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A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
The Lying Dutchman by Graham Brack
4.0
‘Memories.’
Master Mercurius, now an elderly man, is recording his memoirs with the aide of a scribe. His memory takes him back to 1685 when, once again, the Stadhouder, William of Orange, summons him to The Hague.
Charles II of England has died and James II, his brother, is now king. Next in line after James, is his daughter Mary, the wife of William of Orange. But Charles II’s illegitimate son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth is being encouraged to stage a rebellion. James II is a Roman Catholic, and not popular. William of Orange has a cunning plan to thwart Monmouth’s rebellion without alienating Monmouth himself.
And who better to carry out this cunning plan than Master Mercurius?
Poor Mercurius. He was quite happy living his life in academia but a summons from the Stadhouder cannot be ignored. The Stadhouder’s plan is simple: Master Mercurius is to anonymously plant a letter containing Monmouth’s invasion plans in (or near) the English court so that James II becomes aware of the plans and summons an army.
What could possibly go wrong? Well, plenty as it turns out. Leaving aside Master Mercurius’s distaste for the sea (although I am fairly sure that Antarctica hadn’t been discovered in 1685, so that particular fear need not have arisen), there are language and other barriers to overcome.
This is another terrific instalment in the Master Mercurius series. We know that Mercurius has survived (how else could he be dictating his memoirs?) but just how he manages to survive arrest and imprisonment makes for an entertaining read.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Master Mercurius, now an elderly man, is recording his memoirs with the aide of a scribe. His memory takes him back to 1685 when, once again, the Stadhouder, William of Orange, summons him to The Hague.
Charles II of England has died and James II, his brother, is now king. Next in line after James, is his daughter Mary, the wife of William of Orange. But Charles II’s illegitimate son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth is being encouraged to stage a rebellion. James II is a Roman Catholic, and not popular. William of Orange has a cunning plan to thwart Monmouth’s rebellion without alienating Monmouth himself.
And who better to carry out this cunning plan than Master Mercurius?
Poor Mercurius. He was quite happy living his life in academia but a summons from the Stadhouder cannot be ignored. The Stadhouder’s plan is simple: Master Mercurius is to anonymously plant a letter containing Monmouth’s invasion plans in (or near) the English court so that James II becomes aware of the plans and summons an army.
What could possibly go wrong? Well, plenty as it turns out. Leaving aside Master Mercurius’s distaste for the sea (although I am fairly sure that Antarctica hadn’t been discovered in 1685, so that particular fear need not have arisen), there are language and other barriers to overcome.
This is another terrific instalment in the Master Mercurius series. We know that Mercurius has survived (how else could he be dictating his memoirs?) but just how he manages to survive arrest and imprisonment makes for an entertaining read.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith