The Ringed Castle

Lymond Chronicles Series, Book 5

Plot

For the first time Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles are available in the United States in quality paperback editions. Fifth in the legendary Lymond Chronicles,The Ringed Castle leaps from Mary Tudor's England to the barbaric Russia of Ivan the Terrible. Francis Crawford of Lymond moves to Muscovy, where he becomes advisor and general to the half-mad tsar. Yet even as Lymond tries to civilize a court that is still frozen in the attitudes of the Middle Ages, forces in England conspire to enlist this infinitely useful man in their own schemes. 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 Ringed Castle (1971) Lymond arrives at the semi-barbaric court of the Russian Tsar Ivan, known as the Terrible, and begins the immensely difficult task of transforming this backward and alien country into a modern state. But circumstances - and the finger of destiny - may not intend for Lymond to end his days as the Voivode of all Russia, and he must return to his homeland one last time. There he faces the family he has rejected, and the woman who calls herself his wife. Main fictional characters Francis Crawford of Lymond Richard Crawford, 3rd Baron of Culter, Lymond's older brother Sybilla Crawford, Dowager Lady Culter, Lymond's mother Danny Hislop, Alec Guthrie, Adam Blacklock, Fergie Hoddim, Lancelot Plummer, Ludovic d'Harcourt - men of the company of St Mary's Kate Somerville, England landower and friend of the Crawfords Philippa Somerville, Daughter of Kate Somerville Guzel, kingmaker Main historical characters Ivan IV Vasilyevich, Tsar of Russia Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox Diccon Chancellor, explorer and navigator Osep Nepaja, ambassador Mary I of England, Queen of England Princess Elizabeth of England John Dee, mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, occultist, navigator Dmytro Vyshnevetsky, Lithuanian prince Main locations The Lowlands of Scotland (including the fictional Midculter Castle) London, England Moscow, in the then Tsardom of Russia Archangel, in the then Tsardom of Russia