Scales of Gold (House of Niccolo S.)

Volume four in the House of Niccolo series is a story of travel and danger in Africa. Nicholas is 23 (he answers to either version of the name). James the Bastard of Cyprus relieved him of his second wife, Primaflora, originally a courtesan (and knowing of her betrayal of him, he was relieved). Now he's back in Venice and his bank is in dire straits. An attempt on his life is made via a crossbow, but it fails. Nicholas's designs are now set upon African gold and the mythical land of Prester John (Ethiopia). Accompanied by his priest, Godscalc, his nephew Dinez and two inconvenient ladies, the phlegmatic Bel, a Scots widow, and her charge, the sister of Katelina von Borselen, Gelis. That Katelina's son Henry is in fact the child of Katelina and Nicholas is not suspected, as she was married at the time to a Scotsman, Simon of Kilmirren, who is also happens to be Nicholas's father.

Nicholas has never been officially recognised by his father who believes him to be a bastard. But via his fortunate first marriage Nicholas has clawed his way up in status to own a bank and he sets sail for the Gambia to further his trading ambitions, accompanied as always by his friend Lopez, a Moor, whom he has freed from slavery.

There is adventure and piracy at sea, an extraordinary welcome from one of the African Kings, whose guests are made wonderfully welcome, an encounter with another African King, where they are distinctly unwelcome; there is river travel and jungle sortie as they make their way to a trading arm where they are much disappointed. They reach Timbuktu, which is another centre for trade, and there make the riches they have dreamed of, sending their proceeds back to the bank. Leaving the ladies behind, Nicholas sets out with Godscalc, in an attempt to find the Land of Prester John, where Godscalc is convinced he will find people to convert to Christianity. I am simplifying here, but Godscalc's insistence on searching for Ethiopia comes at a terrible price as they trapped by their enemies, relatives of the Doria family. They get out of one scrape only to fall into another which is more serious, and barely survivable.

But Nicholas - after a scorching trek through a part of the Sahara Desert, eventually makes it back to Europe. There he contracts his third marriage, but there is a terrible shock awaiting him, one that made me gasp. I could hardly believe it, but no doubt there will be excoriating consequences in the next book. This series of authentic and cleverly plotted reverses and gains set my teeth on edge. As ever, the characterisations are wonderful. But can nothing go right for Nicholas? Now he is a rich man, owner of a bank, much feted and respected, but these last few pages of the story has plunged him (and me) into despair.

I found "Scales of Gold" as good as the three previous novels in the series. By all means you should read them in sequence, you'll appreciate all the more the development of the characters, and knowing what came before makes each novel all the more readily understandable, and richer.

This one takes Niccolo far beyond the boundaries of Europe (which is a nice change from the many historical novels set in Europe) and Dunnett weaves her plot as cunningly as Niccolo his merchant ploys. She paints a superb picture of medieval times and peoples it with fascinating characters.

It's a demanding book for sure, as they all are, and I kept ample notes while reading. At just over 700 pages, and peopled with dozens of characters that's on the one hand a necessity (unless you have a prodiguous memory, which I don't), but on the other hand that makes it all the more fascinating and rewarding. The book's well worth the effort, and I'm sure it still becomes better on a second reading (which I haven't undertaken yet).

For me there is no bad Dorothy Dunnett book. After the extremely exciting third book where Niccolo finds he cannot escape Cyprus, he now needs to ensure security for his bank, the dye works and his young new found nephew; Africa is the destination. As ever brilliantly written characters and storyline and a particularly spiteful ending. After the Lymond Chronicles it would seem that the House of Niccolo might fail to live up to that previous series, but so far it does. These books are full and not lightly read, and I too take notes - afterall we are trying to find the answers that go to make up Francis Crawford of Lymond.

Scales of Gold

Dense, emotional and complex, this is typical Dorothy Dunnett . The best historical novelist I have ever read. The novel has little known (to me) historic information with wonderful exotic backgrounds. I would recommend it strongly but it must be read as part of the series and in order. I loved the Lymond Series but have only just started on the House of Niccolo again after failing to finish it some years ago because Niccolo is a more complex central character than even Lymond. I shall be downloading the rest of the series to my kindle.

Revisiting Scales of Gold, some years after the first reading, I appreciate even more the literary and research skills of Dorothy Dunnett. The story is rich in its description of life in medieval life both in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. The many threads of the story intrigue and delight. The characters become alive as the tale develops. I have fallen in love with it once again.

Outstanding historical novel and part of the Nicolo series. Should be read in sequence if possible otherwise it would be difficult to appreciate the twists and turns of the plot and to keep track of the extensive list of characters. Impossible to go wrong with a Dorothy Dunnett novel, fortunately she wrote about a dozen.

Book four of the House of Niccolo series. If you haven't read any others you need to buy the first three and read them in order. If you have, this continues the saga of Nicholas Van der Poele and his rise to power and riches. As ever Dunnett's style and feeling for period put you right into the middle of the fifteenth century. So rich are the characters and so detailed the background that you don't so much read this story as live it. If you like historical novels, I cannot recommend this book too highly. If you have never tried reading historical novels start with this series - you won't be disappointed!

Volume 4 in the House of Niccolo series. It's now 1464 and Nicholas has travelled from Cyprus to Egypt, the Sahara and other parts of Africa in search of the caravan traders carrying gold. The divisions in his family are beginning to be healed, Loppe returns to his home in Timbuktu and Nicholas seems to be falling in love again.

Book as described. Good service.

My copy of 'Scales of Gold' from Amazon arrived in pristine condition. I had read this and all of the Lymond and Niccolo books before. As with both series, this novel is erudite and meticulously researched. I agree with some other reviewers I have read that Dunnett would be hard put to find a publisher today for either series due to the length and intricate historical and philosophical detail in every novel, but I can understand why her books have a cult following. They are challenging but scholarly and a highly satisfying read.

This is not a stand-alone book. The "House of Niccolo" series needs to be read in order. If you're a fan of historical fiction where the author has researched the non-fictional characters, the places and the historical elements, Dorothy Dunnett is the author for you. In her talented hands, the history doesn't show off or weigh heavily on the fictional characters and their stories. They move through the mid-15th Century as if they were true inhabitants of that era. It was a time where trade flourished, voyages of discovery encountered strange new worlds, and civilizations went to war for good reasons, pillage, or to satisfy the whims of rulers. Not unlike the 21st century. Dunnett's complex, realistic, fascinating cast of characters will keep the pages turning. Filled with adventure, mystery, vengeance, duty, and love, the story captures human nature and the decisions they make with the cards they are dealt. But start with the first book of the series, or you'll be lost.

Tolles Buch, toll t t t tt t t t t t t t t t t t toll, gut zu lesen.

Dunnett is a rare gem! Historical facts are interwoven with brilliant fiction--adventure, mystery, suspense, anticlimaxes in spades, and her humour is always a clever surprise. This is not literature for light reading; it is demanding, but is well worth the investment in her undivided imagination and proliferate knowledge.

Plenty of recaps of the book are "out there". Since I could not do justice to Dunnett by offering my own, I highly suggest that you read or listen to a snippet (courtesy of Amazon) of any of her Lymond or Niccolo series to get a sense of the flavour of her hard to put down literature.