The Dorothy Dunnett Companion (Volume II)

Rating:
Summary: Indispensable resource for Dunnett fans
Review: Dorothy Dunnett's profound erudition and unprecedented ability to incorporate information into her novels set her apart from many, if not most, authors of historical fiction. The fact that her novels are so packed with information (as well as plot) is one of the reasons I love her books so much. I read her books, I devour her books, and I always want to learn more about the time periods she evokes so effectively.

That is where this book comes in. The novels provide tantalizing glimpses into a rich and complex world; the Companion allows the interested reader to pursue these glimpses into the labyrinthine world of Renaissance life and politics. The Companion (and what I say here applies to both Volumes I and II) is organized alphabetically and makes it possible for the reader who wants to do so to learn more about the multitude of historical figures who are so beautifully woven into the novels.

The Companion also provides the means for tracking down the quotations and other rhetorical devices that appear in the novels. The Companion carefully provides enough information to educate the reader, but not so much as to give away any of the plots of the novels. This is a delicate task, but is accomplished beautifully.

We all miss Dorothy Dunnett. May her novels long survive in print, and may the number of her fans continue to grow. Books like the Companion will help to make sure that both of these exhortations remain reality.