The Bitter Trade

A well written book about an interesting period of history. Easy to feel compassion and understanding for each character. I found the description of London life at that time extremely interesting. I recognise the areas described in their current state and enjoyed imagining how they were in the 1600.

The unfortunately named Calumny Spinks at times, irritated, provoked sympathy but ultimately earned admiration. A good story, the use of the vernacular of the time was entertaining and lent authenticity to the tale.

This novel was unlike anything I have read before. The plot had many unpredictable twists and turns. The characters and setting were vivid.... I felt like I was experiencing the world through Calumny's senses.... Sight, smell, touch. I could not put it down.

A Swashbuckling Adventure During the Glorious Revolution

Seventeen-year-old Calumny Spinks is unhappy with his lot in life. He lives in an Essex village, but dreams of going to London to make his fortune. This dream seems beyond his reach since his father, Peter, a silk weaver, has refused to sign him up as an apprentice. His father hasn't even taught him to read and write.

His life changes when his father returns from a visit to London in the company of Garric Pettit, a silk merchant. Garric wonders why Calumny isn't apprenticed, and it feeds his anger with his father. Calumny hears his parents arguing, follows his father to a shed on the edge of their property, and realizes that his father is not what he appears to be.

When another wealthy man rides into the village, disaster strikes. Calumny's mother is killed, and he and Peter barely escape with their lives. They travel to London and Calumny becomes embroiled in his father's past and in trying to secure a future for himself.

If you enjoy historical novels, this is a good choice. Calumny is an engaging character. He begins the novel as a disappointed adolescent, but he has a deep seated loyalty to his father and the people he loves that tests his mettle and forces him to make choices between what he knows is right and his dreams of wealth.

The plot takes places during the Glorious Revolution when Britain is bracing for a Dutch invasion and coffee houses are all the rage in London. Calumny becomes embroiled in both. Although it makes for entertaining reading, don't take the history too seriously. An appendix at the end of the book catalogs all the historical inaccuracies.

I reviewed this book for Net Galley.

The Bitter Trade didn't start off anything like I was expecting. I was wondering what exactly was going on for a good while -- but that was actually kind of fun. There were so many family secrets that were hinted at and the obvious danger to Cal and his family was palpable - but why? It was very intriguing. I also loved the name Calumny Spinks - and how it plays into the family history. Actually, the family drama alone was enough to keep my interest - but then add in blackmail, political intrigue, rebellion, betrayal and a lots of really great characters and you have a real winner.

The book takes the reader from a small backwater town with narrow minded, easily manipulated people ready to be lead around by the noses by their corrupt and greedy religious leaders to London of 1688 where the tradesmen are jockeying for their own survival and the threat of an impending Dutch invasion makes for a difficult transition for Cal and his father. Cal desperately wants to be apprenticed and make his fortune and the right to be called "Mister" - but his father won't allow it. This basic conflict leads Cal on a wild adventure and many opportunities to grow up and prove himself.

Honestly, I hate to reveal any more of the conflicts and plots that are in The Bitter Trade. I don't want to ruin the fun for other readers. Suffice to say that London in 1688 is a dangerous and volatile place - especially if you come from Cal's family line. This was a fast and entertaining book that I can happily recommend to anyone interested in historical history.

On more than a few occasions my Dad said to me “From the smallest acorn comes the biggest oak”, a folk homily that nicely encapsulates The Bitter Trade by Alexander Piers. Set in England at the beginning of the Glorious Revolution and into the Restoration this book is the story of the wonderfully named Calumny Spinks, a young illiterate with a Huguenot mother, a guild-less weaver with a dark past for a father, and nothing going for him but a handsome face and a talent for mimicry.

