| To Lie with Lions: The Sixth Book of The House of Niccolo | 
 enlarge | Author: Dorothy Dunnett
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy Used: $4.50
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Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 58867
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 672
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0375704825
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780375704826
ASIN: 0375704825
Publication Date: July 27, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: MINOR COVER AND EDGE WEAR; VERY CLEAN PAGES.
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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.
The year is 1471. Within the circus of statecraft, where the lions of Burgundy, Cyprus, England, and Venice stalk and snarl, Nicholas wields a valued whip. Having wrested his little son Jordan from his estranged wife, Gelis, he embarks on the greatest business scheme of his life-- beginning with a journey to Iceland. But while Nicholas confronts merchant knights, polar bears, and the frozen volcanic wastelands of the North, a greater challenge awaits: the vengeful Gelis, whose secrets threaten to topple all Nicholas has achieved. Here is Dorothy Dunnett at her best. Robustly paced, prodigiously detailed, To Lie with Lions renders the quicksands of Renaissance politics as well as the turnings of the human soul, from love to hate and back.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 Thank Goodness, The Story is Back August 15, 2001
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was a bit disappointed with the previous two novels in the series, because I found them a bit to unplausible, but this book is a stunner!! We finally find out the result of the five year feud between Nicholas and Gelis, and the ending is still a cliff-hanger, but it does explain a few things.and gets us hyped up for the seventh book in the series. Ms. Dunnett is an excellent author. Yes, the history is good, but don't get into this series just for that. It's entirely too complicated and the continuous plot is a brain stretcher. I found that I actually started to like Nicholas in this book, and I really haven't before. He is a brilliant manipulator, and his long term planning is incredible, but he is human after all. His friends and acquaintances are just as interesting. I love Tobie and was glad to see him back. He is such a foil for Nicholas and is almost like his conscience. Katelejna is wonderful, and we see more of her. I can't wait to read the next book.
my review July 17, 2001
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the sixth book of the Niccolo series. Here, the plot centers on the center of Europe: The Duke of Burgundy and the King of France and the King of Scotland: Nicholas serves them all to achieve success for his grand plan.The competition between Gelis and Nicholas continues, only this time she lives with Nicholas in Scotland and their son, Jodi. Living together does not mean the race is over, only that it intensifies. The outcome will soon be revealed! In this chapter, the author continues her description of Scotland, but also of Greenland and the great market for Cod that exists between this country and the great Hanse Merchants of Germany. Once again, Nicholas is able to beat his competitors and gain more wealth. More descriptions of new places, new people and customs and all told with incredible with and knowledge. I can't wait to read the seventh chapter....
nicholas lives December 30, 2000
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is an amazing series. At times I think the history is the best part of it - you must stop to check up on Trebizond, or Cyprus, try to untangle what Brugges is, figure out the connection between James III of Scotland and the later Jameses - the 15th century springs to life in Dunnett's hands. And besides the history, Dunnett creates incredible characters, with Nicholas at the center, complex genius that he is. (In what guise does Nicholas live today?) Kathi Sersanders, the lively spirit who best understands him, represents the best of us, admiring and loving, and his son Jodi seems as familiar as all of our own children. Dr Tobias, the doubting and brilliant foil of Nicholas, is a magnificent creation, (and another way to represent the reader at his/her best). Okay, so it's a (long long long) soap opera, but you just can't go wrong: at the end you have Nicholas and his loyal band to dream of, and nearly a whole century of history that you never knew existed. Sign me up for the Dorothy Dunnett tour of the world!
And the winner is... June 20, 2000
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Nicholas finally has his revenge. Riberac and the St.Pol have been disgraced, defeated by the child they denied. As with all acts of revenge the price of the plot is very high. Nicholas has paid it by loosing all he loved. Although this was not one of Ms. Dunnett's best, it did hold my attention. Politics, adventure and the growth trade make this installment worth the time it takes to read. Fans are still waiting for Nicholas to find real happiness. He is now further away from being fufilled than ever before.
 What an ending January 23, 2000
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love this series. But I just cannot be very positive about this book. It has more than normal of Dunnett's confused and overly complex passages. And after fighting with the book it seemed nearly all the way, Iceland offered potential for another of Dunnett's amazing climaxes. But without giving anything away, all I can say is I found the ending to be just completely wrong. Completely out of character, completely without any sense, completely incomprehensible. What a place to leave us. Well, Dunnett has taken us on the emotional rollercoaster before. Has she just delayed the conclusion to the next book... I'll be reading it as soon as she has it ready.
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