Author:Dorothy Dunnett,David Monteath
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett, read by David Monteath.
It is 1547 and, after five years imprisonment and exile far from his homeland, Francis Crawford of Lymond - scholar, soldier, rebel, nobleman, outlaw - has at last come back to Edinburgh.
But for many in an already divided Scotland, where conspiracies swarm around the infant Queen Mary like clouds of midges, he is not welcome.
Lymond is wanted for treason and murder, and he is accompanied by a band of killers and ruffians who will only bring further violence and strife.
Is he back to foment rebellion?
Does he seek revenge on those who banished him?
Or has he returned to clear his name?
No one but the enigmatic Lymond himself knows the truth - and no one will discover it until he is ready . . .
Praise for Dorothy Dunnett
—— -A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention
—— New York TimesMarvellous, breathtaking
—— The TimesA masterpiece of historical fiction
—— Washington PostOne of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas
—— Cleveland Plain DealerLashings of excitement, colour and subtlety
—— The TimesVivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction
—— New York TimesMisogynistic violence, ancient myth and modern rage confront each other in moving and dynamic verse.
—— Maria Crawford , Financial Times, *Books of the Year*Benson is one of the finest English poets writing today.
—— Week[Benson] is bravely and unfashionably, a high Romantic.
—— Tristram Fane Saunders , Daily TelegraphA fizzy new homage... Schott burnishes the gleam.
—— New York TimesGlorious . . . undeniably an impressive, hugely enjoyable feat of ventriloquism.
—— Christmas Books , Country Life MagazineIt is hard not to warm to this hugely entertaining homage.
—— Mail on SundayThe cast is a delight, with many characters who will be familiar to Wodehouse aficionados . . . his prose is elegant and charming and he captures the lilt and rhythms of the original . . . a warm, worthy and rollicking tribute.
—— Literary ReviewThis joyous and thoughtful tribute leaves you wanting more.
—— Sophie Ratcliffe , TLSBy Jove! It's a ripping old yarn... Dashed agreeably close to the master.
—— Daily MailA hugely enjoyable caper
—— The WeekThere are laughs and admirable ingenuity in Schott’s confection
—— Irish TimesA book that is so close in spirit and style to the PG Wodehouse originals it’s like the real thing
—— The SportTop-notch fun.
—— S magazineSucceeds triumphantly, both as light entertainment and as a tribute to the master
—— Country & Town HouseIn his first foray into PG Wodehouse homage/imitation/pastiche (whichever it may be) Schott appeared to hit the Wodehouse target dead on.
—— RTEJonathan Coe's Middle England is brilliantly insightful on the times we are living in
—— Mishal Husain, Books of the Year , Big IssueLet me add to the chorus of praise for Jonathan Coe's new book Middle England. Easily my favourite of his since What a Carve Up! Which did for Thatcherism what Middle England does for Brexit
—— John CraceAn astute, enlightened and enlightening journey into the heart of our current national identity crisis. Both moving and funny. As we'd expect from Coe
—— Ben EltonFrom post-industrial Birmingham to the London riots and the current political gridlock, it takes in family, literature and love in a comedy for our times
—— GuardianCoe can make you smile, sigh, laugh; he has abundant sympathy for his characters
—— ScotsmanThis book is sublimely good. State of the (Brexit) nation novel to end them all, but also funny, tender, generous, so human and intelligent about age and love as well as politics
—— India KnightProbably the best English novelist of his generation
—— Nick HornbyNo modern novelist is better at charting the precariousness of middle-class life
—— ObserverAn angry and exuberant book
—— Sunday Times on 'Number 11'Jonathan Coe has established himself as one of the most entertaining chroniclers of our times
—— TatlerYou can't stop reading....I was haunted for days
—— Independent on 'Number 11'