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The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez #4
Bartholomew Fair
When Bartholomew Fair, London’s largest public festival, is threatened in 1589 by five hundred armed soldiers dismissed from service without pay, the authorities act swiftly and decisively to prevent trouble. Yet other trouble is brewing. Young physician and code-breaker Christoval Alvarez stumbles upon a sinister troupe of Italian puppeteers bent on making mischief, but it soon becomes apparent that more than mischief is in the air. Sir Francis Walsingham’s agents are baffled by the ill-assorted conspirators, including one of their own men. Time is running out, and a missing cache of gunpowder cannot be found . . .
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2014
88 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Ann Swinfen
45 books216 followersAnn Swinfen spent her childhood partly in England and partly on the east coast of America. She read Classics and Mathematics at Oxford, where she married a fellow undergraduate, the historian David Swinfen. While bringing up their five children and studying for an MSc in Mathematics and a BA and PhD in English Literature, she had a variety of jobs, including university lecturer, translator, freelance journalist and software designer.
She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.
Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.
She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.
She served for nine years on the governing council of the Open University and for five years worked as a manager and editor in the technical author division of an international computer company, but gave up her full-time job to concentrate on her writing, while continuing part-time university teaching. In 1995 she founded Dundee Book Events, a voluntary organisation promoting books and authors to the general public.
Her first three novels, The Anniversary, The Travellers, and A Running Tide, all with a contemporary setting but also an historical resonance, were published by Random House, with translations into Dutch and German. Her fourth novel, The Testament of Mariam, marked something of a departure. Set in the first century, it recounts, from an unusual perspective, one of the most famous and yet ambiguous stories in human history. At the same time it explores life under a foreign occupying force, in lands still torn by conflict to this day. Her latest novel, Flood, is set in the fenlands of East Anglia during the seventeenth century, where the local people fought desperately to save their land from greedy and unscrupulous speculators.
She now lives on the northeast coast of Scotland, with her husband (formerly vice-principal of the University of Dundee), a cocker spaniel and two Maine Coon cats.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 7, 2022
After the wonderful The Portuguese Affair, I found this part of the series a bit weak. Although the main character returns to find some very dramatic events have happened in her absence, her reactions and actions don't really reflect this. The character's development seemed to be extra slow here.
Also, the plot here is not as suspenseful and engaging as in the previous installments. It improved a bit in the second half of the book but didn't come close to what Swinfen made us expect.
Still, I enjoyed learning about another piece of history I wan't aware of and go back to Kit's world. After three fantastic novels there was bound to be a bit of a weaker one, but I will continue following Kit's story in the next novels.
Also, the plot here is not as suspenseful and engaging as in the previous installments. It improved a bit in the second half of the book but didn't come close to what Swinfen made us expect.
Still, I enjoyed learning about another piece of history I wan't aware of and go back to Kit's world. After three fantastic novels there was bound to be a bit of a weaker one, but I will continue following Kit's story in the next novels.
June 6, 2017
Good book
Obviously, I'm not as full of praise over this fourth book of the series. But the writing is solid as ever and the historical detail as well . I found the plot a bit weak this time. All in all, I recommend this book to readers of this wonderful series. On to book five!
Obviously, I'm not as full of praise over this fourth book of the series. But the writing is solid as ever and the historical detail as well . I found the plot a bit weak this time. All in all, I recommend this book to readers of this wonderful series. On to book five!
November 27, 2021
Very good read and educational too. I'm really enjoying living in Elizabethan England through Christova's eyes. Although I think I would have hated it in reality. I'm a country girl, and if it were up to me, I'd take Hector the horse and set up my physicking in the countryside and live there happily. It's much healthier and less murdery.
January 11, 2023
Good story with interesting historical detail
Continues where The Portugese Affair ended, a good story with nice details about the life and times then. I’m not sure why the author made Kit female as I have to suspend disbelief - it seems so unlikely she’d continue to get away with it as she gets older. However the story and detail compensate.
Continues where The Portugese Affair ended, a good story with nice details about the life and times then. I’m not sure why the author made Kit female as I have to suspend disbelief - it seems so unlikely she’d continue to get away with it as she gets older. However the story and detail compensate.
February 17, 2017
O
I'm caught in the quandary of not wanting either to stop reading or to run out of new adventures. Surely there's an acceptable answer. If you are a student of English history and|or of well told stories, you'll want to stop here.
I'm caught in the quandary of not wanting either to stop reading or to run out of new adventures. Surely there's an acceptable answer. If you are a student of English history and|or of well told stories, you'll want to stop here.
July 19, 2017
Great Story
I enjoyed this story and the adventures of the character. It was interesting how it all came together in the end. I was happy with the ending of this book and was not left hanging like the book before this one. I can't wait to read the next one.
