The Spring of the Ram

Overview and Issue

• From the Dorothy Dunnett Archives, an transcript of a talk given by Dorothy Dunnett, to the Edinburgh Bookshop and the McDonald Road Library, October 1987.
• WG123

Abstract

• Dorothy Dunnett’s presentation discussed her decision to write another series, this time set in the 15th Century centered on the world of trade and banking. She provides historical context on the trade relationships between Scotland and France and Scotland and Flanders, which was quite well established at this time. Bruges was also a centre for secret information and warmongering so it made a good base for the series. Dunnett describes the amount of research required on Bruges as a center of trade, and her own travels to Trebizond to research the city of the last Byzantine Emperor. Within the talk, Dunnett provides background on her creation of Nicholas and how she wanted to differentiate him from Lymond as a young apprentice with a genius for numbers with no apparent ambition sets off treating trade as a game, to meddle in business and war in all of the most interesting parts of the world (Europe, Africa, Asia), pursued by enemies he is making and never quite understood or trusted by his friends.

Author

• Dorothy Dunnett

Dunnett Book Citations

• None

Historical Characters

• David Comnenos

Fictional Characters

• Nicholas

Locations

• Trebizond
• Bruges

Illustrations

• Dorothy Dunnett at book signing, Thins Bookshop, Edinburgh, 2000. Photo credit: Olive Millward

Historical Events

• (None)