Slightly obscure literary one...
I and two accomplices hit on an insurance scam. We insured two ships carrying a load of sugar from Antwerp - one to London, the other to Ipswich. They were insured by the Fugger Bank.

One of these ships was "captured by Zeeland pirates" and we collected the insurance. This was in the form of a credit note, which we traded for Fugger bonds. These bond certificates were then copied - extensively - and cashed at branches of the Fugger bank all over Europe. Over three or five years, we pulled in almost half a million florins.

Result? The collapse of the Bank - thereby causing financial paralysis to both Emperor Charles V and the Holy See, and a political crisis throughout Europe.

Yours
Gert-from-the-Well.



So: anyone else read Q by Luther Blissett? There's a rumour of a film version...
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 6 Aug 2008, 11:19, 6 replies)

I've got a copy
I think I read about ten pages before it returned to my shelves.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 6 Aug 2008, 11:32, closed)

The same Luther Blissett who played football for Watford, AC Milan and England?

I know he's a football legend but a literary genius to boot?
( Gregor Lenko There's a tree..., Wed 6 Aug 2008, 11:32, closed)

is that
The Italian terrorist organisation named after the legendary Luther when he played for AC Milan?
(Halfy By light alone, Wed 6 Aug 2008, 11:34, closed)

@chickenlady
It's hard going at the start. But it's well worth persevering - I'm re-reading it now, and I keep recommending it to people: I ought to have mentioned it in the "Books" QotW.


Gregor/ Halfy - the Wilipedia entry on Luther Blissett seems to give a reasonable picture of the identity of the author. I like the way that the "about the author" section of the book says something along the lines of "Luther Blissett is manager of York City FC. He had nothing to do with the writing of this book. The four real authors live in Bologna".
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Wed 6 Aug 2008, 11:35, closed)

I need to either carve out an extra 5 hours a day from somewhere
or go to a deserted desert island where I can catch up on all the books I really should read.

Currently there are about 40 books sitting looking at me - all of them are on my To Read before September list.

A few years ago that wouldn't have been a problem in the slightest.

A few years ago I was unaware of the existence of b3ta.com

Must develop greater self-control.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 6 Aug 2008, 11:40, closed)

if you like that..
try Baudolino (umberto Eco) or the baroque cycle (trilogy by neal stephenson) - similar vein and equally grand.
(micky2shoes has more shoes than feet, Wed 6 Aug 2008, 14:27, closed)