was the only one to really enjoy this novel. Library Journal had an interresting interview with the Perez-Reverte, who said, "Under the guise of action and thrusts, the Alatriste novels, pose very complex questions about the nature of man, about solitude, honor, cruelty, loyalty, life, and death. I know I wanted an adventure story--something "swashbuckling". I got that, but really there was more to the novel. I really got a sense of what Spain in the 17th century must have been like. I have read Perez-Reverte before, so I was not surprised that this was just as intelligent and well written as his other books. I have to concur with the New York Times--"Equipped with a quick-witted, charismatic hero and much to provoke and goad him, Mr. Pérez-Reverte has the makings of a flamboyantly entertaining series. Captain Alatriste ends with a wicked flourish, an evil laugh and a strong likelihood that the best (happily for me!) is yet to come." I am already debating whether to check out Purity of Blood now, or try and wait until the paperback edition is released and buy it later instead.