⇒ Read Gratis Race of Scorpions Book Three of the House of Niccolo Dorothy Dunnett 9780375704796 Books

Race of Scorpions Book Three of the House of Niccolo Dorothy Dunnett 9780375704796 Books

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Race of Scorpions Book Three of the House of Niccolo Dorothy Dunnett 9780375704796 Books

From Venice to Cathay, from Seville to the Gold Coast of Africa, men anchored their ships and opened their ledgers and weighed one thing against another as if nothing would ever change.” And so begins the story of Niccolo–an amazingly winsome and brilliant young man, who starts as an apprentice in a Bruges dye shop but who rises to great things during the story, a wonderful adventure that runs to 8 books, set in the burgeoning splendor of the Renaissance, and taking us from Flanders to Florence to Trebizond and ever onward, with complicated plots and erudite references–not to mention, silks and spices and Medici bankers and fabulous Naxos princesses.
Niccolo Rising (Book 1) starts as Claes (his boyhood name) and two other young men are hitchhiking on a barge from Sluys to Bruges, helping the bargemen with their cargo: a giant cast iron bath tub for the duke of Burgundy. Entertainment ensues, with, as always in these books, an edge, and unforeseen results. One of which is a punishing beating for Claes–he gets a lot of those–and a night in the Steen (the insalubrious prison of Bruges). More terrible punishments await him in the pages and books to come, from which he miraculously emerges relatively unharmed–usually, thanks to the women who love him. Of which, there are many. He is a charming youth! With dimples.

The author builds her story on real events and real people, weaving fictional characters and stories through them, and the action, however thrilling and exotic, remains decorously within the constraints of actual history. Niccolo’s story is the story of the growing power of the 15th century merchant and banker princes, who made vast fortunes manipulating money and mercenary armies, and who traded in alum, in sugar, in silk–dealing with the Ottomans to do so. The confrontation between Europe and the Ottoman empire has a long history (famously including the crusades–Lionheart, by Sharon Kay Penman, provides a detailed glimpse of the 3rd Crusade) and it certainly complicated European trade in the Levant (which continues to be a trouble spot today, of course). Add the constantly warring Italian city states to the mix, and you have a truly labyrinthine political situation, which adroit Niccolo learns how to sail through, to his and his backers’ great profit.
In Spring of the Ram (Book 2), Niccolo takes his mercenary troop to Trebizond, last bastion of Byzantine Empire–and very importantly, terminus of the silk road. The decadent court spends its time in elaborate games and gorgeous processionals. “Pacing slowly between his confessors, was the Emperor. In the crook of his right arm the Imperial crosier lay like a lily. Over his left was wrapped a swath of the long elaborate pallium. Above the tunic, the dalmatica, the silken eagles woven in purple and gold. . a noble profile, calm and resolute beneath the tall stiffened gold of the mitra. From the rim of the crown, strings of light pearls fell to the jeweled yoke on his broad shoulders, and mixed with the loose curling gold of his hair and his beard. “

Lovely images, but cruel and terrible events. David Comnenus sold his city to the Turks for the price of his own freedom, and was given a pleasant place in Constantinople. The people of Trebizond were not so lucky. However, he was killed along with his sons 3 years later by decree of the Sultan. This is the bare history of it, but Dorothy Dunnett’s telling of the tale is spell binding, magical.

The third book, Race of Scorpions, takes us to Cyprus, and the war between Queen Carlotta and her brother James for the throne of the island–and, the cultivation of sugar cane, the precious stuff which grew in Cyprus and which furnished the wealth that paid for the war between the two Lusignans.

Historical fiction as she is MEANT to be writ–voluminous, exciting, complicated! And, how good to know that so much lies yet in store–5 more books!


Tags : Race of Scorpions: Book Three of the House of Niccolo [Dorothy Dunnett] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles,Dorothy Dunnett,Race of Scorpions: Book Three of the House of Niccolo,Vintage,0375704795,FIC019000,Literary,Adventure stories,Belgium;History;Fiction.,Belgium;History;To 1555;Fiction.,Fifteenth century - Fiction,Vander Poele, Nicholas (Fictitious character) - Fiction,Belgium,ENGLISH HISTORICAL FICTION,FICTION Biographical,FICTION Historical General,FICTION Literary,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction-Coming of Age,Fiction-Historical,GENERAL,General Adult,Historical - General,Historical fiction,History,To 1555,United States,historical;literary fiction;historical fiction books;historical fiction novels;alternate history;historical fiction;fiction;novels;fiction books;historical novels;literature;books fiction;realistic fiction books;books historical fiction;medieval;england;romance;renaissance;middle ages;crusades;royalty;rome;historical romance;plantagenets;adventure;tudors;wars of the roses;medieval history;english history;tudor;shakespeare;fantasy;classic;mystery;mythology;saga;drama;art;war;french revolution,historical fiction; historical; renaissance; medieval; literary fiction; historical romance; 18th century; war; saga; royalty; adventure; tudors; fiction; fiction books; literature; historical fiction books; historical fiction novels; england; middle ages; crusades; rome; biography; classic; plantagenets; tudor; mythology; mystery; english history; roman; medieval history; dorothy dunnett; ancient rome; art; knights templar; macbeth; art books; vikings; ancient; medieval fiction; shakespeare; drama; ancient history; french,Historical - General,Fiction - Historical,Belgium,History,To 1555,English Historical Fiction,Fiction,Historical fiction