From a fly spot of a village in the countryside Spinks travels to London, and finds himself, knowingly or not, right in the middle of people and events that will shape the future of England, and all of Europe. The reason for most of these calamitous events is that a handful of coffee merchants want to give the people a better brew to drink, and make a few fortunes on the way, and because of all the guilds and rules and tariffs that stand in their way they end up overthrowing a government. If this seems difficult to swallow you have to remember that in this era coffee-houses were the like the internet, a place where people of all castes and classes could meet and talk in anonymity.

There is a lot in this novel that smacks of the classics picturesque, but it is very much a modern novel, grounded in reality, and at times steeped in the brutality of the era. The story barely has begun before Calumny witnesses a member of his family being scolded, with in that era, as it does here, means being lynched, usually ending in death. From there Calumny gets caught up in a series of plots and encounter that flies by in a pell-mell fashion, as he moves through society, sometimes a pawn, and sometimes in charge of his own destiny, but always with wit, and a panache that I have seldom encountered. Mr. Piers does a sensational job of keeping the plot twists and turns come, while never slowing down the story. At the same time this novel is rife with characters, some with large roles, and other small, but all fully realized, and all seeming that as if their stories are going to keep going even after they step from the pages of this book.

I have yet to speak about Calumny. He is not exactly the nicest character, and often comes across as a selfish bastard, but he manages to redeem himself just enough, and he is always fascinating. This is one of my favorite novels that I have read recently, and am happy to say, for a change, that a sequel is in the works. I will be waiting with bated coffee-breath.

Review by: Mark Palm Full Review Available at: http//:www.thebookendfamily.weebly.com

Calumny (Cal) Spinks lives with his father and mother in a village outside of London. Hi English father (Peter) drinks a bit too much and has more secrets than Cal can stand. His French mother is ill and weak and loves her son dearly. It’s the 1600s and unrest is in the air. Peter Spinks, a fair silk weaver, has kept his son in the dark about his past and has refused to add his son’s name to the apprentice list. Cal is nearing the age at when he will no longer be eligible to be an apprentice and that door will forever be closed to him. It’s maddening to Cal. Then Garric enters Cal’s life (and returns to Peter’s) on the very same day tragedy strikes the family. Cal is forced to make a new life in London in Clerkenwell neighborhood. There, he finds that many folks have secrets and he’s determined to find out Garric’s biggest secret.

I found the main protagonist, Calumny Spinks, to be fully engaging. He grows through out the book as he has one adventure (or mishap) after another, as he unravels these secrets and gains some of his own. He’s a bit of a rogue, enjoying the lasses so much that I was surprised he wasn’t in more trouble. His mouth can be sharp and foul as needed.

The setting is nearly a character itself (just how I like my settings) and you never forget that you are in 1688 England. Public sanitation is all but nonexistent; the food is fairly simple if rich and hearty at times; traveling from point a to point b takes time. The Glorious Revolution plays an important role in this book and I have to say that I was not educated on this event in history at all. So my only word of caution to folks venturing into this book is that it would be beneficial to go over a brief accounting of the politics of the time to better enjoy this book. If you don’t know the basics (as I didn’t) then I fear you will miss out on some of the nuances of the book (as I did).

The pacing is great – not so fast-paced as to gloss over stuff and not so detailed as to bog the reader down. And the prose is excellent. The imagery sometimes had me chuckling out loud, nodding my head in agreement, or even grimacing. Here’s an example from early on in the story (no spoilers): ‘Abigail was boiling bones in the back kitchen. The more rotten the stock, the better the soup, she said, and hers was as rich and spicy as a woman’s summer-sweat.’ At times the characters, and the language, get quite bawdy, but I also enjoyed this as it was realistic and it didn’t eclipse the plotline.

Early on, the female characters are here and there and not integral to the plotline. It is only later on as the story progresses that we get a few ladies who are more than just lovers, mothers, and pretty things to coo over. Of course, I would have liked to see plot-necessary ladies earlier in the book, but I was content that the author made use of them at some point.

Over all, a very good read having an intricate plotline, a fully engaging lead character, and being educational to boot. If coffee and revolution and English history are your things, then this is definitely a good read for you.

