The Nautical Chart

By: Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Margaret Sayers Peden - translator

Narrated by: George Guidall

International best-selling author Arturo Pérez-Reverte, a celebrated master of smart, gripping thrillers, draws favorable comparisons to such literary legends as Herman Melville, Joseph Conrad, and Patrick O’Brian. Translated into 19 languages, his books have sold more than three million copies worldwide.

At a maritime auction in Barcelona, Merchant Marine Officer Manuel Coy sees an intense bidding war erupt over a seemingly innocuous 18th-century atlas. The auction winner is the beautiful Tanger Soto, who is obsessed with a Jesuit ship sunk by pirates in the 17th century. Joining forces, Tanger and Manuel hit the seas in search of Dei Gloria and its precious, yet unidentified, cargo. Their quest sends them not only into dangerous waters, but also into the perilous recesses of the human heart.

Full of adventure and suspense, The Nautical Chart is a masterful romance of the sea. George Guidall’s thrilling reading makes for an unforgettable listening experience.

©2000 Arturo Pérez-Reverte (P)2002 Recorded Books

Consummate Perez-Reverte

A ship, a treasure, a mysterious woman, a naive sailor all mixed together with Perez-Reverte's fine story telling. Not everyone is a fan of Perez-Reverte. I am. Great nautical tale. Guidall's reading brought characters to life and kept the slow-building tension. Well done.

A Sailor Banished from the Sea

Starts a bit slowly. Maps and map-making, the history of navigation, and love for the works of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler are some elements that run through this book. I'm not giving the plot away though!

George Guidell is outstanding. I love to listen to him read even if the book is not so great. This is one that I was sorry to finish.

I’m a sailor

I’m a mariner and have been for almost 20 years, so I loved all the nautical references. The narrator was excellent and the story was interesting. Well written book. Those that love the sea will like this tale.

Interesting. I learned a lot

The narration was exceptional. Best I’ve experienced. Unfortunately I was left struggling at the believability of the ending. What was Coe thinking?!

The Sailor, The Siren, and the Sunken Ship

What made the experience of listening to The Nautical Chart the most enjoyable?

The sense that, like the sailor, Coy, I never knew just what was going to happen next, or which of the other characters was bad. I never knew for sure if Coy's notion of treasure, the beautiful woman, would be a blessing or curse in the end, or if her idea of treasure, the ship, would ever be found...and I never knew when or where the bad guys were going to show up again, to steal it all away.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the descriptions of the sea and of sailing, and, of course, the descriptions of the woman, Tangier. The story is absolutely classic, and its referencing of books and films I am familiar with drew me in from the start. Reverte is so poetic in his character development, that he made an old story seem like one I was experieencing, as I listened to it. It was a rich and memorable read.

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

I am a big Guidall fan, and I alwayss love his female voices; he makes Tangier sound like the unknowable but silken siren who Coy will inevitably follow.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

One sailor's treasure is a beautiful woman, and her treasure may be everyone's demise.

Any additional comments?

Anyone who has an interest in sailing and the history of navigation, will be fascinated to hear all the information regarding latitude, longitude and the history of the true meridian that Reverte lays out throughout this book. In all truth, I am actually not interested in sailing or any of these things, but the author and the narrator made learning truly enjoyable. I loved this voyage!!