The Disorderly Knights (Paperback)

by Dorothy Dunnett (Author) "ON the day that his grannie was killed by the English, Sir William Scott the Younger of Buccleuch was at Melrose Abbey, marrying his aunt..." (more)
Key Phrases: apricot hair, old corsair, serving brother, Graham Malett, Francis Crawford, Sir Graham (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Brilliant, brawe and bonny Francis Crawford of Lymond has matched wits and swords with traitors in two earlier books: The Game of Kings (1961) and Queen's Play (1964). In The Disorderly Knights he appears fresh from service to the Queen Dowager at the French court to become involved in the most challenging duel of all. His enemy is Sir Graham (Gabriel) Reid Malett, seemingly saintly, greatly gifted Knight of the Order of St. John. The time is 1551, when the Turks assaulted Malta, and Lymond is there to help the Order, and to try to save Oonagh O'Dwyer, an old love and former mistress of the Irish leader O'Connor, presently in a liaison with the cowardly Governor of Gozo, and who is bearing Lymond's child. After the Malta episode ends disastrously, Gabriel joins Lymond in Scotland, where Lymond heads St. Mary's, a fighting force Mary of Guise fears, and which Gabriel ostensibly hopes will save the Order, but for which he has darker uses in mind.... His beautiful sister Joleta is equally sinister?? under a surface chastity and almost costs Lymond his life as well as his honor. Miss Dunnett remains courageous in the face of complication and circumstance, but her villain manages to escape her as well as the hero. Still, she has penned another spirited pastiche of history and melodrama which has some claim to elegance and will make one on a readership addicted to rhetoric, romance and high minded heroics. (Kirkus Reviews) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
The third volume in The Lymond Chronicles, the highly renowned series of historical novels by Dorothy Dunnett, Disorderly Knights takes place in 1551, when Francis Crawford of Lymond is dispatched to embattled Malta, to assist the Knights of Hospitallers in defending the island against the Turks. But shortly the swordsman and scholar discovers that the greatest threat to the Knights lies within their own ranks, where various factions vie secretly for master.


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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (June 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679777458
• ISBN-13: 978-0679777458
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,370 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 3 in The Lymond Chronicles Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Knights is Worthy of this Brilliant Series, April 27, 2000

By	soba525 "soba" - See all my reviews

If you've made it to this, book number three in the series, you are no doubt an Lymond addict like me. This book was yet another incredible "fix" in my terrible, obsessive craving for more of Lymond and his heart stopping adventures. I am an impatient soul by nature. And because my time is limited, I loathe the thought of seeing a movie twice and it has never crossed my mind to re-read any book, no matter how good. This all ended when I discovered the Lymond Chronicles. I not only (happily) read and reread passages of each book (often by necessity to puzzle out the complex plots) as I am reading it but as soon as I finish a book in the series I want to start rereading it, and the entire series, right away. These books are like a drug. I cannot get enough of them. They are the most wondrous, satisfying reading experience I have ever had.

Disorderly Knights made me laugh so hard, especially Lymond's early escapade with not a small number of sheep. Knights made me cringe during Lymond's terrible beating (particularly since he had known this torture as a galley slave). And, Knights took my breath away with its exciting, brilliantly staged climax with Gabriel.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Much Fun As You Can Have Reading, November 14, 2001

By	schapmock (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

The Disorderly Knights, 3rd in the Lymond Chronicles, must be one of the most thrilling adventure stories ever written. From the initial Borderland skirmishes to the intrigue on Malta, from the cryptic dueling at St. Mary's to the Edinburgh climax, the thunderbolt narrative never ceases to twist, turn, and surprise. Lymond himself seems almost to transcend the existing literature -- a genuinely original romantic hero.

I'd argue that Lymond Chronicles are actually underrated, as no one I know seems to have heard of them. Having at this point read the first three, its hard to think of anything with which to compare them. The dazzling, larger than life characters, the gleaming wit and razor-sharp dialogue, the breathless action and labyrinthian plotting all combine to create nearly perfect novels: rollercoaster, thinking person's adventure tales.

If the first volume has the advantage of surprise and the second is distinguished by its French Court setting and intrigue, I'd make the (arguable) argument that this third is even better, having the advantage of a more serpentine plot, genuinely shocking final quarter revelations, and a villain of spectacular stature.

If you love to read, dig into these masterpieces at earliest opportunity -- but start with the first, Game of Kings. They're confusing enough as it is...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another engrossing book!, March 14, 2000

By	Jonathan Robbins "Jonathan Robbins" (Redwood City, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dorothy Dunnett continues to impress me. I'm a big fan of Dumas and his trilogies. Dunnett comes darn close to his writing. Her books are engrossing, weave a great story, and draw me in more each time I read another book. This is the third in the Lymond Chronicles series. It is very well written. I enjoy how the story stands on its own but also weaves into the first two books. If you have the time, read the entire series from start to finish. I'm looking forward to reading the next one! I also can't wait to get into her House of Niccolo series. This book, and series, is well worth a read!