Over 40 years ago Dorothy Dunnett, dubbed the world’s greatest living historical writer, began a series of novels known as the “Lymond Chronicles.” These six books follow the adventures of Francis Crawford of Lymond.

A nobleman and soldier of fortune Lymond is highly educated with an elastic sense of morals and the tongue of a poet. He is like a 16th century Bond whose adventures take place during the Renaissance. While Francis Crawford is a fictional character many of the supporting characters in these books include real historical people and the events in their lives

The first book is “Game of Kings.” In 1547, Francis returns to his beloved Scotland where he is considered a traitor by both Scotland and England. He leads a band of men to protect his homeland and seeks to restore his good name.

The second book, “Queen’s Play,” finds Lymond involved with the intrigues of the French court as he tries to protect the child Mary Queen of Scots who is being groomed for marriage to the dauphin of France. Someone plans to murder the young queen and her mother, Mary of Guise, has summoned Francis Crawford to stop the plot.

The next book is “Disorderly Knights” and is set in Malta in 1551. Sent to assist the Knight of Hospitallers in defending the island against the Turks, Lymond soon learns that the greatest threat to the Knights is within their own ranks.

In “Pawn in Frankincense,” the fourth book of the series, we find Francis searching throughout the Ottoman Empire of Suleiman the Magnificent for his son who is hidden somewhere in slavery. Including scenes of intense battles and riveting action the book culminates with Lymond being drawn into a subtle and savage chess game. Played out in the harem of the Topkapi palace he is compelled to make an unthinkable move.

The fifth volume of the series is “The Ringed Castle.” Lymond leaves Tudor England and journeys to Moscovy where he becomes advisor and general to the half-mad tzar Ivan the Terrible. While Lymond tries to civilize the barbaric Russian court, still gripped in the attitudes of the Middle Ages, forces in England conspire to ensnare Francis in their own schemes.

The final book of the series, “Checkmate,” takes place in 1557 with Francis Crawford once more in France. Leading an army against England Lymond succeeds brilliantly on the battlefield while his past becomes a subject of intense interest to forces on both sides. With a cast of characters that includes young princess Elizabeth and astrologer Nostradamus this book is a triumphant conclusion to the Lymond Saga.

Spanning Europe, Moscovy and the Ottomon Empire these books are filled with adventure, romance, intrigue and a rich description of the places, events and way of living during the Renaissance. If you have never read this series now is the time to begin. If it has been a while since you last read it, why not begin the adventure again? It is well worth the read and those who finish the series will want to re-read the stories to be sure they didn't miss anything.

These and other historical fiction books can be found at the Muskogee Public Library.