Any other Dorothy Dunnett fans?

[Lymond]

I namechanged to Lymond recently to try to come across some other DD fans on mumsnet. [lame obsessive emoticon] I was hoping for

"Lymond - as in Francis Crawford of?" as a hijack on some other thread. But it hasn't happened yet. Any other Dunnett fans on mumsnet?

And anyone who has stumbled across this, if you want historical prose even more beautifully written than Wolf Hall, a hero even sexier than Edward Cullen, historical accuracy to outstrip even Patrick O'Brien, combined with humour and adventure, yet scarily unsentimental, go and buy or borrow the Game of Kings.

Again from memory - a dedication to one(?) of the books: 'For Alastair, who has done more for Scotland than Lymond ever could.' Is that right?

Its Checkmate

"In the end, as the beginning, for Alastair, who was the inspiration of the legend of Francis Crawford, and whose love for Scotland, in word and deed, has done more for her than Lymond ever has."

so lovely

He was the editor of the Scotsman Newspaper. Don't know much more about him than that.

Thanks, Lymond.

Just finished Niccolo Rising, much better the second time, truly amazing read.

After a Dunnett book you feel immersed in the period, it all seems so real.

I think the 1st time I read the Niccolo books I kept comparing them, on some level, to the Lymonds, instead of enjoying them for what they are.

Its a bit like when you get a new Doctor who, if that makes any sense.

Didn't know there was a Lymond book. Have noticed your name before purely because it was dh's grandfather's first name. We think he was named for a surname further back in the family, down as Limon or somesuch.

SUL - I'm jealous, I wish my grandfathers name had been Lymond! Try reading "a Game of Kings" and pretend you're related to the hero!

Mrs Saxon, Yes I know I need to read them without comparing.... I get the new Dr Who comparison!

I started a thread ages ago to see if anyone had any great historical fiction recommendations that would even come close to measuring up but no luck....

I actually read Niccolo first and feel the opposite from all of you - never really warmed up to Lymond in the same way.

Still looking for recommendations, even if they are not quite as good!

Just finished Spring of the Ram, twas mazin.

Having a break to read Wolf Hall, then on to Race of Scorpions.

Anyone else re-reading?

Roary, unfortunately, though there are some fantastic authors out there, no-one compares to Dunnett.

Just resurrecting this thread, because it made me start re-reading all the Nicholas books. I'm currently reading 'To Lie with Lions', and on the bit that's set in Iceland, and the volcano that erupts in the book is the same one that's causing all the problems with the ash here at the moment!

Really? That's hilarious! I really must re-read Nicholas.

O.M.G!

I hadn't given a thought to Dorothy Dunnett for about 30 years. I used to love these books. Such a crush on Frances Crawford

I'm enjoying them so much, you wouldn't believe. I hadn't re-read them since the DCs were born, but now they're older, I can grab bigger chunks of time to get through them (and keep the concentration I find I need to keep track of everything).

Charles Dance or Damien Lewis as Gabriel, especially in Istanbul. Damien Lewis as Will Scott.

Possibly DT as Lymond; Richard Armitage as Jerrot Blythe?

Not keen, but Karen Gillan as Philippa?

The guy who played Much in Robin Hood as Niccolo?

OP, I did notice your name the other day on another thread and nearly posted 'Sevigny' to see a response!

I first read the Lymonds in 1985 when I was 19, and reread annually. I'm still finding things in them, and the Lymond Companion which I shelled out for is excellent.

I have all the Niccolos as well and enjoyed them too, but Lymond has really ruined me for anyone else iyswim.

I STILL after all these years cannot work out who was Kuzum's mother and father. I still hope it was Joleta and Lymond.

Abebooks is a good source for tracking the books down; that's how I replaced my falling apart copies.

Roary - Diana Galbaldon?

scaryteacher - we'll you'd have made my day if you'd replied sevigny on another thread!

I'm going to ruin yours, alas, by saying that DD confirmed, before she died that Kuzum was Gabriel's child. (The other pawn, who died, was Lymond's) Lymond chose to save the child best equipped to live, even though he guessed it wasn't his. In the Niccolo books, however, it is clear that Lymond and Gabriel have ancestors in common, so both children are related to both of them.

(RL intervened so haven't been on mn for a week.)

I noticed your name Lymond, and did wonder - I read the books as a teenager on the recommendation of my Higher French teacher, to whom I will be eternally grateful!! This thread has reminded me how fabulous those books were, and I'm going to read them again now. Been a while, so hopefully will be like reading them afresh all over again. Thank you

I'd best re read Niccolo then after the GCSE marking is over, as I knew that Niccolo and Lymond had connections, but not Gabriel.