- Paperback: 496 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (25 Feb 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140282408
- ISBN-13: 978-0140282405
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 656,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The second book in the "Lymond Chronicles" - a series of six novels exploring the intricacies of 16th-century history through the exploits of the soldier Francis Crawford of Lymond. Lymond is despatched to France and embarks on a nightmare game of hide-and-seek in the court of Henri II.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After the Scottish setting of Game of Kings, Queen's Play moves to France and the French court of Henri II and his queen Catherine de Medici. Someone is trying to kill the young Mary Queen of Scots who is betrothed to the Dauphin, and Lymond, working secretly for Mary de Guise, is there to stop the plot. Poisonings, love affairs, crazy races through the rooftops of paris - and Lymond comes close to falling in love.
This is also the first book where the Dame de Doubtance appears who is an important character throughout the series, and also introduces Archie Abernethy, one of Lymond's truest friends and spiritual father.
I can't say how wonderful this whole series is, and would give all the books a 10-star rating if I could!
This is also the first book where the Dame de Doubtance appears who is an important character throughout the series, and also introduces Archie Abernethy, one of Lymond's truest friends and spiritual father.
I can't say how wonderful this whole series is, and would give all the books a 10-star rating if I could!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Scots, the French and the English played a game of exquisite chess with each other over most of the 16th century, and Ms Dunnett knows more about the stakes and the moves than most people. What she has done with this wonderful, almost breathtakingly audacious novel, is create a story that, while some aspects and some characters may not be real people, the setting of the travelling French court and the manners and modes of the day are as accurate and as well researched as any comparable novel. In Francis Crawford, Comte de Sevigny, also known as Lymond, the second son of a rich Scottish family, she has created a flawed hero with a restless, cultivated mind, a talent for subversion and satire, and an adventurous and intelligent persona.
As usual his exploits verge on the dangerous, especially as he is in disguise as an Irish ollave (roughly translatable from the Irish as: `professor') who is taken up by the young French court and soon begins to lead a life of finely judged dissolution, while trying to fulfil the commission he has received from the Scottish court to guard against attacks on the life of the eight-year-old Mary Queen of Scots. He is, of course, obliged to do that while never for a moment suggesting that the little queen may be in any danger at all. That's when he's not leading the cream of French aristocracy on dangerous and hair-raising stunts, such as a race across the closely built rooftops of Rouen with a young untried soldier of fortune, Robin Stewart.
One of my favourite characters in this series of novels, Archie Abernathy, is introduced, as - it appears - his knack with animals has paid off, and he's been procured to look after the menagerie which will be paraded into the city. There is a moment with a lion that made me laugh out loud. There are a number of attempts to put danger in Mary's way - and Lymond is at hand to save the day - not without difficulty and not without being poisoned, seduced by a treacherous Irish beauty, and almost set on fire, twice. To cap it all, he finds out that a close companion is involved in the plot to kill the little queen - almost too late to save her life.
The Scots and the French are allies, and the English are also at this stage making efforts to placate their enemies. There is also an Irish contingent, and it is with this group Lymond dons his disguise; but what will happen when the disguise is no longer required and Lymond's duplicity is discovered? This book is stuffed full of brilliant story-telling, adventure and delight. I read it a long time ago, but I was utterly captivated two pages in once more.
As usual his exploits verge on the dangerous, especially as he is in disguise as an Irish ollave (roughly translatable from the Irish as: `professor') who is taken up by the young French court and soon begins to lead a life of finely judged dissolution, while trying to fulfil the commission he has received from the Scottish court to guard against attacks on the life of the eight-year-old Mary Queen of Scots. He is, of course, obliged to do that while never for a moment suggesting that the little queen may be in any danger at all. That's when he's not leading the cream of French aristocracy on dangerous and hair-raising stunts, such as a race across the closely built rooftops of Rouen with a young untried soldier of fortune, Robin Stewart.
One of my favourite characters in this series of novels, Archie Abernathy, is introduced, as - it appears - his knack with animals has paid off, and he's been procured to look after the menagerie which will be paraded into the city. There is a moment with a lion that made me laugh out loud. There are a number of attempts to put danger in Mary's way - and Lymond is at hand to save the day - not without difficulty and not without being poisoned, seduced by a treacherous Irish beauty, and almost set on fire, twice. To cap it all, he finds out that a close companion is involved in the plot to kill the little queen - almost too late to save her life.
The Scots and the French are allies, and the English are also at this stage making efforts to placate their enemies. There is also an Irish contingent, and it is with this group Lymond dons his disguise; but what will happen when the disguise is no longer required and Lymond's duplicity is discovered? This book is stuffed full of brilliant story-telling, adventure and delight. I read it a long time ago, but I was utterly captivated two pages in once more.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can only agree with the previous reviewers - a definite must read. Well written by an author who doesn't treat her readers as idiots. So you don't always understand what is going on, so you might not understand every quotation, so what? Keep reading and it will become clearer. An exhilarating read which will only leave you wanting more, so it is just as well there are another four left.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Well Recommended!
A remarkable historical book interlaced with fictional characters, blending very well. I first read this book over 20 years ago, re-read it recently and found it as exciting today... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2000
Exciting, well-written, well-researched historical intrigue
For those of us who have studied history, there is nothing better than finding books which bring characters from worthy textbooks to life. Read more
Published on 16 Nov 1999 by teresa@hobble.demon.co.uk
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