The dream of the sword
The dream of the sword is a classic adventure novel written by the Spanish psychologist and author Manuel Sánchez García. The work, the writer's first work, was published by the Edhesa publishing house in November 2023. The text presents a format already seen before, with a story that seems to have been told a thousand times and that, however, has a gratifying freshness that has enthralled his readers.
The novel goes straight to the heart of the 17th century, the Spanish Golden Age, about which absolutely everything is supposed to be known. So how is it that Manuel Sánchez García's narrative style, descriptions and plot constructions are so charming? perhaps the particular brilliance of The dream of the sword Does it have to do with the prolixity of your writing? More on that later.
Synopsis of The Dream of the Sword
The glow of a historical novel
The book tells the adventures of Alonso de Yáñez, a magnificent soldier, the kind of gentleman all men long to be. His fame came after fighting in the Thirds of Flanders, a battle that earned him the title of “the best swordsman in Toledo.” Later, fate smiles upon him in such a way that he is allowed to be the protector of a court advisor. But life in the palace will be more complex than he imagines.
Soon, The good manners and charms of the protagonist attract attention of one of the most important people in the place: the valid of King Philip IV, the Count-Duke of Olivares, who grants him two extremely important missions. While this is happening, banal attitudes can be observed in a world of appearances, where courtiers always hide their intentions and danger waits around every corner.
All for an impious kingdom
While Alonso is a multi-talented man, his courage will be tested on multiple missions. Despite his achievements, There will be no shortage of accusations of betrayal, recurring conflicts, secret missions, and, of course, a little of the old and well-known romance. There are characters who do anything to achieve their own interests while putting the lives of others at risk.
Likewise, the author demonstrates an innate capacity for research, because, although there are many historical facts within the work that are known to most readers, there are others that manage to surprise. This occurs due to two important elements: their novelty and the way in which they are told. And yes, the literary quality that the text presents is commendable.
This last detail, today, is worthy of exaltation, especially because invites, as El Quijote at the time, to revel in the linguistic richness of Spanish.
Spain in the 17th century
In the late 1600s, the Modern Age was about to give way to the Contemporary Age. Baroque art and music still filled the throne rooms, and court balls were always the order of the day, although only for those privileged who enjoyed the favor of the nobility. In addition to the adventure of gallant battles, Palace intrigues are extremely important in the novel.
Therefore, The dream of the sword It's that kind of historical book that becomes immediately immersive, because his narrative style—typical of the era he portrays—never clashes with modernism or the interference of the present. It is very easy to assume that, as the work itself says, the text has been written by Alonso, a man of the Golden Age, a favorite among the soldiers of Toledo.
Toledo, Madrid and Barcelona, those wonderful cities
If there is something that characterizes a good historical novel, it is the fidelity with which they draw the landscapes of the settings, the costumes and the ways of the society in which the events occur. In The dream of the sword, those requirements are fully met, Well, the descriptions of the Barcelonas, Madrid and Toledo of the 17th century could not remove anyone from the magic of its context.
In a medium where less and less emphasis is placed on the value of the literary - the aesthetics of language, dialectic, narrative structure and the construction of characters -, It is worth highlighting the historical rigor with which Manuel Sánchez García treated the geographical areas in his novel. This, coupled with the fluidity of the text, creates a calming corner in the minds of lovers of letters.
An introduction to the morality of a gentleman
The novel begins with a reflection by the protagonist about how he has ended the destiny of so many men. He wonders what gives him the power to eliminate in this way anyone who has prevented him from achieving various tasks. So, Alonso brings up an interesting dichotomy: does the ability to murder provide the murderer with the morality to do so? This, of course, will always depend on the circumstances.
Later, the soldier hears how several men attack a traveler on horseback. After getting a little closer, Alonso intercedes for the victim and saves his life. In the path, the main character discovers that his recent rescue was with a leading knight of the court, whom he invites to lunch at his house to entertain him.
About the author, Manuel Sánchez García
Manuel Sánchez García was born in 1961, in Alicante, Spain. After finishing high school He graduated in Psychology from the University of Murcia. Later he decided to pursue a doctorate at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche. Despite being a lover of literature, for a long time he dedicated himself only to the area of mental health, however, that changed in 2023.
Last year, Manuel Sánchez García had the opportunity to fulfill one of the greatest wishes he had since he was very young: publish a book. For the first time, everything in his life aligned in the right way so that he could resume his passion, and he did it very successfully, because, today, The dream of the sword It is available in bookstores and digital platforms such as Amazon.com.