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The Merry Devils Hardcover – January 1, 1989

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 253 ratings

Nicholas Bracewell, a member of Lord Westfield's Men, an acting troupe, investigates the mysterious death of an actor playing a devil during a performance of the play, "The Merry Devils"
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The return engagement of Lord Westfield's Men, the Elizabethan-era theatrical troupe introduced in The Queen's Head , faces opposition from Puritan factions attempting to stop the premiere of The Merry Devils . The supposedly impious play goes on, but at the requisite moment three boy devils appear through the trap door instead of the expected two. Was it an appearance by the Devil himself? When the play is staged again, only one devil appears--the other little lad is found in costume backstage, dead. It's up to Nicholas Bracewell, mainstay of the troupe, to solve the crime before the Puritans shut down his organization (and the golden age of Elizabethan drama) forever. Though its period dialogue takes some getting used to, this is a believable, satisfying mystery, colorfully costumed and staged, with a bawdy, raffish and utterly amiable cast.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Marston's second foray into the world of Elizabethan theater ( The Queen's Head, LJ 6/1/89) flushes out noble and ignoble characters at all strata. The unexpected appearance of one devil too many at a new play by Lord Westfield's Men upsets the superstitious actors; a subsequent "accident" and a death threaten the company's existence. Nicolas Bracewell, the sensible, well-spoken book holder for the troupe, attempts to fathom the mystery behind the scenes. With its wide-ranging backdrops, attention to authentic detail, closely held plot, and sometime boisterous clatter, this welcome portrayal belongs in all public libraries.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St Martins Pr (January 1, 1989)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 236 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312038631
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312038632
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 253 ratings

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Edward Marston
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4.4 out of 5 stars
253 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2017
    Superb followup to The Queen's Head. This is my favorite series by Edward Marston. Plenty of intrigue here.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2010
    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
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
    Great transaction! Thank you!
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2017
    Another excellent mars ton work
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2014
    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.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Judy M Coates
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2023
    Enjoyed the whole series
  • Ian M
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on January 20, 2017
    Good read.
  • Mrs. A. L. Maddocks
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Merry Devils
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 19, 2013
    This is the second in the Elizabethen Theatre series and I have to say it was better than the first one. To begin with I was wondering where this was going as there seemed to be alot going on and was tempted at one stage to give up on it. Thankfully, I didn't and I'm glad that I carried on with it because everthing starteed to fall into place and made for a very good yarn indeed.

    We see Nicholas Bracewell embroiled in a problem which really isn't his directly, but only by association. Alot is made of the devil and a religious side to it and also we learn in this book the true meaning of the word "bedlum".

    Would recommend.
  • FM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2022
    Good stories. Author brings the characters to life
  • Stuart A. McIntosh
    4.0 out of 5 stars Read it in one go, unlike I did
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2015
    I made the mistake of putting this down in the middles and then not picking it back for a while, which tainted my view of the story assuming it didn't flow as well as others I've read. Upon completion I realised it was my fault and not that of the exceptional writer, a Edward Marston. That said, whilst I prefer the Tudor period, I do like the Christopher Redmayne series more, set in the Restoration Period