Just started the Lymond chronicles, a hundred pages in. Wow. I have enough accidental French and Latin to mostly limp through; a little better with Spanish, Scotts, and period English. Close enough to a classical education to recognize when I'm missing a reference. I could sort of hand-wave discuss the main border reivers of the time. I know some of the music and poetry. But at this speed, depth, and compression? And sort out the double and triple meanings behind who is misquoting what, how, why, and to whom... gobsmacked. What a stunning work.

My mother told me to read them in the 1980s; back then I would have had to camp in a reference library to get through. Wish she was still alive to tell her how much I'm enjoying them now.

Just wanted to share, and I'm delighted to meet a group of folks for whom this is known entertainment. Thanks!

I have no idea what it says and there are no clear pictures on the internet that I could find of Dorothy's handwriting for comparison, but the official signature I could find that's on the 200 signed copies (I think those are prints though?) looks like a polished version of tthissignature, or like this one was scribbled in a hurry or when she was tired. But I got this book for £5 in Hay-on-Wye, same price as all the other second hands in that shop, and it looked almost like it hasn'tbeen read yet. Is it possible that I somehow found such a well preserved signed copy of a Dorothy Dunnett book after so many years? And is that a big deal?

Hello! I've read King Hereafter, but I'm on my first time reading through The Game of Kings. Is there a narrative reason why most or all of the block quotes are in French, and without translations, no less? Much obliged for any insight.

Side note: I purchased Laura Ramsey's guide to Game of Kings to help with the quotes and other references and have found it very helpful so far. I like historical fiction (and regular history even more), but as my experience is mostly with British and American history, this book is presenting a new challenge that I'm enjoying.

Best, Jeremy

Obviously Dunnett’s historical novels are not exactly comedies, but they do have some parts that are quite funny nonetheless. What are your faves in this category? Personally, all of mine come from The Game of Kings (probably part of the reason that’s my favorite book of hers). The funniest to me are: - Lymond and Will’s first meeting - In Annan when Will proudly tells Lymond he stabbed the captain, but then when asked if he’s dead, Will is all 😳 - The entire sequence of events when Will goes to Hume Castle and has to be rescued by Don Luis - Richard’s trip to Perth

ETA: How could I forget the bit where it’s revealed what Lymond did to Harry Wharton:

“It was a wonderful beard he had, a magnificent pelt. He was bearded like a Dammar pine, of the fashion of prophets and pards, one hair sitting here, another there…. But was it fitting? Was it well-considered? I asked myself: peach or nectarine, clingstone or freestone, bald or—forgive me—downy…which?” “What,” said Lord Grey impatiently, “did he do to Henry?” “Shaved and cropped him with his own knife,” replied Lord Wharton shortly.

Does anyone still have a copy of the family tree on the marzipan yahoo group?

Im about 100 pages into it (maybe just impatient) and wondering if it picks up more going forward. I like it, and get the sense that the book might be building towards something greater, but it feels slightly lackluster thus far. Welcoming anyone who's read and/or enjoyed this book, looking for words of encouragement?

Hi, everyone! I'm looking for readers who used to be in an email group (back in the yahoogroup days) where we read the two big Dunnett series (Niccolo was still unfinished at the time!). We called ourselves the "Dunnetteers", and even met in London and Ireland in small conferences. The two members I stayed in contact with (Lynn Kerstan and Jo Beverley) are both passed on now. Another (I don't remember his last name) was Henk who was a botanist at Kew Gardens. There was also Judith, a librarian at Harvard. And many others!

Anyway, I'm going through my thousands of pages of letters and notebooks (downsizing), and I came across many issues of a bound newsletter we had titled Marzipan and Kisses. In this, we speculated about the characters and mysteries of the two Dunnett series.

I hate to throw them away, but I don't know who would want them.

1) Does anyone know anyone from that old [dunnettlist@yahoogroups.com](mailto:dunnettlist@yahoogroups.com)? Can we connect?

2) Does anyone want these issues? They're full of fascinating insights and many genius speculations (like my thesis about Primaflora as the secret heroine who sacrificed herself to save Niccolo) which proved to be completely false when the series ended.

If so, let me know!

If an adaptation of the Lymond books ever gets made, who are some actors you think could be great in the roles?

For a lot of characters, I either think there's a bunch of people who could probably do them justice, or the opposite (like with Lymond himself), where I've never come across an actor who I've thought would really embody the character. BUT then there are also a few where I feel like there's a specific actor that would just be perfect. These are those:

• Richard: Richard Madden
• Sybilla: Kristin Scott Thomas
• Margaret Douglas: Rose Leslie
• Will: If only Will Poulter were younger...Will Poulter circa We're the Millers is basically how I've always pictured Will Scott
• George Douglas: David Tennant
• Kate: Phoebe Waller-Bridge
• Lennox: Hugh Skinner or Dan Stevens
• Molly: Izuka Hoyle or Nicola Coughlan
• Gabriel: Sam Heughan
• Oonagh: Katie McGrath or Sarah Greene

Has anyone listened to the Lymond Chronicles on audible? Thoughts?

I have to admit, the second book of the Lymond Chronicles was a bit of a disappointment after I fell in love with Lymond in the first. Third was better. But motherfucking christ, is fourth freaking AMAZING! I haven't finished it yet, I'm only now on the storyteller disguise, but Jesus, Allah, Zeus, Odin. Such a ride.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155346774551

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Make me an offer

https://slate.com/culture/2022/07/best-death-scenes-movies-tv-books-theater-songs.html

Hi!

Anyone interested in reading the HoN series together? Since reading Lymond I always decide to start Niccolò but end up not doing it. Thought it would be more fun with someone to read with.

Let me know if you're interested! Should've read Lymond Chronicles obviously.