The Merry Devils Nicholas Bracewell Book 2 (Audible Audio Edition) Edward Marston Andrew Wincott Soundings Books
Download As PDF : The Merry Devils Nicholas Bracewell Book 2 (Audible Audio Edition) Edward Marston Andrew Wincott Soundings Books
The premiere of the play "The Merry Devils", written by two of the company's actors, gives the players, as well as the audience, quite a shock. Instead of the allotted two devils appearing during a crucial scene, three enter, one looking disturbingly real. Then, in defiance, manager Lawrence Firethorne agrees to stage the play again. This time, when the devils are summoned, only one appears. The second lies dead in his costume beneath the stage. Nicholas Bracewell, mainstay of the troupe, is left to investigate the mysterious circumstances of his colleague's death.
Is it murder, or some strange, unnatural act? Only the bizarre, spectacular climax at the country seat of their patron, Lord Westfield, will tell.
The Merry Devils Nicholas Bracewell Book 2 (Audible Audio Edition) Edward Marston Andrew Wincott Soundings Books
The second book in the Nicholas Bracewell/Elizabethan Theatre mysteries has Lord Westfield’s players presenting a new play, The Merry Devils, that’s co-written by their shareholder and principal writer, Edmund Hoode and talented newcomer, Ralph Willoughby. Only, when a real devil manifests on stage during the first performance, scaring the absolute bejesus out of the cast, all sorts of other terrible misfortune starts to dog the company. It seems as if Willoughby has engaged in some sort of Faustian pact in order to guarantee success. Not persuaded that the tragedies besetting the company are the work of Satanic devils, but rather man-made, Bracewell sets off to prove his suspicions right. But when he too becomes a victim, and the devilish antics continue, affecting life beyond the stage, his investigation becomes harder and danger grows.Fast-paced, this is a rollicking tale that captures the Elizabethan mindset very well – an era where magic and religion were not strange bedfellows but a genuine belief system as well as, in less scrupulous hands, a means of control, a way of instilling fear and wonder in susceptible souls. Embodied in the person of Dr John Dee in real life, and in this book, the Dr John Mordrake (close in name to Dee’s famous house and library), Elizabethans’ fascination with maths, alchemy, and the harkening back to the Greek philosophers are nicely drawn as is the conflict between the Puritans and the more moderate protestants and Papists. From London and The Queen’s Head inn to a country house on the outskirts of the city and the miseries of Bedlam, The Merry Devils is a terrific second instalment in a series that doesn’t mince words but does captivate the reader and like the audiences enjoying the antics of Westfield’s men, asks us to suspend our disbelief and go along for a merry ride indeed.
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The Merry Devils Nicholas Bracewell Book 2 (Audible Audio Edition) Edward Marston Andrew Wincott Soundings Books Reviews
"The Merry Devils" is Edward Marston's second episode in the Nicholas Bracewell "Elizabethan Whodunit" series.
It's now curtains up for the London theatrical group known as the Westfield Men.Their patron is Lord Westfield, who, often times, has his own misgivings and even problems. Still the troupe carries on, as the series reveals, with murder, mayhem, and political, social, and religious intrigues!
Behind the guidance of Bracewell, the company's book holder and general stage "boss," the group is enjoying measured success, after all it is good times in England as the Virgin
Queen seems happy on the throne and prosperity seems at an all-time high.
Not so fast, though. The troupe is excited about their production of a new play, "The Merry Devils." However, on opening day, a strange and surprising event occurs instead
of two devils appearing on stage, mysteriously there are three devils there. This catches everyone's attention and they prepare for a second performance. This time, only one devil
appears and the crew find the second one dead beneath the stage!
Now, our Nicholas takes over. Despite the fact that he's a top theatrical manager, he's also a great detective. Now, with the help (and oftimes hindrance!) of his fellow troupe members, he begins slowly to unravel the circumstances surrounding this death. And, of course, it is no accident. Like a spider web, the event spins off in a number of directions, areas where jealousy, revenge, and political intrigue step forward. Marston's supporting characters include the indomitable Lawrence Firethorne, Edmund Hood, Barnaby Gill, and their nemesis Banbury's Men.
