OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author

Subject: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: lamarca
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 05:28 PM

I know this isn't music related, but I was saddened to learn that one of my very favorite historical and mystery fiction authors, Dorothy Dunnett, passed away on November 9 at the age of 78. Her literary agent, James Thin, maintains a web page about her and her novels here with an announcement of her death; her obituary in the NY Times is here.

Lady Dunnett wrote two wonderful series of historical novels, The Lymond Chronicals, 6 volumes set in Scotland and Europe of the 1500's, and The House of Niccolo, 8 volumes set in the world of merchant traders of the 1400's. The novels were literate, funny, romantic and serious, in the tradition of great swashbucklers. Her research into historical detail was impeccable, and you could learn everything from how the Scottish-English borders were governed (badly), the decline of the Knights of Malta and early Middle-Eastern entanglements, how and why the papal monopoly on alum shaped the Renaissance world, and what happened to the enlightened Islamic society of Timbuktu. The detail in them provides interesting background to Scottish Border ballads and the growth of Scotland over two centuries.

Her mystery novels were clever and confusing, a bit of James Bond crossed with Peter Whimsey, as the painter/detective/spy Johnson Johnson sails his yacht, Dolly in and out of sticky situations around the world. Each novel is told from the point of view a young woman involved in the case somehow - a soprano in Dolly and the Singing Bird, a caterer in , a dyslexic make-up artist in Dolly and the Bird of Paradise, etc.

The one novel of hers that I couldn't get through was King Hereafter, a historical recreation of who the "real" Macbeth might have been. She and her husband, Alistair Dunnett, collaborated on a wonderful coffee-table book on the Scottish Highlands, with beautiful photos by David Paterson.

I had the good fortune to hear Lady Dunnett at a reading of her last novel, Gemini, last year. She was gracious, witty and happy to talk with her fans, who turned out for the reading in droves. I will miss looking forward to reading the "next installment"; her agent said she died peacefully. Her research materials and writings have been donated to the National Library of Scotland.

Rest in peace, Dorothy Dunnett, and thank you for the wonder and entertainment you have given me over the last 20 years.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: Morticia
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:53 PM

I am really sorry to hear this as she is one of my favourite authors too, in fact I have one on the go at the moment , something to do with the Platagenets but I can't tell you what for the moment as I've just fused all the lights and I'm not tall enough to reach the fuse box, nor can I find the steps in the dark (sigh).Oh it's okay, my son just got up....and the book is called Crown in Candlelight.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 09:24 PM

lamarca--that's very sad news. I've just been re-reading the Lymond Chronicles for perhaps the tenth time, along with The Dorothy Dunnett Companion by Elspeth Morrison, so I can finally(!) find out translations of all that obscure poetry, and references for the songs he does.

And I'm with you--the one book I couldn't finish was King Hereafter. (Never could finish Mary Stewart's Wicked Day either--neither MacBeth nor Mordred are people I could get interested in.)

Loved the Johnson Johnson books; always wanted to meet him in person. She's said that Lymond is "based on her husband"--hmmmmm.

The House of Niccolo books are excellent also--and I was fascinated with how she tied them in with Lymond.

What small amount of 15th and 16th Century history I know I learned from her. I too will miss the next installment.

Morticia--I thought I'd found all Lady Dunnett's books, but I've not read Crown in Candlelight. Is it a new one? It seems to take forever for her books to come out in the states; the Johnson books are very hard to find in the stores here.

Thanks for posting this, lamarca.

Lin

Subject: RE: OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: Scabby Douglas
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 04:28 AM

This is very sad.. previous posters have highlighted her research and scholarly approach to her writing..

I often came away astounded at the depth and breadth of her landscapes. Remarkable writer.

On a separate note, get back to King Hereafter... it is really worthwhile.. leaving aside the origin it postulates for Macbeth, it's a rewarding, fantastic richly layered book. Read it, it's worth it.

Cheers

Steven

Subject: RE: OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: Morticia
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 06:41 AM

oops, sorry, that was Rosemary Jarman....hadn't checked the author in the hooha re the lights....

Subject: RE: OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 08:47 AM

I cannot begin to express how truly sorry I am to see her go. I thought I didn't like historical fiction until my daughter put me on to DD a few years ago. Now one of my very favorite authors. Her works are so literate, so erudite, and so very entertaining.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Dorothy Dunnett, author
From: lamarca
Date: 20 Nov 01 - 03:35 PM

Lin, I used to re-read The Lymond Chronicles once a year, and just completely vanish from the here-and-now while I was immersed in them. My paperback copies, which I had gleaned here and there because they were out of print at the time, started to fall apart. I was so glad when Vintage Books here in the US reissued them in a nicely bound paper set and I could get fresh copies.

Now I have a husband and a house, and feel too guilty about neglecting both of them to escape into a 2-3 week reading binge, but I MAY have to start re-reading Niccolo from the beginning, in order, now that I know what clues to look for in the earlier novels...