Teresa Denys’ THE SILVER DEVIL – Enthralling, Terrible and Wonderful, a Classic set in 17th century Italy

 

The Silver Devil begins in 1605 north of Naples, Italy, at the time of the plague. It tells the story of Felicia Guardi, a commoner beauty who comes to the attention of Domenico della Raffaelle, the new Duke of Cabria, the one they call the “Silver Devil.”

 

When her mother died, Felicia learned from her brother that she was bastard born. Forced by him and his wife to live in their house as a servant, Felicia becomes a sort of Cinderella. Though Felicia has had a hard life, she has virtue, integrity and wisdom that outshine all those around her. Surely that is what Domenico saw when he chanced to glimpse her. Without her knowing it, Domenico buys Felicia from her half brother who drugs her so she can be taken to the duke’s palace.

 

Already ruined by having been taken to the duke, Felicia nevertheless fights the man who would have her (“a demon’s eyes in the face of a fallen angel”… “as graceful as a leopard and as treacherous as murder”). After he takes her maidenhead, she realizes she has no choice but to stay with him until he tires of her, which according to what she is told, may be very soon as he runs through mistresses quickly. But Felicia is unlike any woman Domenico has ever known and he does not cast her off.

 

Having just come to power, Domenico is aware of the seething treachery swirling around him. There are those who would prefer to see his half brother Alessandro rule the duchy. And Domenico knows he must take a wife and sire an heir so there are choices to be made. But Felicia has fallen in love with him (“…it was then, as I went to him like a falcon flying to his fist, that I realized I loved him”); and even knowing she will be set aside, she stays.

 

I can’t say enough good about this classic. Brilliantly written with attention to detail reflecting much research into the era and the politics of the time, it is a fascinating story of warring families and the vicious actions some take to stay in power. The prose is nearly lyrical at times and Denys’ writing is truly beautiful in its descriptions. Few authors could do it so well.

 

The plot is intricate and captured me from the start. Though told from the first person (we are only ever in Felicia’s head), it works for an intriguing story as we can only wonder what the Silver Devil is thinking behind his black eyes. Felicia is a wonderful heroine, and though he was often wicked, Domenico was a very worthy alpha male hero. I did not want to put it down. It's a keeper.

Dorothy Dunnett’s GEMINI – A Fitting End to a Great Series

I’m taking time out from my Western reviews to review the last book in a great series set in the early Renaissance in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Scotland by a favorite author.

 

This last in the House of Niccolo series is set in Scotland in 1477. Nicholas de Fleury, former banker and merchant, returns to the land that, four years earlier, he had brought very close to ruin in the course of an intense commercial and personal war with his enemies and his estranged wife Gelis, a war he won but at great cost.

Now, Nicholas finds himself embroiled in royal politics with the king and his two brothers. All the estates of Scotland are involved: the merchants of Edinburgh, the gentry, and the clergy, as well as the English, French, and the Burgundian, of which Nicholas is one. His presence soon draws Gelis (now his loving wife)  and their son Jodi to Scotland, as well as Nicholas’s companions in his past endeavors—Dr. Tobias and his wife Clémence, the shipmaster Mick Crackbene, the engineer John le Grant, and Andro Wodman.

 

Nicholas meets again with others who have had an influence, for good or evil, in his life: Jordan St Pol (“the fat father Jordan”), his son Simon, and young Henry, Nicholas’ bastard son thought by Simon to be his own. Mistress Bel of Cuthilgurdy and David de Salmeton, who seeks Nicholas’ death, and the always beloved, Anselm Adorne and Kathi his niece, who is a dear friend to Nicholas.

 

Meanwhile, more secrets as to Nicholas’ birth are revealed as Julius goes in search of proof that Nicholas is legitimate.

 

There are many exciting moments as Dunnett brings all the loose threads together while allowing us to dive deep into the world of the early Renaissance. I loved the hero, Nicholas, who sometimes seemed like a grown child at play, and at others a clever inventor, and still at others a man of keen strategy, who always seemed to know people’s true motives.

