The Edgar Award–winning novel A Conspiracy of Paper was one of the most acclaimed debuts of 2000. In his richly suspenseful second novel, author David Liss once again travels back in time to a crucial moment in cultural and financial history. His destination: Amsterdam, 1659—a mysterious world of trade populated by schemers and rogues, where deception rules the day.On the world’s first … world’s first commodities exchange, fortunes are won and lost in an instant. Miguel Lienzo, a sharp-witted trader in the city’s close-knit community of Portuguese Jews, knows this only too well. Once among the city’s most envied merchants, Miguel has lost everything in a sudden shift in the sugar markets. Now, impoverished and humiliated, living on the charity of his petty younger brother, Miguel must find a way to restore his wealth and reputation.
Miguel enters into a partnership with a seduc-tive Dutchwoman who offers him one last chance at success—a daring plot to corner the market of an astonishing new commodity called “coffee.” To succeed, Miguel must risk everything he values and test the limits of his commercial guile, facing not only the chaos of the markets and the greed of his competitors, but also a powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to see him ruined. Miguel will learn that among Amsterdam’s ruthless businessmen, betrayal lurks everywhere, and even friends hide secret agendas.
With humor, imagination, and mystery, David Liss depicts a world of subterfuge, danger, and repressed longing, where religious and cultural traditions clash with the demands of a new and exciting way of doing business. Readers of historical suspense and lovers of coffee (even decaf) will be up all night with this beguiling novel.
From the Hardcover edition.
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The Coffee Trader by David Liss is an older novel (2003) but deserves a resurgence because it has everything that makes for a great novel. This is the story of the world’s first commodities exchange, where fortunes are won and lost in an istant, often on false rumor created by a large seller or buyer. It is Amsterdam, 1659 — a mysterious world of trade populated by schemers and rogues, where deception rules the day. Try it. It is worth the read.
Really interesting historical fiction.
Intriguing, unique historical fiction with well developed characters and story.
Interesting portrait of post inquisition Jewish life in Amsterdam
Everything you wanted to know about coffee and how it’s tied to historical events and other beverages
David Liss is a fabulous writer and one of the best historical novelists I’ve come across.
I like historical fiction. This book was set in a different era, and location, from my usual choices. Enjoyed the book.
I liked the historical basis for the novel.
The twists and turns that assail Miguel as he tries to salvage his trading life on the exchange, advance his own personal standing, and just survive in Amsterdam society will have you wondering “what’s next”? Alliances shift, help comes from unexpected quarters, and friends become secret enemies, and enemies friends. It’s fascinating.
Historical novel about old Amsterdam and the men at the center of world trade.
Fascinating!
TRUTH OF THE ERA.
Good history and insight into Portugal
Wonderful ‘heist’ tale involving coffee and early commodities trading in Holland.
Interesting look at the early days of the stock market and how it worked.
Also a strong revenge tale.
Hard to read and follow
Brought to conclusion very abruptly
This book offers an interesting view of Amsterdam in its formative years and highlights its tolerance of various cultures.
Great insight into the beginnings of the world’s most popular social beverage.
Boring, long winded
So boring I quit reading it