From the silken palaces of Suleiman the Magnificent to the barbaric court of Ivan the Terrible- Francis Crawford of Lymond, Scottish soldier of fortune, scholar and wit, is being drawn to Russia, and a chilling destiny as Voevoda of its armies and favourite of the capricious young Tsar. It is half a world away from his homeland, now sheltering Philippa Somerville, to whom he is married on paper, and the child they freed from Constantinople together. Compelled to return as Ivan’s envoy to Tudor London, Lymond sets himself to maintain his cold purpose, challenged by his friends as well as his enemies, and, most agonisingly, by the girl whom he expects to divorce. The Ringed Castle is the fifth book in Dorothy Dunnett’s brilliant panorama of 16th century history, The Lymond Chronicles.
‘The two strands of the story are skilfully woven together with lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety.’
The Times