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El sol de Breda (The Sun Over Breda, 1998; UK & USA, 2007) is the third title in the Captain Alatriste series of historical novels by Spanish author Arturo Perez-Reverte. Following Limpieza de sangre (Purity of Blood), protagonists Captain Alastriste and his teenaged squire Íñigo Balboa are part of Spain's army fighting in the Spanish Netherlands. Central to the plot is their involvement in the siege of Breda in 1624-25.
Historical Context
[edit]At this time, Spain was at the apex of its political and monetary powers. Colonies under the Spanish flag ranged from the Philippines to Europe to the Americas. Spain's battle-hardened military was notorious for its victories over the Ottomans at the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and over England in the Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604). These far-flung excursions were financed chiefly through riches brought from the New World colonies, primarily in Latin America.
However, Habsburg Spain's involvement in Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a religious war pitting Protestants against Catholics, drained the royal coffers and led to the end of Spain's dominance. The continuing Dutch Revolt (also known as the Eighty Years' War) was the revolt of the Seventeen_Provinces against the Spanish Empire and it is the setting of The Sun Over Breda.
General Ambrosio Spinola ordered the Spanish to take Breda on August 28, 1624. The city was defended by a garrison of 7,000 under Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. On June 5, 1625, the Dutch general Justin of Nassau surrendered, a moment documented in Diego Velázquez's 1635 painting, "The Surrender of Breda".
Plot
[edit]The novel begins in Oudkerk. Narrator Íñigo is 15 years old and serving as a mochilero for Captain Alatriste's infantry group, the Tercio Viejo de Cartegena. Habsburg Spain is fiercely opposed to the Dutch Republic's desire to be independent of the Catholic monarchy. The endless wear and tear of war is evident. As a mochilero, Íñigo's job is to forage for food in the woods and battled-wrecked homes. The tercio haven't been paid in months and are threatening to mutiny.
As in the two previous novels, the story is told from the perspective of an adult Íñigo recording his memoirs. Though the siege is always in the forefront, He combines the narrative of his war-time experiences
Diego Velasquez & The Surrender of Breda
[edit]This first siege is best known as the subject of Diego Velázquez's 1635 canvas, The Surrender of Breda The painting depicts the generals, Nassau of the Netherlands and Spinola for Spain, meeting to conduct the transfer of the key to the city of Breda from Dutch to the Spanish.
The painting shows the two men not necessarily as enemies, but rather as friends.
Quevedo as penpal different languages, including Portuguese mutiny non-payment contrast in living conditions, color of people, wine vs beer description of the sun vs Spain the honor & reputation of Spaniards your mercies, class consciousness, esp in language
Spanish Golden Age - - Spanish_Golden_Century
Harquebus Pike Square dead mule, tunnels drunk priest, inigo picks up latin & don quijote as education, "true religion" swan as symbol of brothel
External Links
[edit]Hardcover - ISBN # 978-0-399-15383-9 (2007 US) Paperback ISBN # 978-0-452-28974-1 (2008 US paperback) Published by Plume, part of Penguin