Antoni de Montpalau is the aristocratic hero of Juan (or Joan for those who prefer the Catalan) Perucho's somewhat historical cum vampire novel set in Spain in the 19th century during the Carlist Wars. Montpalau is an almost Diderot type of figure--a man of reason and enligtenment best embodied by the spirit of Revolution which swept across the Americas and Europe in the latter part of the 18th century and first half of the 19th. His vampiric antagonist is a reactionary Onofre de Dip (better known as the Dip) who can shapechange into almost anything and is allying himself with the Carlist forces. The Dip is also a vampire with a death wish. Part mystery--part swashbuckling horror story--the prose is very elegant and the movement of the story tense--this is a wonderful book in many respects--it is also a very quirky tale of human redemption--and on top of that the historical stuff isn't bad either. This is the only book I know of Perucho's (who died in 2003) to have been translated into english. It is well worth checking out--and a fun read for those who do. ( )