 

I was sad to see the series end. Now, I have to begin again with The Lymond Chronicles that follows this one in time but I read first.

 

The House of Niccolo Series:

 

Niccolò Rising

Spring of the Ram

Race of Scorpions

Scales of Gold

The Unicorn Hunt

To Lie with Lions

Caprice and Rondo

Gemini

 

Dorothy Dunnett’s TO LIE WITH LIONS – Freezing snow, erupting volcanoes and treachery! Masterful storytelling!

This may be my favorite in the House of Niccolo series. Dunnett has excelled in bringing Iceland to life and Nicholas’ heroic rescues from erupting volcanoes. It begins in 1471as Nicholas leaves on a new adventure, to Iceland, hoping to beat others  the fishery and catch a huge amount of cod. But that is not his only task. He must balance his loyalty to the Duke of Burgundy against the demands of the King of France. Beneath all is the game, a war he wages with his estranged wife who wronged him terribly. The “lions” of Burgundy, Cyprus, England, and Venice all play in the game.

 

Meanwhile, Nicholas faces treachery, erupting volcanos and the vengeance of his 11-year-old son, Henry, who believes he is the son of Simon of Kilmirren, Nicholas’ enemy. Henry tries to kill both Nicholas and his son Jodi.

 

Woven throughout the action is interesting history of the “lions” and the merchant business that has made Nicholas a wealthy man.

 

Gelis, Nicholas’ wife is nasty piece. One view would see her as the woman who ruined a great man, diverting his huge talents to a game that is beneath him. But Nicholas would win at all costs. His son, Jordi, is winsome and loves both his parents.

 

Wonderful characters populate every page, including Julius, Gregorio, Kathi, Robin, Clemence, the nurse, Tobi, the doctor. And then there is Nicholas’ magnificent Nativity Play, a work that astounds all.

 

I highly recommend this series but read them in order.

 

 

The House of Niccolo Series:

 

Niccolò Rising

Spring of the Ram

Race of Scorpions

Scales of Gold

The Unicorn Hunt

To Lie with Lions

Caprice and Rondo

Gemini (2000)

 

 

 

Dorothy Dunnett’s THE SPRING OF THE RAM – Nicholas Strives to Overcome in Trebizond

This second in The House of Niccolò is set in the 15^th century at the edge of the European Renaissance. It takes young Nicholas to Trebizond, the last outpost of Byzantium at the far eastern end of the Black Sea where merchants vie for the attention of the Emperor and seek to make a grand profit from silk and other goods. Leaving his wife, Marian in Bruges, Nicholas travels to Florence where he wins the respect of the Medici bankers and becomes their agent. Backed by Cosimo de' Medici, Nicholas sails with his companions to Trebizond, the last jewel missing from the crown of the Ottoman Empire.

 

Meanwhile, Nicholas's stepdaughter, 13-year-old Catherine de Charetty, has been seduced and seemingly married to his rival in trade: a Genoese sea pirate who races ahead of Nicholas, sowing disaster at every port to try and stop him. In addition to the man from Genoa to contend with, there is still the villain, Simon de St Pol, who Nicholas thought was his father. Nicholas is a solver of puzzles and impresses the Emperor with his unusual clock. Just when Nicholas seems to have overcome his enemies, he realizes that Trebizond may fall to the Turks and he must get the de Charetty ship and their goods out.

 

This is an exciting story with Nicholas having many narrow escapes and adventures as he cleverly impresses the powers over him to defeat his enemies. The research for this one was deep and that impressed me. Dunnett’s writing is like a roller-coaster, exciting and hard to put down. There are many names and gobs of characters, but I never minded. Dunnett paints the era brilliantly and brings the fictional characters to life against a real historical setting. I can’t wait to read book 3.

 

House of Niccolo series:

 

Niccolo Rising

The Spring of the Ram

Race of Scorpions

Scales of Gold

The Unicorn Hunt

To Lie with Lions

Caprice and Rondo

Gemini