Sarah's review
Checkmate: Sixth in the Legendary Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett
Sarah's review
rating:
bookshelves: favorites, historical-fiction
recommended for: lovers of history
status: Read in June, 2005
rating:
bookshelves: favorites, historical-fiction
recommended for: lovers of history
status: Read in June, 2005
The Lymond Chronicles books are quite possibly my all-time favorite books, or at least as an adult. There are six thoroughly-researched novels in the series, and each outdoes its predecessor in weaving historic details, compelling characters, and gripping plot twists.
The story follow Francis Crawford of Lymond, a minor Scottish nobleman, through adventures that take him from his native land to England, France, Malta, Greece, North Africa, Russia, and finally back home to Scotland. Along the way, he tangles with epic figures, both real and fictitious while confronting the darker side of both his own and his family's history.
One warning: the first two books of the series are a bit slow in comparison to the remaining four, but it is definitely worth the time to get through them. I also recommend getting a copy of Elspeth Morrison's The Dorothy Dunnett Companion, which annotates the myriad historic and literary references that are woven throughout the books.
The story follow Francis Crawford of Lymond, a minor Scottish nobleman, through adventures that take him from his native land to England, France, Malta, Greece, North Africa, Russia, and finally back home to Scotland. Along the way, he tangles with epic figures, both real and fictitious while confronting the darker side of both his own and his family's history.
One warning: the first two books of the series are a bit slow in comparison to the remaining four, but it is definitely worth the time to get through them. I also recommend getting a copy of Elspeth Morrison's The Dorothy Dunnett Companion, which annotates the myriad historic and literary references that are woven throughout the books.
