Firedrake's Eye [Paperback]

Patricia Finney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993

Brilliantly written in language eerily reminiscent of Elizabethan English, this novel is set in 16th-century England and concerns a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth I. When it was first published in 1992, the critics raved: "A talent for writing espionage makes her the Le Carre of the 16th century. . ." (Ruth Rendell, author of The Bridesmaid).

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Forget the publisher's misleading comparisons to the intellectual teasers Possession and The Name of the Rose and enjoy this highly colored historical novel on its own merits. Set in Elizabethan England, it sensuously reconstructs the era's visual pomp and splendor as well as the fetid odors and pervasive damp chill of a London winter. Finney ( A Shadow of Gulls ) endows her players with a rich language--essentially modern English lightly laced with fanciful syntax and Elizabethan vocabulary. The plot, in which members of Elizabeth's secret service ferret out would-be assassins of the Virgin Queen, is heavy with coincidence and short on actual sleuthing. These flaws, however, are camouflaged by an exotic, convincing cast of characters, among them a madman; Portuguese Jews who have found refuge behind the English throne; physicians; courtiers; teachers of swordplay; traitors and pretenders. Historical and wholly invented figures mix easily, a tribute to the author's careful research and panoramic vision. 40,000 first printing.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the fall of 1583, Elizabeth Tudor has been queen of England for 25 years and the target of plots to restore Catholic rule to England for about the same length of time. Tom O'Bedlam, the mad son of a prominent Catholic family, narrates this tale of one such attempt. Roaming the London streets, Tom sees the threads of an assassination plot slowly woven into an ever-tightening net by his own hated brother, a fanatical Catholic. Will Tom be able to aid those trying to destroy the conspiracy? The answer provides a suspenseful, absorbing read. Finney's ( A Shadow of Gulls , LJ 8/77) prose has a wonderful rhythm reminiscent of another age; she evokes time and place with a sure touch. The beauty of her language lifts this marvelous novel of history and political intrigue far above the ordinary. Highly recommended for any fiction collection.
-Dean James, Houston Acad. of Medicine/Texas Medical Ctr. Lib.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312092873
• ISBN-13: 978-0312092870
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,911,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book spoiled by telltale dust jacket and reviews, January 24, 2000

By 

Mike Knoop (Dallas TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firedrake's Eye (Paperback)

Book reviews and dust jackets balance on the fine line of titillating the prospective reader without giving away too many plot twists & turns.

"Firedrake's Eye" concerns a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and the efforts of 3 major characters (adventurer Becket, cryptographer Ames, and madman Tom O' Bedlam) to foil the plot. That description was enough to spark my interest but I made the mistake of reading the dust jacket which gave me the "how" and "when" of the assassination plot. The Kirkus Review reveals the "who". Because of these revelations, I always knew more than the characters did and could not unravel the mystery along with them.

I suspect that Finney's publisher was worried that people would get too lost in the intricate plot and/or initially confusing hybrid of Elizabethan and modern English so they gave away crucial plot details to keep the reader going. I admit that I was pretty lost until about page 40 but from then on I began to get a hang of the language (and got used to using the glossary and character list).

Even though I knew most of the plot, I still enjoyed "Firedrake's Eye" for three reasons:

1) Finney's masterful blend of history and fiction that give the novel a very definite place and time.

2) Finney fills her book with strong characters, both fictional (the 3 protagonists mentioned above) and real (particularly Secretary Walsingham).

3) Finney's vivid descriptions of Tudor England show that the author really did a lot of research and did not just set her book in this time period because it would be a neat concept.

Some reviewers have labelled Finney as the LeCarre of the 16th century. It reminded me more of Frederick Forsyth's "Day of the Jackal" as various characters attempt to unravel a complicated assassination plot against an unknown deadline.

It took me over a month to get through this relatively short book but if you are fan of historical mysteries, "Firedrake's Eye" seems like a sure bet.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A 16th century psychological thriller!, August 1, 2000

By 

Zenbob (Woodstock, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firedrake's Eye (Paperback)

A terrific look at Elizabethan England. The characters are sharply drawn and the plot, with its many twists and turns, finds its way to the end with surefooted purpose. My only quibble is the "deus ex machina" device of characters who discuss the proceedings from bird's eye view. The plot tries to make clear why this device is used, but in the midst of what is mainly a grand achievement in historical storytelling, the narrative style is the only thing that does not ring absolutely true. Still and all, that's only a quibble. It's a wonderful experience. Don't miss UNICORN'S BLOOD by the same author, which is almost a continuation of these events.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Elizabethan thriller, excellent prose style..., September 25, 2002

By 

"cloudia" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Firedrake's Eye (Paperback)

This book has very well conceived gritty characters. The three main ones are David Becket, a toughened gentleman and swordmaster who fell on hard times fighting in the Netherlands; Simon Ames, a Jewish Portuguese agent of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham, and 'Tom O'Bedlam' an old law school buddy of Becket's who has given way to madness, who sees angels and devils everywhere, and has an alternate personality called "The Clever One." The story has action and intrigue which is made all the more compelling since it is narrated, at least mostly, by "The Clever One," who because of Tom's discourse with angels can see events as they happen to others. The Elizabethan color permeates the text in an attractively idiosyncratic way. Walsingham makes for the most lively Historical character. In the beginning of the book he is suffering from kidney stones, and Ames' uncle, Dr. Hector Nunez, attends him. Finney takes the time to delve into Walsingham's psyche pondering the effect that being present at St. Bartholomew's massacre when he was Ambassador to Paris may have had on him. This only adds to our understanding of both his role and the intrigue which is the main portion of the story. Other historical characters presented, include Walsingham's son-in-law Sir Phillip Sidney who is working on a procession float for the Queen in the shape of "The Dragon of Discord." And another not so well known historical character, Laurence Pickering, 'the King of Thieves', makes an important contribution to the plot. There are still more interesting characterizations and relationships developed, many quite sad, but I don't want to give too much away. The writing style, above all, impresses. It is really effective and poetic. I felt as though every word was being read to me and didn't want to miss a single one.