Race of Scorpions Book Three of the House of Niccolo Dorothy Dunnett 9780375704796 Books Reviews

..to deliver a beautifully crafted and engrossing book. This one shows the continuing development of Niccolo as a person without neglecting to place him believably in a colorful historical setting. Ms. Dunnett's books are always great value and fascinating reads - this is no exception.
This is first rate historical fiction without the explicit sex and the icky-sticky romance. It paints an amazing picture of the time it was written about.
Of the thousands of books I've read in my life (I'm retired), the eight volumes of The House of Niccolo comprise my very favorite book. Dorothy Dunnett was an amazingly brilliant writer!
I love both of Dorthy Dunnett series... I just keep reading them. I'm on my 2nd time for Niccolo series. Now re-buying them in format.
MS Dunnett continues to fascinate the reader with characters and plot
Purchased as an Audible book. Great oration and a great adventure series. My Favourite Author.
Another excellent installment in the House of Niccolo series. This book is set in Cyprus and has a bit of everything to satisfy most reading tastes. There is swashbucking adventure, skullduggery, intrigue and a hint of romance. It is also bittersweet for Niccolo in some ways. The more I delve into the series the more I warm to Niccolo as a character. Infact all of the characters are so very well presented. This book abounds in historical detail and characterisation. Time well spent.
From Venice to Cathay, from Seville to the Gold Coast of Africa, men anchored their ships and opened their ledgers and weighed one thing against another as if nothing would ever change.” And so begins the story of Niccolo–an amazingly winsome and brilliant young man, who starts as an apprentice in a Bruges dye shop but who rises to great things during the story, a wonderful adventure that runs to 8 books, set in the burgeoning splendor of the Renaissance, and taking us from Flanders to Florence to Trebizond and ever onward, with complicated plots and erudite references–not to mention, silks and spices and Medici bankers and fabulous Naxos princesses.
Niccolo Rising (Book 1) starts as Claes (his boyhood name) and two other young men are hitchhiking on a barge from Sluys to Bruges, helping the bargemen with their cargo a giant cast iron bath tub for the duke of Burgundy. Entertainment ensues, with, as always in these books, an edge, and unforeseen results. One of which is a punishing beating for Claes–he gets a lot of those–and a night in the Steen (the insalubrious prison of Bruges). More terrible punishments await him in the pages and books to come, from which he miraculously emerges relatively unharmed–usually, thanks to the women who love him. Of which, there are many. He is a charming youth! With dimples.

The author builds her story on real events and real people, weaving fictional characters and stories through them, and the action, however thrilling and exotic, remains decorously within the constraints of actual history. Niccolo’s story is the story of the growing power of the 15th century merchant and banker princes, who made vast fortunes manipulating money and mercenary armies, and who traded in alum, in sugar, in silk–dealing with the Ottomans to do so. The confrontation between Europe and the Ottoman empire has a long history (famously including the crusades–Lionheart, by Sharon Kay Penman, provides a detailed glimpse of the 3rd Crusade) and it certainly complicated European trade in the Levant (which continues to be a trouble spot today, of course). Add the constantly warring Italian city states to the mix, and you have a truly labyrinthine political situation, which adroit Niccolo learns how to sail through, to his and his backers’ great profit.
In Spring of the Ram (Book 2), Niccolo takes his mercenary troop to Trebizond, last bastion of Byzantine Empire–and very importantly, terminus of the silk road. The decadent court spends its time in elaborate games and gorgeous processionals. “Pacing slowly between his confessors, was the Emperor. In the crook of his right arm the Imperial crosier lay like a lily. Over his left was wrapped a swath of the long elaborate pallium. Above the tunic, the dalmatica, the silken eagles woven in purple and gold. . a noble profile, calm and resolute beneath the tall stiffened gold of the mitra. From the rim of the crown, strings of light pearls fell to the jeweled yoke on his broad shoulders, and mixed with the loose curling gold of his hair and his beard. “

Lovely images, but cruel and terrible events. David Comnenus sold his city to the Turks for the price of his own freedom, and was given a pleasant place in Constantinople. The people of Trebizond were not so lucky. However, he was killed along with his sons 3 years later by decree of the Sultan. This is the bare history of it, but Dorothy Dunnett’s telling of the tale is spell binding, magical.

The third book, Race of Scorpions, takes us to Cyprus, and the war between Queen Carlotta and her brother James for the throne of the island–and, the cultivation of sugar cane, the precious stuff which grew in Cyprus and which furnished the wealth that paid for the war between the two Lusignans.

Historical fiction as she is MEANT to be writ–voluminous, exciting, complicated! And, how good to know that so much lies yet in store–5 more books!