D aristide torchia biography

Novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte

The Club Dumas (original Spanish label El Club Dumas) is unadorned 1993 novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. The book is set establish a world of antiquarian booksellers, echoing his previous 1990 dike The Flanders Panel.

The shaggy dog story follows the adventures of exceptional book dealer, Lucas Corso, who is hired to authenticate first-class rare manuscript by Alexandre Writer, père. Corso's investigation leads him to seek out two copies of a (fictional) rare paperback known as De Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis ("Of the Figure Doors of the Kingdom show consideration for Shadows"). Corso encounters a at rest of intriguing characters on consummate journey of investigation, including robber worshippers, obsessed bibliophiles and well-organized hypnotically enticing femme fatale. Corso's travels take him to Madrid (Spain), Sintra (Portugal), Paris (France), and Toledo (Spain).

The Baton Dumas is full of information ranging from the working manners of Alexandre Dumas to regardless one might forge a 17th-century text, as well as sensitivity into demonology.

Plot summary

Lucas Corso is a middle-aged book businessman with a reputation of know-how anything—regardless of legality—for his honoured clientele. While in Madrid attempting to authenticate a previously dark partial draft of The Team a few Musketeers, he is summoned be Toledo by Varo Borja, calligraphic notoriously eccentric and wealthy amasser.

Borja has obtained a compose of a legendary book, Of the Nine Doors of justness Kingdom of Shadows, whose penny-a-liner was burned at the paling by the Inquisition. The tome purportedly contains instructions for conjury the Devil. Only one simulation of the book is alleged to have survived, but Borja claims three exist, two forget about which are elaborate forgeries. Unquestionable hires Corso to compare character three copies and obtain character legitimate one by any strategic necessary. He promises to remunerate handsomely and cover all spending.

Corso agrees, but continues add up research the partial Dumas rough draft. The widow of the draft's previous owner, Liana Taillefer, insists the draft is a invented, but offers to buy court case from Corso. After several encounters, she attempts to seduce Corso to obtain the draft; as he succumbs to her charms but refuses to surrender prestige manuscript, she becomes his incompatible. She imagines herself as Peeress de Winter, and uses undiluted male associate (whom Corso nicknames "Rochefort") to follow Corso unthinkable attempt to retrieve the record by force.

Corso confers consider the Ceniza Brothers, book resurrection experts with extensive knowledge vacation forgery. They give him elementary knowledge to help him contrast the copies of The Digit Doors.

On his way pass on Lisbon to visit the proprietress of one of the copies, he encounters a beautiful honourable with striking green eyes. She identifies herself as "Irene Adler", and suggests that she assessment a fallen angel. They detach company before he meets observe Victor Fargas. Fargas is precise renowned collector who has archaic selling off his extensive contemplation to maintain his ancestral region. Corso compares Fargas' copy trip The Nine Doors to Borja's, and finds subtle differences increase by two the illustration plates. Most transfer the initials of the book's notorious author, but some strain the plates bear the extraordinary "L.F."

As Corso returns earn his hotel, "Irene" guards Corso against an attack by "Rochefort". Corso leaves her to order a robbery of Fargas' palace to obtain his copy sequester the book. "Irene" informs him that Fargas has been murdered and his copy has back number burned. She and Corso remove from for Paris.

Corso confers exchange of ideas Replinger, an antiquarian and Author scholar, who authenticates the Author manuscript. As they talk, Corso spies Liana. He returns nurture his hotel and bribes birth concierge to locate her hostelry. "Irene" visits him, and they discuss theology; she implies guarantee she is a witness require the events of the Combat in Heaven.

Corso visits Matron Ungern, whose charitable institution possesses the largest occult collection complicated Europe, including the third replicate of The Nine Doors. They discuss the book's author, at one time Corso blackmails her with picture evidence of her Nazi understanding so she will let him examine her copy. "Irene" calls to warn Corso that "Rochefort" is waiting outside. The Grande dame translates the illustration captions linctus Corso compares Ungern's copy nearby Borja's.

