The fourth book in Dorothy Dunnett’s historical series Renaissance man, Francis Crawford of Lymond, aka Comte of Sevigny, takes the characters, especially Lymond himself, to a new level of complexity and human triumph over adversity and suffering. And at one point in the story, we are informed or perhaps reminded that Lymond is only twenty-six years old. He’s already survived more than most men three times his age, even in the adventurous Renaissance times in which he lives.
In this book, Lymond manages to escape a couple of assassins disguised as nuns, imprisonment in a North African harem, poisoning, an underwater struggle with his murderous arch enemy, and a rather deadly chess game featuring human chess pieces who forfeit their lives if taken by the opposing player. The chess game in the seraglio in Istamboul is unforgettable, by the way. And that’s just a sample of the perils and predicaments that face Mr. Crawford in this highly entertaining adventure.
Entertaining, yes, but the denouement of the novel is heart-rending. Lymond must choose whether or not to forfeit the life of one innocent in order to save the lives of many more. It’s a no-win situation, and of course, since Lymond is the sensitive soul that he’s always been in all of the other books in the series, he blames himself for the outcome and carries a heavy burden of guilt into the next book in the series, The Ringed Castle.
Has anyone else read this series, and if so, what did you think? The vocabulary and writing style are challenging for me, in a good way, and I don’t usually find that to be so with novels written after 1900. Lymond is also a complex, conflicted, and challenging character. I do have a prediction to make at this point in the series, a prediction I came up with halfway through this volume: I predict that Lymond and Philippa will end up truly married by the end of the sixth book. Don’t ask me how (I don’t know) and don’t tell me if I’m right or wrong. I’ll see how my prediction pans out as I read books five and six.
If you want to read a little more about this engaging novel, here are some other blog reviews of Pawn in Frankincense:
She Reads Novels: Pawn in Frankincense by Dorothy Dunnett.
Shelf Love: Pawn in Frankincense (some spoilers)
Semicolon review of The Disorderly Knights, book three in the series.
Semicolon thoughts on Game of Kings, the first book in the series.
I love seeing your reviews of this series. I read these books several years ago, and they rank up there among my favorite books of all time. One of these days I’ll have to read them again, because they are so complex and multilayered. But it’s a lot to read!
This is without a doubt the best written, most thoroughly researched, most emotionally intense, riveting series ever written. Dorothy Dunnett has no equal in this genre.
I read the entire Lymond series every couple of years. Consequently I may have read each of these books approximately 15 times. I am currently listening to The Disorderly Knights, the title right before this one, as an audiobook. I have a doctorate in 16th century history and Ms. Dunnett’s research is impeccable. In fact, her research in these books was part of my inspiration to pursue my own research in this period.
Her writing is gorgeous and full of detail. Each time I go through the text, I notice something different. This week, I have been musing on her writing craft choice of never providing first person narrative for the protagonist. We are treated to what the other characters think, ‘she gathered her pride’, ‘he thought angrily’ and other much better phrased cues to what the other characters think. But, we are always looking at Lymond. This makes him even more enigmatic. Although by the last book in the series we know him fairly well and can predict, through Philippa’s thoughts, his likely reactions, we still are in suspense until the last satisfying lines of the book.
I highly recommend stocking the fridge, lining up the take away menus near a phone and telling the family to fend for themselves as you drown yourself in the adventures of this fascinating character and all 6 books.
I have been re-reading this series for close to 30 years and it is addictive and rewarding and this book in particular stays with you. Heartbreaking and exhilarating. The characters are so real to me that I rarely think of them as fictional people!
Hands down, my favorite books ever. I’d love to read them again for the first time. Dunnett gifted us with the best adventure series, the best hero, and as you’ll see (and this is not a spoiler because I’m not telling you who), the best love story in print. Enjoy!
I am currently engulfed by a reread of Lymond. These are possibly my favorite books of all I’ve read, perhaps even above Tolkien and Lewis, which is extraordinary. I will not tell you whether you are right or wrong; I will merely say that these books bear repeated reading , even when you know the answers to the big questions.new clues missed on the first reading become evident on subsequent readings.
I will say that I believe that Dunnett does sometimes reveal Lymond’s thoughts, at least obliquely. When she employs the pronoun one, it seems to refer to Lymond himself. Lymond’s internal thoughts are completely absent in the Russian portion of The Ringed Castle,intentionally no doubt, but seem to return slowly once he is in England.
I too, re-read this series every year, (since 1972–having to wait for the final book while in college), and I still find something new every time I re-read it. I’ve traveled to a number of the places where scenes in the books take place (although I’ve yet to get to Istanbul). These are the books I would take to a deserted island, hands down.
nice thoughtful perceptive review , hopefully leaving the casual enquirer wanting to know more. Small typo ( Istanbul, or maybe Stamboul)?
I have read and re read the series since I came across Francis Crawford as a teenager, these are my “must have” books, as Pat Sibley says, there’s always something new to be discovered with each reading. I find them totally addictive.
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