I enjoyed this story and the adventures of the character. It was interesting how it all came together in the end. I was happy with the ending of this book and was not left hanging like the book before this one. I can't wait to read the next one.
August 20, 2017
Fascinating spying
I got hooked onChristobal s adventures all beautifully written and fiction woven into real history of the Elizabethan age. Always wondering when Kit. might reveal his true identity.
I got hooked onChristobal s adventures all beautifully written and fiction woven into real history of the Elizabethan age. Always wondering when Kit. might reveal his true identity.
January 2, 2018
Another great addition to this series that continues to captivate me with historical detail and characterisation that grows with each book. It is not great literature but for anyone who likes their historical mystery/spy stuff this series is one of the best you can find.
February 13, 2019
Maintains the earlier standard set
Another intriguing story from the days of Elizabeth the first. Captures the atmosphere and poverty of that time as well as the excitement of a plot involving gunpowder
Another intriguing story from the days of Elizabeth the first. Captures the atmosphere and poverty of that time as well as the excitement of a plot involving gunpowder
August 21, 2024
The Saga Continues. . .
I am very much enjoying this series. It gives a reliable view into life in these Elizabethan times, and following the adventures of Cristoval ia pleasant reading, indeed!
I am very much enjoying this series. It gives a reliable view into life in these Elizabethan times, and following the adventures of Cristoval ia pleasant reading, indeed!
July 13, 2017
Swinfen does a good job on her research, and picks fascinating settings like the great medieval cloth fair of London, Bartholomew Fair.
October 2, 2017
Ann Swinfen does a wonderful job bringing the reader into her worlds. Her historical details are well researched. This particular book deals with the medieval fair system.
March 12, 2018
Especially well written and researched. She is able to draw the reader into the time frame. The characters become friends.
September 24, 2018
Great book, some of the plot seemed a bit oversimplified, but still a good read. Awesome medieval research.
Read
June 15, 2019This provided a great window into life at the time and the importance of fairs.
November 30, 2015
What could possibly go wrong? Well, at least a half-dozen events and circumstances provide all the conflict and opportunities that young physician and spy Christoval Alvarez needs to entertain us yet once more. Swinfen’s skills in characterization and narrative pace are evident and as pleasing as ever. We learn some of young Kit’s back-story before the family fled the Inquisition that drove them out of their native Portugal and on to England when Kit was only 12. This is the fourth of The Chronicles of Christoval Alvarez.
January 9, 2020
Kit comes back from England’s failed invasion of Portugal to find her father dead and home, job, and all her possessions gone. Like the rest of the army, the young physician has received no pay and was dumped at the port and given only five shillings. Kit has her code-breaking work for Queen Elizabeth’s spymaster, Francis Walsingham, to fall back on. But most of the veterans are destitute and they have gathered to march on the annual Bartholomew Fair to demand they be paid. An intriguing plot as well-researched setting.
January 11, 2017
As good as any in the series
If you are reading this, chances are you have read the earlier installments of this series. If you haven't, go start at the beginning.
I personally loved the first two books, but found the suffering of the Portuguese invasion too hard to get through. This book starts off with that misery, but returns to a more bareable story line. I did enjoy the book and fully intend to read the next one as well.
If you are reading this, chances are you have read the earlier installments of this series. If you haven't, go start at the beginning.
I personally loved the first two books, but found the suffering of the Portuguese invasion too hard to get through. This book starts off with that misery, but returns to a more bareable story line. I did enjoy the book and fully intend to read the next one as well.
July 31, 2016
Interesting events surrounding disaffected soldiers that returned from the Portuguese disaster told in previous book - a revenge plot against Drake uncovered by Kit's careful observations at Bartholomew Fair. Kit lands a job and is finally reunited with friends.
January 7, 2016
Lovely addition to the series, with several important plot shifts. More soon.
January 17, 2016
Another cracker
This series doesn't flag at all. Slightly different from the others but enjoyable. I look forward to the next one.
This series doesn't flag at all. Slightly different from the others but enjoyable. I look forward to the next one.
May 21, 2016
Kit's return to London found much changed and the story picked where it finished in Book 3. Again a highly engaging Elizabethan spy thriller. The period detail is excellent
April 13, 2017
History with a story
The story was more compelling. Kit is growing as a character. I liked that she had to pull things together although she has major resources that assist. Her choice of doctoring or being her true self adds the interest normally provided by romance.
The story was more compelling. Kit is growing as a character. I liked that she had to pull things together although she has major resources that assist. Her choice of doctoring or being her true self adds the interest normally provided by romance.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews