| The Spring of the Ram: The Second Book of The House of Niccolo | 
 enlarge | Author: Dorothy Dunnett
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 73745
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 1.2
ISBN: 0375704787
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780375704789
ASIN: 0375704787
Publication Date: March 30, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles, Dorothy Dunnett, grande dame of the historical novel, presents The House of Niccolo series. The time is the 15th century, when intrepid merchants became the new knighthood of Europe. Among them, none is bolder or more cunning than Nicholas vander Poele of Bruges, the good-natured dyer's apprentice who schemes and swashbuckles his way to the helm of a mercantile empire.
In 1461, Nicholas is in Florence. Backed by none other than Cosimo de' Medici, he will sail the Black Sea to Trebizond, last outpost of Byzantium, and the last jewel missing from the crown of the Ottoman Empire. But trouble lies ahead. Nicholas's stepdaughter--at the tender age of thirteen--has eloped with his rival in trade: a Machiavellian Genoese who races ahead of Nicholas, sowing disaster at every port. And time is of the essence: Trebizond may fall to the Turks at any moment. Crackling with wit, breathtakingly paced, The Spring of the Ram is a pyrotechnic blend of scholarship and narrative shimmering with the scents, sounds, colors, and combustible emotions of the 15th century.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
'Where better than Trebizond?' December 21, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the second book in the House of Niccolo series, and sees our hero Nicholas journeying to the fabled city of Trebizond, the last outpost of the Byzantium empire.
Nicholas has become an influential trader and has the backing of the Medici. The Charetty company is becoming increasingly powerful, and Nicholas sees opportunities for trading with the East. As we travel with him we are treated to a first class ride through Renaissance trade, politics, espionage and intrigue.
The affairs of Nicholas are never straightforward and as he continues to grow more powerful he attracts more enemies. This is both a wonderful adventure story and a beautifully drawn fiction in an historical setting.
'Let all stand still, for the master of the house has come'
Highly recommended to those who love intricately plotted historical fiction and especially to those with an interest in this period of history.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
It doesn't get any better than this. March 22, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Don't walk, run. Go buy the first of this series, and then the second, and then the third. But read them slowly, not only for the richness of the content, but because you will only get one chance to read them for the first time. The entire "House of Niccolo"series is unique and priceless and should be read by anyone who loves historical novels. .
my review May 31, 2001
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
In this sequel, we see our hero, Claes or Nicholas, thrown into the complex situation in the middle east. Will the Sultan take over Trebizond where he has been sent as consul for Florence? If anyone can find succes in such a venture, Nicholas is the person, and he does. He succeeds not only in his trading, he saves his people from the Turks and also his step-daughter, Catherine.Once again, the author has written a masterpiece. We are thrown from Florence to the middle east with all its complexities, but all the time we are rooting for our hero and he makes us proud! And to think I still have more books to enjoy! I can't wait...
Take a Magic Carpet to Trebizond! January 25, 2001
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Reading this book is like taking a magic carpet to a mystical place. Ms. Dunnett has the knack of taking her readers to whatever era and place in the world she chooses. In this book our Niccolo has matured somewhat but he still has some hard lessons to learn about how lonely it is to be a leader. He also has to learn that a true leader leads without his employees or friends knowing that that is what he's doing. In fact, these books of Niccolo could be used for demonstrating leadership. I'm surprised that no corporate videos have been made from them. This is a good book even though Niccolo fails to fascinate as much as Lymond does, but I don't think there ever can be another Lymond. I don't find the characters as likeable in this series for one, and Catherine is certainly no Philippa (at least not yet), but there is high adventure, intrigue and enough court gossip to keep anyone interested in the politics of the 15 century.
Get Me on the Next Flight to Trabzond...... December 29, 1999
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
That was my reaction after reading this superb sequel to Niccolo Rising. Dunnett's blend of intricate plotting and historical depth is amazing. Here she concentrates on the little known period immediately after the conquest of Constantinople, when the Byzantine empire struggled to survive in a corner of the Black Sea. Their allies are possible more dangerous than their enemies, making a perfect setting for Niccolo's games. This past spring we were able to visit Trabzond as part of a 5 week trip to Turkey, and while the modern town is rather dreary, Dunnett's descriptions of past glories were still fresh in my mind. I'm finishing book 5 now, Unicorn Hunt, and she continues to capture the essence of each country that Niccolo explores. Her descriptions of Cairo can serve as a guide for modern travelers.
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