The Coffee Trader by David Liss is a historical novel set in 17th-century Amsterdam, revolving around the world of coffee trading and the Dutch Commodities Exchange. The story follows Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese Jew in debt, who teams up with a Dutchwoman named Geertruid to devise a risky scheme involving coffee trading. The narrative delves into themes of deceit, manipulation, financial intrigue, and complex relationships, all set against the backdrop of a bustling Amsterdam mercantile scene.

Liss employs a dual protagonist narrative style, providing insights into the characters' motivations and struggles. The book offers a rich historical backdrop, detailing the cultural and religious dynamics of Jewish society in Amsterdam during the 1600s. Through intricate plot twists and detailed descriptions, the novel explores themes of ambition, treachery, and the pursuit of wealth amidst a backdrop of historical events and financial schemes.

Characters:

The characters are depicted as flawed and complex, although many readers found them unlikable.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style blends clarity with humor, effectively drawing readers into the historical setting.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Miguel Lienzo's schemes in the burgeoning coffee market while navigating personal and community challenges.

Setting:

The setting focuses on Amsterdam in the 1650s, highlighting its role in trade and the Jewish experience.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow but picks up as the plot thickens, maintaining suspense throughout.

It rippled thickly in the bowl, dark and hot and uninviting. Miguel Lienzo picked it up and pulled it so close he almost dipped his nose into the tarry liquid. Holding the vessel still for an instant,...

Notes:

The Coffee Trader is set in 17th century Amsterdam, a time when coffee was a new commodity in Europe.

The protagonist, Miguel Lienzo, is a Portuguese Jew who is heavily in debt after betting wrong on sugar prices.

Miguel faces restrictions on trading due to Jewish community rules that limit partnerships with non-Jews.

He partners with a Dutch widow named Geertruid to try and corner the coffee market.

The novel explores themes of trust, integrity, and the moral dilemmas in business.

Liss illustrates the tension of the Jewish community in Amsterdam, who had more freedom than in Portugal but still faced challenges.

The book details Miguel's struggles with the complexities of early stock market trading, including futures and options.

Historical accuracy is emphasized, with a bibliography provided at the end of the book.

The character arcs are considered weak by some readers, with many characters lacking depth.

Liss is noted for his ability to weave intricate plots with entertaining historical lessons.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are thematic elements relating to deceit, manipulation, and financial ruin, as well as issues regarding community dynamics and restrictions placed on Jewish individuals.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance, particularly involving Miguel and Geertruid, but romance is not the central focus of the story.

From The Publisher:

Amsterdam, 1659: On the world's first commodities exchange, fortunes are won and lost in an instant. Miguel Lienzo, a sharp-witted trader in the city's close-knit community of Portuguese Jews, knows this only too well. Once among the city's most envied merchants, Miguel has suddenly lost everything. Now, impoverished and humiliated, living in his younger brother's canal-flooded basement, Miguel must find a way to restore his wealth and reputation.

Miguel enters into a partnership with a seductive Dutchwoman who offers him one last chance at success-a daring plot to corner the market of an astonishing new commodity called "coffee." To succeed, Miguel must risk everything he values and face a powerful enemy who will stop at nothing to see him ruined. Miguel will learn that among Amsterdam's ruthless businessmen, betrayal lurks everywhere, and even friends hide secret agendas.

Ratings (1)

Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (8):

Want To Read (5)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (2)

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About the Author:

David Liss is the author of The Day of Atonement, The Twelfth Enchantment, The Devil's Company, The Whiskey Rebels, The Ethical Assassin, A Spectacle of Corruption, The Coffee Trader, and A Conspiracy of Paper, winner of the Edgar Award for…

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The Coffee Trader

David Liss