Ask Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour coordinator Amy Bruno, acclaimed author Anna Belfrage or B.R.A.G. host Stephanie Moore Hopkins and they'll tell you my name is synonymous with one thing: coffee. I wont waste time denying it, the ambrosial beverage is my life blood, the fuel that keeps me writing reviews at all hours of the night. It's no exaggeration, I can rarely be found without a steaming hot cup at my side so when I heard author Piers Alexander had incorporated the robust bean and the coffeehouses of seventeenth century London into the plot of The Bitter Trade, let's just say I sat up and took notice. I've picked up novels on less, but few have impressed me as much as Alexander's debut. Richly atmospheric, the narrative plunges readers into the cutthroat world of England's capital, immersing them in a deliciously dark climate of suspicion and intrigue.

Calumny Spinks, the unfortunately named son of an ill-favored union, proves a captivating and charismatic protagonist. Young though he is, the resourceful seventeen year old develops a bold, ambitious and passionate persona over the course of the narrative. A cheeky, foul-mouthed rogue with a propensity for trouble, the boy is memorable for all the right reasons and he isn't the only one. Across the board, Alexander composes a host of engaging and thought-provoking characters, individuals who illustrate what it meant to be outsiders, subject to English law but beyond its protection.

The explicitness of Alexander's language might offend more sensitive readers, but personally, I liked his wickedly sharp and biting prose. Fast-paced and quick-witted, one can't help being swept into Cal's world and the conspiratorial schemes of which he finds himself a part. There were several instances where I felt Alexander might have done more with the story, but by and large I've no significant complaints over the time I spent with his work.

Food for thought, The Bitter Trade is set against the Glorious Revolution, a period that is not well-known this side of the Atlantic and I while I certainly appreciated the historic scope of the novel, I'm not above suggesting readers familiarize themselves with the Huguenots before delving into this debut. It is not a requirement by any means, but a basic understanding of events might prove beneficial, especially to those who've never studied the overthrow of James II.

If I had to describe this book, I would say it was fun and unique. The opening pages with the unique voice of the protagonist, Calumny Spinks immediately gripped me. I always enjoy a story with odd an unusual quirky characters, and this novel has them in abundance.

The novel is set in 17th century England during the revolution and a pending Dutch invasion and around the time the coffee industry was taking hold. There were plenty of secrets, lots of dissention, and extremely colorful scenes from start to finish. With its unpredictable plot, great storyline, and lovable main character, there is much to enjoy. For a unique reading experience, I definitely recommend this wonderful novel.

Calumny Spinks, a 'long-limbed red-haired Frenchy gawk' is the narrator of this novel and we follow his journey, after a tragic incident, from a small town in Essex to the big city of London where he becomes involved in conspiracies, coffeehouses and silk weavers.

He has a gift for mimicry, is bright and quick-witted and the young ladies seem to love him! In trying to repay his father's debt he uses his wits and his smooth tongue but this all leads him into dangerous situations and dangerous men.

The sights and sounds of 17th century London are brought to life with vivid descriptions of the workshops, hawkers, tradesmen, chandlers at their craft and silk weaving. This is an England where people meted out their own kind of justice, without fear of retribution, where a man could kill another man with his sword and be thought a hero but to kill another man with a pistol he would be thought a murderer. "If thou fight with pistols and win, law will call thee murderer. But to kill a man in a swordfight is no crime in English law".

There is so much packed into this clever novel, with twists and turns, romance, double dealings, murders, fears of an impending war and friendships, but it also has a soft side, especially the relationship between Calumny and his father which changed throughout the story.

The author has obviously done his research into silk weaving, boats on the Thames and 17th century pistols. My only criticism would be that some of these descriptions were so long that I found my mind wandering reading them.

Overall, a really enjoyable fast-paced novel with memorable characters and a memorable storyline. Looking forward to the next chapter in the life of mister Calumny Spinks.

