Gemini: the Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo Free
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FREE GEMINI: THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE HOUSE OF NICCOLO PDF Dorothy Dunnett | 720 pages | 01 Jul 2001 | Random House USA Inc | 9780375708565 | English | New York, United States Gemini (The House of Niccolo, #8) by Dorothy Dunnett Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Gemini by Dorothy Dunnett. Scotland, Nicholas de Fleury, former banker and merchant, has re-appeared in the land that, four years earlier, he had brought very close to ruin in the course of an intense commercial and personal war with secret enemies--and, indeed, with his clever wife Gelis. Now the opportunity for redemption is at hand, but Nicholas soon finds himself pursuing his objectives ami Scotland, Nicholas de Fleury, former banker and merchant, has re-appeared in the land that, four years earlier, he had brought very close to ruin in the course of an intense commercial and personal war with secret enemies--and, indeed, with his clever wife Gelis. Now the opportunity for redemption is at hand, but Nicholas soon finds himself pursuing his objectives amid a complex, corrosive power struggle centering on the Scottish royal family but closely involving the powerful merchants of Edinburgh, the gentry, the clergy, the English ever seeking an excuse to pounce on their neighbor to the norththe French, the Burgundians. His presence soon draws Gelis and their son Jodi to Scotland, as Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo as Nicholas's companions and subordinates in many a past endeavor--Dr. Here, too, Nicholas meets again with others who have had an influence, for good or evil, in his life: King James III of Scotland and his rebellious siblings; the St. Caught up in, and sometimes molding, the course of great events, Nicholas exhibits by turns the fierce silence with which he masks his secrets, Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo the explosive, willful gaiety that binds men, women, and children to him. And as the secrets of his birth and heritage come to light, Nicholas has to decide whether he desires to establish Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo future in Scotland for himself and his family, and a home for his descendants. Now, in a book infused with wit and poetry, emotion and humor, action and mystery, she brings Nicholas de Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo at last to choose his heart's home, where he can exercise all his skills as an advisor to kings and statesmen, as a husband, a father, and a leader of men--and where, perhaps, we will discern a connection between him and that other remarkable personality, Francis Crawford, whose exploits Lady Dunnett recorded so memorably in The Lymond Chronicles. Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published May 8th by Vintage first published More Details Original Title. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Geminiplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Gemini The House of Niccolo, 8. Nov 18, Laurie rated it it was amazing Shelves: historical-fiction. WHAT a family. Good God. Dorothy Dunnett is really quite the master of genetic complication. What is it that Philippa says in The Ringed Castle Oh Philippa. With Dorothy Dunnett it is always possible. This is without question the best historical fiction I've ever read. Perhaps the narrative is less tight here in the final book than in some of the others, but that's a trifling quibble only. The twist alone Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo me want to reread t WHAT a family. The twist alone makes me want to reread the entire series right now. Which I could not because obviously I had to reread Lymond, in familial context, considering the family tree-revealing payoff at the end. I can't believe I didn't notice the lack of surname. And what a perfect title. I could go on and on about all the twinning. Onto the requisite comparison between Niccolo and Lymond. Lymond's position in my heart is sacrosanct, but I find Niccolo more impressive as a literary achievement considering the sheer vastness, extraordinary detail, and the deftness with which she places him into so many Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo historical settings with real historical figures. I mean, just look at the character lists. Niccolo's series-long journey - the building of his "house," the gaining of the high ground - somehow feels more substantial than Lymond's. But the Lymond plots are not hampered by a silly crutch like Nicholas' divining, which I never considered Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo than just a weak, cliched device. However, the supporting characters - both allies and enemies - in Niccolo are much more fully realized and interesting but then we have two more books to get to know them. There is one clear exception, of course. Philippa Somerville has got to be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time - her character development through the 6 Lymond Chronicles is enormously well-done. Gelis and Katelinje only combine to approach what is best in her, though I think that is part of the point - Nicholas' arc directs him toward many different forms of love, and Lymond's toward one great all-consuming, "Mon chois est fait, aultre ne se fera" love in Philippa. May 06, Lightreads rated it it was amazing Shelves: disabilityfictionhistorical. You know that moment when you read the last page of a book, and you gently close it or, uh, switch off your electronic reading device of choice and you breathe out a long breath and you just have to sit there for five or ten minutes smiling and not thinking much, but just quietly hanging on to the last threads of it? So that's the Dunnett, then. These last two books aren't perfect -- GeminiGemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo particular, spends a lot of to-ing and fro-ing on petty politics that I just didn't care ab Ah. These last two books aren't perfect -- Geminiin particular, spends a lot of to-ing and fro-ing on petty politics that I just didn't care about — but man. This broke my heart in the very best way. Particularly as the last two books are all about building what I found lacking in this series previously, as compared to Lymond. Nicholas makes a home at last, and a family, and permanence, and country, and a holding center. And then at the very last, ah. Francis Crawford, there you are. The end of a rollicking good read and a "cracker" of a series. This book ties the eight novels together and brings closure to the indomitable Nicholas de Fleury. I could write pages on the novel, the series overall but this is a novel and series that must be savored. Filled with intrigue, adventure, comradeship, jealousy, rich historical detail and romance that a reader can "fall into" and not want to surface from. This book and series has it all in my opinion. Obviously a huge Well Obviously a huge commitment and a work of Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo from a master storyteller. May 08, Diane rated it it was amazing Shelves: historical-fiction. I have finished re-reading The House of Niccolo series and now I am so Gemini: The Eighth Book of the House of Niccolo. This novel was so intense, bringing to an end most of the mysteries of Nicholas and his life. We find out who the ultimate betrayer-of-trust of these books, how Nicholas comes to stay in Scotland with his family, how the machinations of politics and war bring th I have finished re-reading The House of Niccolo series and now I am so sad. We find out who the ultimate betrayer-of-trust of these books, how Nicholas comes to stay in Scotland with his family, how the machinations of politics and war bring the Scots together. The series built my knowledge of history, time and place, character development, and more Now, on to the Lymond Chronicles Aug 07, Jenny rated it it was amazing. Having visited Bruges in June, I set myself to re-read the entire House of Niccolo series from beginning to end. They're long books, and there are eight volumes, so it took me six weeks to read them. I was so swept along by the power and scope of the series that I didn't want it to end. It takes us from Bruges all through the trading world of the 15th century - the Black Sea and Trebizond, last outpost of the Byzantine empire, Caffa, Poland, Muscovy, Iceland, Egypt, Africa and the glories and da Having visited Bruges in June, I set myself to re-read the entire House of Niccolo series from beginning to end. Fabulous stuff - like a huge and absorbing tapestry written in prose dense with allusion. I recommend the two Dorothy Dunnett Companion volumes that go with this series and the Game of Kings series - which I plan to re-read next year. Apr 18, Tania rated it it was amazing Shelves: historicalread I'll make a proper review later on, but right now I'm just wishing that another 8 volumes had been written, because I'm finding it a bit hard to let go.