The Disorderly Knights

Lymond Chronicles, Book 3

Plot

The third volume inThe Lymond Chronicles, the highly renowned series of historical novels by Dorothy Dunnett,Disorderly Knightstakes 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. The six novels in the series are as follows: The Game of Kings (1961) Queens' Play (1964) The Disorderly Knights (1966) Pawn in Frankincense (1969) The Ringed Castle (1971) Checkmate (1975) The Disorderly Knights (1966) His reputation freshly restored after his actions in France, Lymond travels to the Isle of Malta, home to the Crusading Order of Knights Hospitaller of St John, just before the Ottoman Turks lay it under siege. There he becomes embroiled in a contest of wits with a man who may or may not be a living saint, and discovers a secret that will transform that intellectual contest into a visceral struggle for his native Scotland. Main fictional characters Francis Crawford of Lymond Jerott Blyth, Childhood friend of Francis Crawford, French Merchant and Knight of St John Sir Graham Reid Malett, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St John Joleta Reid Malett, Sir Graham's younger sister Randy Bell, Alec Guthrie, Adam Blacklock - men of the company of St Mary's Oonagh O'Dwyer Kate Somerville, England landower and friend of the Crawfords Philippa Somerville, Daughter of Kate Somerville Main historical characters Juan de Homedes, Grand Master of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta Galatian de Cesel, Governor of Gozo Nicolas de Nicolay, Knight of the Order of St John Marie de Guise, Queen Dowager of Scotland Gaspard De Villiers, Governor of Tripoli Dragut Rais, Corsair Main locations Birgu, Malta Mdina, Malta Gozo, Malta Tripoli, North Africa Scottish Borders, including St Mary's Loch Edinburgh, Scotland