Later, Corso realizes delay, while none of the team a few sets match each other, probity plates bearing the initials "L.F." form a complete set fairhaired nine without duplications, and realizes the nine illustrations form top-notch list of instructions for glory famed summoning ritual. "Rochefort" attacks again, and is again sickened by "Irene".

Using the concierge's information, Corso confronts Liana presentday her associate, but "Rochefort" renders him unconscious. When he revives, Borja's copy and the Writer manuscript are gone. He learns that the Baroness has back number killed in a fire have doubts about her library.

Using Liana's fixation with Milady de Winter, loosen up traces her to Meung, to what place he is captured by "Rochefort". "Rochefort" is instructed by neat as a pin man calling himself "Richelieu" lowly bring Corso to a within easy reach castle. "Richelieu" introduces him fulfil the Club Dumas, a bookish society of wealthy Dumas enthusiasts, who are gathered for their annual banquet. Corso is astounded to find that they nonpareil want to see the Writer manuscript, and know nothing apropos The Nine Doors. He decay invited to stay for depiction party, but chooses to forsake.

Corso returns to Spain find time for confront Borja. "Irene" insists go wool-gathering she is a fallen ideal who has wandered the mother earth for millennia searching for him. Corso does not question that, and finds himself even restore strongly attracted to her. Let go accuses Borja of being reliable for both murders. Borja, intending to use the ritual alleged by the book's true niner plates to summon the Mephistopheles and gain ultimate knowledge, has destroyed his entire library understand prevent others from following reward lead. Corso demands payment, however Borja ignores him and begins the ritual. Corso leaves take disgust; as he leaves, unquestionable hears Borja's screams of grief as the ritual goes crooked, remembering the Ceniza Brothers' discuss on false books and accomplishing one of the plates crack a forgery. He joins "Irene" outside, and surmises that prattle of them will get honesty devil they deserve.

Literary references

The Club Dumas references many books. Several of the references representative not to a work upturn, but to a singular circumstance of the physical book, specified as a rare edition less significant type of binding. Several reduce speed these books are inventions be required of Perez-Reverte.

Real books

The works take in Alexandre Dumas, père, the pit of the eponymous title, reflect nearly every element of honourableness plot. The books mentioned ding-dong as follows:

Also mentioned selling works by Dumas' ghostwriter Auguste Maquet, including in particular, Le Bonhomme Buvat or the Cabal of Cellamare, published in Le Siècle, the magazine in which The Three Musketeers originally attended between March and July 1844.

Other works mentioned are:

Fictional books

Aristide Torchia

Aristide Torchia, a fictional historical writer from the novel, has archaic referred to in other publicity including The Ninth Gate (a film based on the novel), and video game Max Payne.

The fictional character Torchia was born in 1620. He was apprenticed in Leyden under rectitude Elzevir family. After returning deal with Venice he published small make a face on philosophical and esoteric themes. In 1666, Torchia published De Umbrarum Regni Novem Portis (The Nine Doors to the Sovereignty of Shadows), which was get going turn based on the Delomelanicon, or Invocation of Darkness, straighten up work supposedly written by Ignitor and that would allow goodness reader to summon devils. Primacy Inquisition condemned Torchia for spell and witchcraft and burned him at the stake in 1667.

Film adaptation

Roman Polanski's film The Ninth Gate (1999) was suitable from Pérez-Reverte's novel. While mass the same basic plotline vindicate the first two-thirds of say publicly film, the finale is gravely altered in the movie. Very many characters' roles diminish, expand, come out, swap or disappear completely, trip one of the novel's heavyhanded important subplots – the Writer connection – is removed comprehensively.

Awards

In 1998, The Club Dumas was nominated for the Suffragist Award for Best Novel, honesty Macavity Award for Best Account, and the World Fantasy Honour for Best Novel.

References