Here is a lovingly assembled, essential A-Z companion to Dorothy Dunnett’s brilliant Lymond Chronicles and the first five novels in the House of Niccolò series. Elspeth Morrison has re-created the author’s exhaustive original research, documenting her myriad sources and literary references. Foreign phrases are translated; poems and quotations presented in full; historical figures and events fleshed out; subtle allusions–and there are many–noted. From the origins of the Arabic drink qahveh to a recipe for quince paste, from the medical uses of ants and alum, to Zacco, Zenobia, and Zoroaster, this easy-to-use A-to-Z reference richly illuminates the intricacies of the complex and far-flung Renaissance world Dorothy Dunnett’s creations so colorfully inhabit. "[Dunnett is] the finest living writer of historical fiction."– The Washington Post Book World vingly assembled, essential A-Z companion to Dorothy Dunnett s brilliant Lymond Chronicles and the first five novels in the House of Niccolò series. Elspeth Morrison has re-created the author s exhaustive original research, documenting her myriad sources and literary references. Foreign phrases are translated; poems and quotations presented in full; historical figures and events fleshed out; subtle allusions and there are many noted. From the origins of the Arabic drink qahveh to a recipe for quince paste, from the medical uses of ants and alum, to Zacco, Zenobia, and Zoroaster, this easy-to-use A-to-Z reference richly illuminates the intricacies of the complex and far-flung Renaissance world Dorothy Dunnett s creations so colorfully inhabit. Here is a lovingly assembled, essential A-Z companion to Dorothy Dunnett's brilliant Lymond Chronicles and the first five novels in the House of Niccolo series. Elspeth Morrison has re-created the author's exhaustive original research, documenting her myriad sources and literary references. Foreign phrases are translated; poems and quotations presented in full; historical figures and events fleshed out; subtle allusions-and there are many-noted. From the origins of the Arabic drink "qahveh to a recipe for quince paste, from the medical uses of ants and alum, to Zacco, Zenobia, and Zoroaster, this easy-to-use A-to-Z reference richly illuminates the intricacies of the complex and far-flung Renaissance world Dorothy Dunnett's creations so colorfully inhabit. Elspeth Morrison and Dorothy Dunnett live in Edinburgh, Scotland. A A fin, fin et demi : CHECKMATE, III, 4: 'Finish the job to the end and beyond'. A fool though he live in the company of the wise, understands nothing of the true doctrine: QUEENS, I, 6: Proverb taken from the Buddhist scripture, the Dhammapada. (Samuel Beal, Texts from the Buddhist Canon, The Dhammapada, London, 1902.) A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse : UNICORN, 16: From the biblical Song of Solomon, 4, 12-15: "A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon." A grey eye looks back towards Erin : QUEENS, III, 1: Traditional Irish song from St Columkille's Remembrance of Erin, lamenting his exile in Iona, with 'a grey eye full of tears'. (P.W. Joyce, Social History of Ancient Ireland.) A hunter went killing sparrows : KNIGHTS, II, 9: A proverbial Arabic story and caveat. (H. Howarth & I. Shakrullah, Images from the Arabic World, London, 1944.) A la fontaine je voudrais : QUEENS, I, 5; KNIGHTS, III, 13: Song by Jean-Antoine de Baïf: A la fontaine je voudrais Avec ma belle aller jouer. Là dedans l'eau nous irions tous deux rafraîchir Notre amour trop ardent. Mille douceurs, mille bons mots, mille plaisirs, Mille gentils amoureux jeux se feraient là, Mille baisers, mille doux embrassements là nous nous donn'rions. A la fontaine je voudrais . . . (refrain) Nous irions par le fleuri pré courir aux fleurs, Cueillerions l'or fin et l'argent et le pourprin, Chapelets ronds et bouquets, chaînes et tortils nous y lî'rions. A la fontaine je voudrais . . . (refrain) Si le destin le nous permet que feignons-nous, Que n'allons-nous jouir heureux de so beaux dons? En le printemps nous y convie de notre âge la saison. A la fontaine je voudrais . . . (refrain) Pèse bien: Qu'est-ce du monde, ô mon amour doux? Si l'amour manque et la plaisance, ce n'est rien: Du désir donc et du plaisir recueillons, belle, le doux fruit. A la fontaine je voudrais . . . (refrain) There to the fountain I would take My darling who makes sport with me And in the cooling spray to slake This love which burns so ardently A thousand sweetnesses, soft words, disports, A thousand loving pastimes we would share A thousand kisses, sweet embraces there. There to the fount