Dorothy Dunnett

[Andrea]

I've just got a Dorothy Dunnett (Scales of Gold) out of the library - I was surprised to see she one an award for services to literature but I've never heard of her. Anyone know much about her and her books?

[Darkstar]

You've not heard of Dorothy Dunnet? :eek: She was a revolutionary historical writer in her day, for the sheet depth of her research and her engaging characters. She started off with Game of Kings, the first book of the, I think, six Lymond Chronicles. This was followed by the House of Niccolo which has nine books. I've only read Game of Kings, and I can't say I was prompted to read any more, but some of my friends are rabid fans, as is my mother.

Scales of Gold is the fourth book in the House of Niccolo sequence. you'd probably be better starting with Niccolo Rising which is the first.

[Andrea]

I too thought I'd be better starting with the first, but Scales of Gold was all the library had ;)

PS Are you the Darkstar from WriteWords? I'm there as Anj.

[Darkstar]

I am indeed that darkstar. ;) Hi Anj. It's a bummer when they don't have the book you want. Just like bookshops. :rolleyes:

[Jean]

Hello, I've just registered here and noticed this thread almost at once! Dorothy Dunnett is one of my favourite authors of all time, and I can highly recommend all her books. But I too would strongly suggest starting with the first book in the series, because the plots as well as the characters are complicated and often hard to keep track of!

For a one-off read, you might prefer "King Hereafter" if you can find it - it's about the real Macbeth and is absolutely wonderful.

(Incidentally, she also wrote some modern-day thrillers which are great fun, but I suppose this is the wrong forum to be discussing them!)

[belinda]

Absolutely agree you have to read Dorothy Dunnett in order. Suggest you start buying them on ebay (much cheaper) about a month before you go on holiday and then sit down and read your way through.

Personally preferred the Lymond series. Really complicated and rather like an enormous six volume cryptic crossword. She is also very good on background history in a non-intrusive way. Have managed to appear frighteningly well informed on Maltese history in the past because of this!

[Royal Rother]

I had never heard of her until Friday night when a friend (and occasional lurker on BGO) mentioned her....

She comes highly recommended!

PS Doesn't it make you feel old when you make the first post to a thread for over 2.5 years!!! :(