In this first book in the legendary Lymond Chronicles, Francis Crawford of Lymond, traitor, murderer, nobleman, returns to Scotland to redeem his reputation and save his home.It is 1547 and Scotland has been humiliated by an English invasion and is threatened by machinations elsewhere beyond its borders, but it is still free. Paradoxically, her freedom may depend on a man who stands accused of … who stands accused of treason. He is Francis Crawford of Lymond, a scapegrace nobleman of crooked felicities and murderous talents, posessed of a scholar’s erudition and a tongue as wicked as a rapier. In The Game of Kings, this extraordinary antihero returns to the country that has outlawed him to redeem his reputations even at the risk of his life.
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Well. Where to begin… Once again, this was an accidental find, and what a treasure it turned out to be. I picked up a paperback copy in a box at a gas station on Cape Cod for $.50 (isn’t it funny what one remembers?), began to read it in the back seat while my dad drove back to our cottage, and was hooked. And when I say hooked, I mean it was …
The novel that made me become a novelist. Before reading Dunnett’s work, I had no idea that a book could be – everything that this book is.
This book is the introduction to Francis Crawford of Lymond, outlaw, scoundrel, rogue, and wit, everything his doggedly honorable brother Richard is not. He typifies everything that is bubbling in the …
This is the first in quite possibly the greatest series of historical adventure novels ever written. It starts ~1547 in Scotland, although the backstory begins with the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542. Over the course of six brilliant books the story sweeps across England, France, Malta, North Africa, Greece, Turkey, Russia, and back to England and …
“Lymond is back.” So begins the greatest series of historical fiction yet written. The great Dorothy Dunnett gives you the world of 16th century Scotland, the devious, fascinating, ultimately heroic mind, body and soul of Francis Crawford of Lymond, and characters of incredible depth. These books are a challenge at first because they mimic the …
Absolutely wonderful start to the series. I was pulled in from the very beginning, and hours passed unnoticed as I read. Her writing is beautiful, her characters fascinating and the period impeccably researched. Utterly breathtaking. Not a light read, but a book to really fall into and live in.
This is my favorite historical fiction writer. She is the best! Extremely well researched. Her dialogue is exceptional. Most of all, she makes me read with a dictionary nearby.
Historical fiction at its best. Rich language and imagery, Not so much a romance as a romantically brilliant lead character, rich settings and situations, and an epic story spanning thousands of pages over numerous titles. Not for the reluctant reader nor the faint of heart. You may find yourself missing meals, sleep, work… as your eyes become …
If people ask me what books influenced me to write fiction, this one is always at the top of the list. Dame Dorothy’s gift for setting and scene are unparalleled. I can pick up her books, especially ones in this series, and be transported within a few words. As I’ve matured I realized plot was not her gift (someone once called the series a …
Great historical fiction.
The best series of books I’ve ever read are the two by Dorothy Dunnett. Witty, dense, challenging, awesomely researched historical fiction with byzantine plots, twists and turns, finely drawn characters, and stunning prose. The Lymond Chronicles and The House of Niccolò series will forever be my go-to fiction, no matter how many times I re-read …
The Lymond Chronicles are simply incredible. For every 10 people I have given this book to, only one finishes it, but they go on to be as obsessed as I am . The buildup to Checkmate, the gut wrenching book four…I cannot say enough good things about Dorothy Dunnett. Wow, wow, wow, every time I read Lymond (five readings of the series so far)
This series has become a real classic, the Lymond series. An intelligent read, very clever and complex, the plot builds up over the books but this is the first and simplest one. 16th century Scotland is the base but we’ll be off to France, Turkey, Russia, and more. The characters are real, even when the author is constrained by historical …
Omg, so happy that the Lymond series is now available for a new generation to love. I read this series for the first time 40 years ago and they are still eloquent, intensity exciting and fascinating. Read them as soon as you can.
Interesting historical fiction. A little wooden compared to Alison Weir, but this is an area of Scottish history that is not as well known.
Actually a good read and not nearly as unendingly painful as the rest of the books in the series. This was worth reading but the remaining books in the series should be skipped.
This series was one of the best I ever read. In fact I’ve reread it several times I enjoyed it so much.
The single most wonderful historical fiction book I have ever read. (And it’s the first of a series!) [and several people I’ve recommended it to have told me they were sucked into the series because of this first book]
I will be brutally honest and tell you that I must have started this book five times before I stayed with it. The major reason was the author’s use of multiple names for the same person. After I got the names straight on the major characters, I dived in. Then I went on to finish the series.
Dorothy Dunnett is one of the finest historical writers I have ever come across. Her command of the English language is phenomenal and no one can spin a tale any better than she can. I have read the entire Lymond series seven times over the last fifty years and only hope I live long enough to read them again.
It is an interesting story but requires knowledge of French and Latin to truly appreciate it.