Marston does an excellent job with this historical
"whodunit," weaving excellent characterization, plot development, historical accuracy, and authentic tone and atmosphere to make "The Merry Devils" one worth the read. This story is not a history lesson, but history "with a twist," well worth the time it takes! (...
Great transaction! Thank you!
Superb followup to The Queen's Head. This is my favorite series by Edward Marston. Plenty of intrigue here.
The Nicholas Bracewell series is always well written. But sometimes the plastic/cardboard characters not so much
First Sentence London was the capital city of noise, a vibrant, volatile place, surging with life and clamorous with purpose.
Lord Westfield's Men, an Elizabethan acting company, is presenting a new play, "The Merry Devils." Contrary to the stage direction of book-holder, Nicholas Bracewell, a third "devil" appears when the scene only calls for two. Upon the second presentation, Bracewell decides to have there be three devils, but only two appear. The third is found dead under the stage. Threats increase and Nicholas must find who is behind it before anyone else dies.
Marston is one of the best at crafting time and place. He takes us from the workings of the theater, to the streets, to the properties of nobles to Bethlehem Hospital, otherwise known as Bedlam.
This was a time when Christianity and superstition were intertwined and strict Puritanism was on the rise. The cadence and syntax of the dialogue reflect the period while delightful metaphors and humor exemplify the characters.
The cast of characters is interesting and appealing. Marston has provided enough of Bracewell's background to bring him to life but has, intentionally to us and the other characters, left much in the shade. The members of the company reflect the egos, insecurities and conflicts one would expect without be stereotypes. All the characters have dimension and substance.
I did appreciate the character of Dr. John Mordrake, based on Dr. John Dee, mathematician, scientist, occultist and consultant to Queen Elizabeth I. He seems to be the subject of numerous books these days.
Although there was a very good, twisty plot and a dramatic ending, it did feel overly contrived. However, that did not diminish my enjoyment or my anticipation of Marston's next Elizabethan Theater book.
THE MERRY DEVILS (Hist Mys-Nicholas Bracewell-England-Elizabethan) - G+
Marston, Edward - 2nd in series
St. Martin's Press, ©1989, US Hardcover - ISBN 0312038631
The second book in the Nicholas Bracewell/Elizabethan Theatre mysteries has Lord Westfield’s players presenting a new play, The Merry Devils, that’s co-written by their shareholder and principal writer, Edmund Hoode and talented newcomer, Ralph Willoughby. Only, when a real devil manifests on stage during the first performance, scaring the absolute bejesus out of the cast, all sorts of other terrible misfortune starts to dog the company. It seems as if Willoughby has engaged in some sort of Faustian pact in order to guarantee success. Not persuaded that the tragedies besetting the company are the work of Satanic devils, but rather man-made, Bracewell sets off to prove his suspicions right. But when he too becomes a victim, and the devilish antics continue, affecting life beyond the stage, his investigation becomes harder and danger grows.
Fast-paced, this is a rollicking tale that captures the Elizabethan mindset very well – an era where magic and religion were not strange bedfellows but a genuine belief system as well as, in less scrupulous hands, a means of control, a way of instilling fear and wonder in susceptible souls. Embodied in the person of Dr John Dee in real life, and in this book, the Dr John Mordrake (close in name to Dee’s famous house and library), Elizabethans’ fascination with maths, alchemy, and the harkening back to the Greek philosophers are nicely drawn as is the conflict between the Puritans and the more moderate protestants and Papists. From London and The Queen’s Head inn to a country house on the outskirts of the city and the miseries of Bedlam, The Merry Devils is a terrific second instalment in a series that doesn’t mince words but does captivate the reader and like the audiences enjoying the antics of Westfield’s men, asks us to suspend our disbelief and go along for a merry ride indeed.
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