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The Dorothy Dunnett Companion
Here is a lovingly assembled, essential A-Z companion to Dorothy Dunnett’s brilliant Lymond Chronicles and the first five novels in the House of Niccolò series.
Elspeth Morrison has re-created the author’s exhaustive original research, documenting her myriad sources and literary references. Foreign phrases are translated; poems and quotations presented in full; historical figures and events fleshed out; subtle allusions–and there are many–noted. From the origins of the Arabic drink qahveh to a recipe for quince paste, from the medical uses of ants and alum, to Zacco, Zenobia, and Zoroaster, this easy-to-use A-to-Z reference richly illuminates the intricacies of the complex and far-flung Renaissance world Dorothy Dunnett’s creations so colorfully inhabit.
Elspeth Morrison has re-created the author’s exhaustive original research, documenting her myriad sources and literary references. Foreign phrases are translated; poems and quotations presented in full; historical figures and events fleshed out; subtle allusions–and there are many–noted. From the origins of the Arabic drink qahveh to a recipe for quince paste, from the medical uses of ants and alum, to Zacco, Zenobia, and Zoroaster, this easy-to-use A-to-Z reference richly illuminates the intricacies of the complex and far-flung Renaissance world Dorothy Dunnett’s creations so colorfully inhabit.
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 1, 2022
Just Awful!
Truly one of the worst reference books I’ve ever used.
Nine out of the the ten times I need answers about something in a Dunnett text, it’s not explained in this book.
Plus, it’s impossible to find anything. It’s arranged “alphabetically”. But this arrangement is by the author’s whim. So, for example, “A Horse that Flies” might be alphabetized under A, H, T, F, P for Pegasus, or W for Wings.
There’s no index, and no ebook version, so you have to riffle through the pages searching for what you want (which you usually won’t find). Very frustrating.
Also, Morrison goes on and on about irrelevant historical details, but does little to enlighten us about what we really want to know, which is what the phrases mean in the context of Dunnett's writing.
I suppose it’s better than nothing, but not by much.
The reference book I used for The Game of Kings (The Lymond Chronicles, #1) was so much better! That book, The Ultimate Guide to Dorothy Dunnett’s The Game of Kings is on Goodreads, but the GR book link doesn’t work. Alas, that author, Laura Caine Ramsey, didn’t write references for the subsequent books in The Lymond Chronicles.
Also, the useful blogs I used for the first book don’t extend beyond The Game of Kings (The Lymond Chronicles, #1).
Here's a link to my review of The Game of Kings (The Lymond Chronicles, #1), which, in turn, contains links to blogs and websites I referenced while reading that book, the first in the series: My review of The Game of Kings.
Here's my review of the much better reference book acccompanying that first volume of "The Lymond Chronicles": My review of the Ultimate Guide to the Game of Kings.
Update: As with most other things, I’ve dealt with my frustration with this tome by lowering my expectations a lot. So now, I only refer to this volume when Dunnett’s quoting some Latin, Old French, or Gaelic verses. For anything else I search online (or don’t). This is certainly the age of ever lower expectations…
Truly one of the worst reference books I’ve ever used.
Nine out of the the ten times I need answers about something in a Dunnett text, it’s not explained in this book.
Plus, it’s impossible to find anything. It’s arranged “alphabetically”. But this arrangement is by the author’s whim. So, for example, “A Horse that Flies” might be alphabetized under A, H, T, F, P for Pegasus, or W for Wings.
There’s no index, and no ebook version, so you have to riffle through the pages searching for what you want (which you usually won’t find). Very frustrating.
Also, Morrison goes on and on about irrelevant historical details, but does little to enlighten us about what we really want to know, which is what the phrases mean in the context of Dunnett's writing.
I suppose it’s better than nothing, but not by much.
The reference book I used for The Game of Kings (The Lymond Chronicles, #1) was so much better! That book, The Ultimate Guide to Dorothy Dunnett’s The Game of Kings is on Goodreads, but the GR book link doesn’t work. Alas, that author, Laura Caine Ramsey, didn’t write references for the subsequent books in The Lymond Chronicles.
Also, the useful blogs I used for the first book don’t extend beyond The Game of Kings (The Lymond Chronicles, #1).
Here's a link to my review of The Game of Kings (The Lymond Chronicles, #1), which, in turn, contains links to blogs and websites I referenced while reading that book, the first in the series: My review of The Game of Kings.
Here's my review of the much better reference book acccompanying that first volume of "The Lymond Chronicles": My review of the Ultimate Guide to the Game of Kings.
Update: As with most other things, I’ve dealt with my frustration with this tome by lowering my expectations a lot. So now, I only refer to this volume when Dunnett’s quoting some Latin, Old French, or Gaelic verses. For anything else I search online (or don’t). This is certainly the age of ever lower expectations…
December 17, 2011
This work is not meant to be read page by page. It is more of an encyclopedia for those of us who have read and loved Dorothy Dunnett's work without a classical education and wished we knew more of the history of those times or the references and sources for the myriad quotes the renaissance educated characters bantered and batted back and forth like a tennis ball. The biographies of those characters who existed run from a paragraph to a couple of pages. Poems and prose quotes are not just cited but translated and the surrounding verses or the entire work are included as is pertinent. Translations expand upon not just literal meaning but context and historical background.
Most important of all is the fact that there seems to be no editorial slant on any of it, just fact.
This and the Companion II must have been a labor of love because it would seem that years and years of work are involved. Thanks, Ms. Morrison.
