Customer Reviews

The Wisest Fool

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A wonderful Tranter novel about King James VI of Scotland and James I of England. This story is primarily seen through the eyes of George Heriot, an Edinburgh merchant who is appointed as the Man-of-Business and Jeweler of the King. Basically exists as money lender to the Crown and Lords of both countries. George is a stalwart man of business and not ambitious as many are in the King's court.

The story is observed to a lesser extent via Ludovich "Vicky" Stewart, Duke of Lennox. He is the premier noble of the kingdom and cousin of the King, but at heart wants to be a country Laird in Scotland and spend his time with his love Mary Gray and their young son, John Stewart of Methven.

The Wisest Fool begins with King James VI, now James I of England on his assent to the throne of England. He begins with his long trip from Scotland into England, knighting many for a fee! The English Lords are continuously baffled by this strange new monarch. His view of the Crown is very different from the Court of Elizabeth, but still full of much deceit and intrigue with a Scottish twist and humor.

James proves himself a worthy Monarch as he pits different factions against on another; Scots and English, Catholic and Protestants, and Commons and Lords in an amazing fashion. His only goal is a balancing act to keep control of his two kingdoms. His main rivals prove to be the Earl of Dunbar, Patrick Stewart, Earl of Orkney and Cousin. The chief rival by far proves to be Patrick Gray in Scotland and becomes the nemesis of the story.

All the while George and Vicky try to have a life outside of Court as they race to save James and his Crown from different plots trying to have him deprived of his Scottish throne or English throne or just eliminated all together along with Parliament in the Guy Fawkes plot.

Queen Anne also shows predominantly as she keeps her own court in London separately form James and his young male favorites. She maintains a strange acceptance of most of James ways and raises the young heirs to the throne but even her tolerance is put to the test by James.

This is just a great book. I have few absolute favorites in Tranter's series and the "Wisest Fool" has joined the ranks along with the Bruce Trilogy, William Wallace and the Crusader. As with all his books Scotland's past lives and breathes in this novel. James VI proves an able Monarch and although it is not proven in battle or wars with other nations it is proven in the minds and ploys of two courts and nations, once enemies and now united under one crown. This story is full of battle of wits and political maneuvers. I had a hard time putting this book down to sleep. Long Live King James.

The wisest fool, unsurprisingly, is a Scottish historical novel.

This time, the setting is during the reign of King James VI of Scotland.

The point of view character is a merchant, this time, and he and his wife become involved in court life and all the scheming and power plays that the situation entails.