In 1688 Calumny Spinks is a 17 year old with no trade, who feels treated like a slave by his father, and is desperate to make something of himself.
I found the book quite interesting as I don't know a lot about the time period, but there were a few places where the writing seemed to 'jump' a little and it was difficult to follow what was happening. I also got a little tired of every female in Calumny's acquaintance being a whore and every man being a blaggard. But overall, it was a pretty good book and worth a read from those who enjoy historical fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review published at Booklover Book Reviews

interesting read

“I was born to a raging Frenchy slugabed mother, sired by a sulking silk-weaver with a battered box of secrets under his floorboards” – who can resist an opening line like that? Piers Alexander’s debut novel is a witty and rambunctious tale of scandal, treason and murder in Restoration England. The scion of such noble parentage is one Calumny Spinks, “a long-limbed, red-haired French gawk” (in his own words) who is desperate to gain respectability and be apprenticed as a silk-weaver by his father, but as the story progresses it becomes clear that Cal has certain other talents which will land him in a lot of trouble but could also possibly make his fortune.

Set at the time of the ascendancy of James II to the English throne and with Catholics and various shades of Protestants plotting and scheming at every turn, Cal’s skills as a mimic lead him into a web of deceit and conspiracy which strikes at the heart of the monarchy.

17th century London is brought to life in all its smelly and bawdy glory. Calumny is a bright and engaging protagonist and he is surrounded by a colourful and eccentric cast of supporting characters. There’s a glossary of Restoration terminology at the end of the book, but I didn’t really need it as the words were slotted so skilfully into the narrative that I could usually guess what they meant. The historical notes were also very interesting and added to my enjoyment of the story.

The ending of this installment of Calumny’s adventures is left wide open for a sequel and I hope it’s not too long before we hear from him again.

“I was born to a raging Frenchy slugabed mother, sired by a sulking silk-weaver with a battered box of secrets under his floorboards. From her I got my flaming hair, so red that the scabfaced villagers of Salstead spoke of the evil’s seed, spitting in the dust for salvation when I walked past. From my father came my sharp tongue, the quick wits to talk above my station, and the shoulders to take the blows that followed.”

James II of England

Thus we are introduced to Calumny Spinks, known as Cal. He’s ambitious considering his low beginnings and how his father, Peter, refuses to propose an apprenticeship into the London Weaver’s Guild. Cal regards this as his birthright but is continually denied much to his chagrin. Though he feels trapped in Essex, he’s soon on his way with his father to London as his mother, Mirella, has been murdered by a mob. This takes place at the end months of James II’s reign, who is strongly disliked for being a Catholic in a very Protestant world.

This is just after the English Civil War and the Restoration of the Monarchy, (Charles I, James’s father, had lost his head) and after the Great Fire of London. Peter was a fighter in Cromwell’s army during the Civil War and as such, this is why he has kept his family isolated, not taught his son to read or write nor sign him up for the guild. His secret has roots from there and it’s consequences have kept him in fear. Peter is a staunch anti-Papist, (anti-Catholic) as many of the guild members are and that is not the only reason that King James is so strongly disliked–there are many issues to be had because of commerce and trade. (If you’re interested in the ‘Glorious Revolution‘, please go to that link. It’s really a very fascinating time.)

As Cal isn’t apprenticed as a weaver, he instead becomes tangled with people trying to build a guild for coffee. He is also helping to overthrow the hated king in favor of William of Orange and his wife Mary. There are so many rich characters and the plot is pretty strong for a first time novelist. All in all, this is a book I think you’ll enjoy as it’s a mystery, historical and really just a brilliant read. Cal, despite being a very (I think every woman he met wanted to bed him!) lusty boy, is a strong hero and I hope that the author continues on with him, leading to other adventures as I think a series would be a good time and fun read.

Such an interesting historical read! Well researched and well written. Can't wait to recommend this to friends.