Most important of all is the fact that there seems to be no editorial slant on any of it, just fact.
This and the Companion II must have been a labor of love because it would seem that years and years of work are involved. Thanks, Ms. Morrison.
June 25, 2017
Very useful resource for anyone who loves the novels of Dorothy Dunnett. Really handy for its fantastic maps (the maps in the novels themselves are pretty useless) and thoughtful translations of all those 'untranslatable' French/Latin etc. quotes that litter the books. It has a pronunciation section there too – there are a few eye-openers in that! There are also references for people, places, historical and classical references and many songs and poems quoted in the text. The problem lies in knowing who or what to look up, and in a book where most characters have at least 3 names you often have to try a few times before you find them.
When reading the game of kings I used the 'The Ultimate Guide to Dorothy Dunnett's The Game of Kings' by Laura Caine Ramsey which has entries arranged in the order that they appear in the text so you can read both books at the same time to gain deeper insight without having to guess what may or may not have a deeper meaning and then trawl through the alphabet for it. Whilst some of the translations in the ultimate guide seem clunkier, this is the approach I would recommend – perhaps I am biased as I have never got on well with the alphabet.
Both books are very useful and help shed light on the intricacies of these wonderful novels.
When reading the game of kings I used the 'The Ultimate Guide to Dorothy Dunnett's The Game of Kings' by Laura Caine Ramsey which has entries arranged in the order that they appear in the text so you can read both books at the same time to gain deeper insight without having to guess what may or may not have a deeper meaning and then trawl through the alphabet for it. Whilst some of the translations in the ultimate guide seem clunkier, this is the approach I would recommend – perhaps I am biased as I have never got on well with the alphabet.
Both books are very useful and help shed light on the intricacies of these wonderful novels.
September 20, 2010
Pretty neat once you've read all the books it covers. Confusing until then. Capable of single-handedly scaring away anyone with dreams of becoming a writer. How the heck did Lady Dunnett learn all that stuff? At least with science fiction the authors get to make up the quotes, etc.
I keep it in the guest bathroom to intimidate visitors, along with "Bunny Suicides."
I keep it in the guest bathroom to intimidate visitors, along with "Bunny Suicides."
April 13, 2012
Quite handy for those of us who don't happen to know French, Latin, Spanish, AND Middle English which I imagine is most people.
October 23, 2011
a helpful guide to the Lymond Chronicles and the Tales of Nicolo.
December 3, 2011
Disappointing. I am so glad I ordered this through the library and didn't buy it.
I just contains a very short paragraph on the people and events that turn up in both series. I found I was better off with the Larousse Medieval and Modern Encyclopedia of History. Admittedly this was written in the days before the Internet when things were not quite so easy to look up but still.
I just contains a very short paragraph on the people and events that turn up in both series. I found I was better off with the Larousse Medieval and Modern Encyclopedia of History. Admittedly this was written in the days before the Internet when things were not quite so easy to look up but still.
December 22, 2013
The information presented is good, but so haphazard (some references are present, while others are missing for no apparent reason) that you still need to read Dorothy Dunnett with your French dictionary, Latin dictionary, sometimes a German and Spanish dictionary, and most necessary of all, your Oxford English Dictionary!
August 6, 2010
Very helpful for quotations in foreign languages, obscure literary and historical references, and the appreciation of other little "gems" that might escape even the most devoted 16th century historical fiction buff.
June 17, 2016
As a huge Dorothy Dunnett fan this is a must! Elspeth Morrison does a great job of adding insight into the complex world of Ms. Dunnett's characters as well as shed light on the more obscure references in The Lymond Chronicles.
March 22, 2008
Essential, unless you are incredibly well read. Will add to your enjoyment of an already phenomenal series of books.
July 8, 2008
You don't need the companions, but it certainly helps.
November 21, 2008
This book really helps track the facts and the geography.
reference
March 9, 2009Perhaps one day I will read this cover to cover. Perhaps. It's certainly a very useful reference to have when reading DD's books!
July 16, 2009
Normally I wouldn't recommend purchasing something like this, but I found myself turning to it again and again.
July 18, 2009
invaluable for Dunnett fans.
June 25, 2010
There are actually TWO companions to Dunnett's books (unless they've been combined lately) and they are absolutely indispensable for reading Dunnett.
August 5, 2010
This one, and the companion volume II, are really necessary to help some of the more obscure points of Dunnett's writings. It's worth it though.
July 23, 2011
Essential to know all about Lymond.
March 14, 2012
A wonderful companion to help translate all those esoteric references in Dorothy Dunnett's books.
April 9, 2012
a great book to have by your side when you delve into Dorothys world, all those quotations and half declaimed poems! All here!
August 24, 2012
Lymond research made easy.
October 10, 2013
Finally! A little light shed on some of the more obscure elements of the Lymond/Niccolo series! Sanity saved!
September 11, 2014
I read the Lymond Chronicles, then I bought the companion book and read it again. Amazing.
January 4, 2009
Really handy for deciphering Dunnett. Just wish that the two volumes were merged into one.
May 20, 2012
Great guide to the Lymond Chronicles!
August 20, 2015
Helpful with history and events in the Lymond Chronicles and House of Niccolo.
Read
July 15, 2012Good reference to some of the obscure references Lady Dorothy Dunnett makes in her books.
February 16, 2020
If you like Dunnett’s books this companion (and the second one too) offers a wealth of information on the history, quotes used, characters etc.
December 21, 2021
After reading all Dorothy Dunnett's books it was great to get the background info.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews