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    The Coffee Trader: A Novel
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    The Coffee Trader: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Coffee Trader: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Coffee Trader: A Novel

    Written by David Liss

    Narrated by John Lee

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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.


    From the Trade Paperback edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateNov 7, 2002
    ISBN9780736697774
    Unavailable
    The Coffee Trader: A Novel
    Author

    David Liss

    David Liss is a proud science fiction geek. When not acting like a total fanboy, he’s generally working on his books, stories, and comics. Liss has written eight bestselling novels for adults, most recently The Day of Atonement, and is the author of numerous comics, including Mystery Men, Sherlock Holmes: Moriarty Lives, and Angelica Tomorrow. He lives in San Antonio, Texas.

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    Reviews for The Coffee Trader

    3.5/5

    486 ratings44 reviews

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    • 2/5
      A bit dry reading.
    • 4/5
      Good story. I loved reading about the characters in this book. I admit to skimming a little when it came to language of the exchange. The end was not satisfying as one discovers that, In fact, every character is deeply flawed. Perhaps that's the nature of making a living on the exchange floor.
    • 4/5
      Another enjoyable book by Liss.
    • 1/5
      I had trouble reading this book. I just didn't click with the characters and the plot is taking so long to get started. Halfway through and I didn't feel as if the story has gone anywhere yet.
    • 5/5
      David Liss deserves to be far better known. He has a great facility for balancing intricate and hypnotic plots with a wealth of historical detail, without losing the reader's interest. His debut A Conspiracy of Paper offered an intriguing insight into the early history of the London Stock Exchange, the development of the banking system and the Jewish community in London in the early eighteenth century while simultaneously delivering a compelling murder mystery investigated by the enigmatic Benjamin Weaver, a Jewish former boxing champion turned thief-taker. One of the key characteristics of A Conspiracy of Paper was the dexterity with which Liss managed his multi-facetted plot while drip-feeding an entertaining series of history lessons about the run up to the ominous bursting of the South Sea Bubble.In The Coffee Trader Liss excels himself, moving the action fifty or sixty years earlier and siting his story in Amsterdam. The principal protagonist is Miguel Lienzo (who turns out to be Benjamin Weaver's uncle, though that is not significant to the plot), a Jewish merchant originally from Lisbon who has relocated to the more liberal society of late seventeenth century Amsterdam. Well, more liberal than the persecution that pertained in Lisbon where the Inquisition operated at will, but still straitened by modern standards. The Jewish community is self-regulating, and Lienzo has managed to alienate most of its senior members, and as the novel opens he finds himself contemplating virtual financial ruin.He is summoned to meet Gertruid, a Dutch widow with whom he has had some dealings in the past, and she introduces him to coffee. Initially suspicious of this bitter-smelling, dark and unappealing liquid he soon finds himself a veritable coffee junkie, revelling in the clear-headed feeling this glorious beverage imbues. Lienzo and Gertruid begin to formulate a plan to import coffee from the Orient where the East India Company has established plantations. However, even as they develop their plans, Lienzo's enemies within the Jewish community move to thwart him.Liss builds his plot up with great attention to detail, and paints very sympathetic characters in Lienzo and Gerturid, to such an extent that the readers is infuriated on their behalf. The prose is very clear, and Liss lends an air of light humour which renders all of the historical content even more accessible.I had a nice, strong espresso to celebrate finishing this excellent book.
    • 4/5
      I love historical fiction and this was no exception; however, I found it more difficult to read than Conspiracy of Paper. The convoluted scheme of Miguel is hard to follow for someone who is not a follower of the stock market. I found myself going back to reread sections in order to understand what was really taking place. I loved the cultural background. Having just read a wonderful book, The Last Jew by Noah Gordon, this was a perfect followup about the conversos and the Spanish Inquistion -- Miguel being in Amsterdam because of the Inquistion in Spain. I found that aspect of the book more interesting than futures, calls, and puts.
    • 3/5
      A somewhat frustrating tale of when 'markets' were pretty much as they are today - but this was Amsterdam in 1659. Our coffee 'trader' makes some *very* foolish mistakes and once the multiple layers of treachery are exposed, suffers the anguish of some major guilt.
    • 3/5
      it was that entertaining like his Benjamin Weaver stories but i liked the history of the stock market info.
    • 3/5
      Set in the 17th century and historically very interesting, depicting Jewish society in a remarkably tolerant Holland. The main character, Miguel, is a Jewish trader who has lost big and is struggling to recoup his losses. Only trouble for me was that I rather disliked all the characters, even Miguel. No heroes here.
    • 3/5
      When I visited Amsterdam in June 2003, I found an English-language bookstore where I found a paperback edition of "The Coffee Trader" by David Liss. The novel had just been published in a cloth edition in the United States, so I was delighted to find a paperback copy in The Netherlands. I had been a David Liss fan since reading "A Conspiracy of Paper," and I wanted his newest book, so I bought it there.Years later I finally got around to reading it. The story takes place in 17th century Amsterdam at a time when coffee is still a virtually unknown drink in western Europe. A Portuguese Jew named Miguel Lienzo, who lives in Amsterdam with his brother and his wife, struggles to make his fortune at the commodities exchange, the first of its kind in the world, and he believes coffee could be his ticket to success. He forms a partnership with a Dutch woman, who provides the capital, and tries to control the coffee supply when demand for the beverage kicks in.The story involves a good deal of plotting, manipulating, betrayal and deceit. The payoff comes when Miguel, who all along has thought himself to be the innocent victim of others, discovers that he has been the true villain all along. He makes some money, gets his own house and even wins his brother's wife, yet realizes he may have lost more than he has gained.Liss went to a lot of trouble to make his novel historically accurate. There is even a three-page bibliography at the end, something you don't often find in a novel. This is not one of the author's best books, but I'm happy to have read it at last.There's one other Amsterdam connection with my copy of the novel. On the front cover there's a sticker that says, "WIN a trip for two to Amsterdam & one year's supply of coffee for the runner-up." That seemed like an odd thing to find on a book purchased in Amsterdam, but the contest was open only to residents of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
    • 5/5
      The pendulum swings back and forth constantly in this historical novel of coffee trading by the Dutch in the late 1650's. The author creates a maze of deception and lies among the main characters using an interesting dual protagonist narrative approach. The goal is wealth by manipulation of the Exchange by rumor, the residual effects of which remain with us in today's stock markets. I found it an interesting book, somewhat tricky to follow at times, but a fine read, nonetheless.
    • 4/5
      Very clever historical mystery-ish. I probably enjoyed Ben Weaver a bit more, but the distant connection of Miguel as Ben's uncle i thought was neat. A nice job all together!
    • 4/5
      It's the story of a Jewish merchant in 17th century Amsterdam who is looking to regain his fortune through an investment in a new commodity: coffee. But the theme of the book is really about people and how we can lose sight of the forest for the trees. I really enjoyed this because as the plot progressed its complexity grew, but it only served to illuminate the characters even more. In the last hundred pages I was completely engrossed. Aside from the characters, the historical perspective was fascinating. British banking looked to the Dutch at that time as examples. They had the first modern stock exchange with futures changing hands and bubbles that left people poor as quickly as it had made them rich. Sound familiar? This is definitely worth a read for all of you because it has something of everything: history, economy, mystery, lust, and greed. I'm adding the rest of David Liss' books to my list to read. High praise!
    • 3/5
      Really interesting historical background on Amsterdam in the middle 1600's. Great financial innovations (futures and derivative trading) and uncommon religious and cultural tolerance.
    • 3/5
      Amsterdam, Jews, Catholics trading coffee, but slow
    • 4/5
      Historical Fiction. Enjoyed the story held my attention and the writing was strong and well woven. Easy to be transported to another time you feel like you are the character.
    • 3/5
      This book was a disappointment. I didn't develop any liking for the main character, Miguel, and thought he was very whiny. The two main female characters, Hannah and Geertruid weren't very well-developed, and none of the minor characters was very like-able or memorable. I really had to force myself to finish the book. It dragged on for page after page and pretty much made me want to scream with boredom. I normally like historical novels, and usually like books set in this time period, but this was boring, boring, boring. The only thing in the book's favor is that it seems to have been well-researched, and some of the imagery of Amsterdam in this time-period was good. Not great, just good. 2 1/2 stars.
    • 4/5
      The story of a 17th century Jewish commodities trader is rich in its history. Each character details a different part of the time and different version of truth. If you don't already love coffee, it will open your world to its birth. The story peaks too near the end for my taste, causing the resolves to feel hurried, but all in all it was an entertaining story. I would read more by the author.
    • 4/5
      Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese Jew trying to make a living in 17th century Amsterdam through futures trading, joins Geertruid, a Dutch widow, in devising a scheme to make a fortune off a new commodity - coffee. Secrecy and planning are of the utmost importance and Miguel uses his unorthodox friendships well. But a powerful businessman and member of the religious council is only one of many enemies who may be working against Miguel. Entertaining historical fiction but the stock market is just as confusing in its infancy as it is today and, though the characters are well-formed, none of them are particularly appealing. For fans of detailed historical fiction who don't require just, happy endings.
    • 5/5
      Miguel, a Portugese Jew, is nearly ruined. He owes money to many, and has little hope of making it back on the Excange in Amsterdam. Approached by a Dutch woman named Geertruid about a new fruit called coffee, they hatch a wild scheme to make them both rich. All of Amsterdam seems to be against the scheme, including Miguel's own brother. Without giving too much away, let's just say things don't go as planned, and many get caught in the cross fire of the trade.Wonderfully developed characters that make you want to shake the book and yell "What are you doing silly!" as if there were really in front of you. I found myself feeling sympathy for the oddest sorts of folk and cheering for the "bad" guy at times. A definate must read.
    • 4/5
      I couldn't quite keep up with how the cornering was supposed to work. Who knew that they were doing futures trading way back then? However, this book was a perfect fit for me because of all the social and historical information Liss conveys so skillfully. My cup of tea. Or coffee. The homes of the rich Amsterdam merchants with insignias above their doors indicating how their fortunes were made--even images of "African brutes." The excitement of discovering this magical new drug.How Jews had to live undercover as Christians (Conversos) in Inquisition-era Portugal. Jews' relative freedom in the Netherlands. (England at the time was somewhere in between: you could be Jewish but not flaunt it.) How the Jewish governing body, the Ma'amad, exercised control of Jewish dealings with the Christians. And also its power over Jewish women, requiring them to cover themselves completely (sound familiar?). The semi-hidden nature of Catholics in the Netherlands--their churches behind other facades. Geertruid, Miguel 's business partner, a Christian Dutch woman drinking alcohol in public drinking places.
    • 3/5
      Appropriate topic for current US financial problems. Full of scammers and schemers. None of the characters are particularly likable. It was a good read. the ending was somewhat flat - characters were "out of character" in their reactions to the final scheme.
    • 3/5
      It seems like everywhere people have just read, are reading, or are planning to read The Coffee Trader. I like historical fiction and love coffee so I picked up a copy. I should have looked more closely. I enjoyed the setting, varied cast of characters and interesting plot setup, but felt the author failed to really leverage any of them. Within fifty pages the book had focused so narrowly on the financial grapplings of the characters and a confusing array of puts, stays and futures that I soon lost interest. I pushed through to the end but was left wishing I had learned more about the atmosphere of 17th century Amsterdam, the factors that led to Dutch tolerance for Jews and Muslims in their midst, the motivations (aside from greed) that drove the characters and the factors that fueled the rise of coffee culture throughout Europe. The book was well-written and the inclusion of Alferonda's memoirs broke up the narrative, but I would recommend this only to readers with an interest in financial markets and commercial history.
    • 4/5
      This is a very strong book to read. By that, this book has depth. As a historical novel, you want some glimpse into the world as it was so that you leave with some factual understanding of that period admidst the fiction. In Coffee Trader you learn a great deal about Amsterdam, the center of finance in the 1600's. You also learn of the flourishing jewish community free of the inquisition and how that atrocious institution changed the attitudes of the people it persecuted to a degree. This is handled with a deft hand so you are not preached at.But, there is a but, as good as some reviewers have felt, Liss spends a great deal in the early part of this otherwise well crafted tale, hitting us with a great deal of tell instead of show. Long paragraphs help set the piece, but leave no room to unfold the tale tale early on. It leaves me wanting to catch my breath, take a break.Liss does a tremendous job describing a world and you feel that you are there, and understand it, and can grasp the complex nature of his characters quest for profit and success in trade. He however needed to bring in something to break up that in the beginning. Working around that, is a tale carefully plotted, that when all seems well, a disaster looms to cast all in doubt and leave the reader hungry for more of the tale at that precise moment. A well done job, certainly worth the time and investment.
    • 4/5
      The year is 1659 and Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese Jew and a trader on the world's first commodities exchange in Amsterdam, seeks to regain his lost wealth by obtaining a monopoly on a new comodity--coffee. He faces and also participates in the deceit and manipulation that is necessary for success on the exchange, and he has a powerful enemy that is determined to ruin him. The Amsterdam exchange is full of powerful and ruthless businessmen who will stop at nothing in order to manipulate the system to their own advantage or to seek revenge on individuals for past losses, either real or preceived. No one is trustworthy, including Miguel, and nothing is as it seems.I did not find the characters in this story very likable and the plot was only mildly interesting. What makes it worth reading is that it's very well written, extensively researched, and realistic.
    • 4/5
      The Coffee Trader is a well-drawn tale that takes place in 17th century Amsterdam at a fascinating time - the dawn of the financial exchange. Amsterdam was an extremely open and cosmopolitan society relative to other European countries at the time. Central to this story is the fact that Jews were permitted to practice their faith openly while the Inquisition was still going strong in Spain, Portugal and elsewhere. The protaganist of the story is Miguel Lienzo, who is part of the community of Portuguese Jews living and working in Amsterdam. Miguel is attempting to rescue himself from financial ruin by setting up a scheme to corner a new commodities market - coffee. The writing is excellent and evocative. Although I've never been to Amsterdam, by the end of the book I could recognize neighborhoods, rivers, markets, taverns and even smell the city. It is worth reading the book just for the history. It is also quite a page turner, as the suspense builds up and keeps you guessing as the novel moves along.The reason I only gave the book 3.5 stars is because the characters, while interesting, lacked an emotional depth that I require in order to LOVE a book. You want to have something to grab onto in a character, whether good or bad, in order to set your allegiances. The story here was great, but I just didn't care that much about most of the characters one way or the other.The most interesting aspect of the book was in its parallels to what is happening in today's economy. This book depicts the origin and birthplace of "exotic financial instruments," and then, just like today, the trading of these instruments led to some pretty seedy behavior. Behavior that was at best questionable and at worst entirely despicable. If it weren't for the setting and the funny clothes, customs and speech, the novel could have taken place on Wall Street!
    • 4/5
      I felf the book bogged down a little in the middle of the book.Not enough to keep me from reading on. Once I finnished the book , I'm glad I kept on reading. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
    • 4/5
      If you're looking for likeable characters, this probably isn't the book for you. It's full of greedy ambition, lots of devious scheming, and relentless pursuit of power. It's also a bit confusing for those of us who aren't particularly knowledgeable about the ins & outs of commodities trading, etc. But it's historical fiction & it centers on coffee, so how could I not like it at least somewhat? I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. The story was rather slow at times, but then it picked up near the end and then almost ended too abruptly. I have at least one other novel by David Liss on my "to be read" pile, so I'll undoubtedly give that one a try as well.
    • 5/5
      Less of a straightforward mystery than his first book, A Conspiracy of Paper, Liss's book about the advent of coffee as a real commodity on the market in Amsterdam, along with a vivid portrayal of Jewish life in the city in the mid-1600s. The result is a tale where not many people come out looking great, but everything comes together nicely and interestingly.The tale here regards Miguel Lienzo, and revolves around his attempt with a Dutch widow, Geertruid Damhuis, to corner the market on coffee and by those means amass a considerable fortune. The problems facing them are considerable, as well - building a market for coffee when it's a real niche product at that point, raising the capital, avoiding the notice of the Ma'amad, the Jewish council that seeks to maintain strict order over the Portuguese Jewish community in Amsterdam.The plot is interesting and intricate, and ended in a place that I found surprising and satisfying, but the characters really carried the day. Miguel's a compelling lead, trying to work his way out of debt, charming but not entirely good, self-serving but wanting to help the community, as well. His business partner Geertruid; his brother, business rival, and creditor Daniel; Ma'amad leader and businessman Solomon Parido; Daniel's wife Hannah; excommunicated usurer Alferonda; all and more feel very real and interesting, as fictional characters go, and I very much enjoyed reading about them.Liss's writing style is still very strong, evoking the time period nicely and giving a real sense of what it was to live there. Similarly, the concepts of calls, puts, and the other trading mechanisms come across cleanly and without too much effort.All of Liss's books that I've read thus far have been very good, and this one won't disappoint you. I'm not sure I'd start with this one if I'm introducing someone to his work - A Conspiracy of Paper is probably better for that - but it's certainly a good place to continue.
    • 2/5
      As a big fan of David Liss, I had looked forward to reading this book. It contains the historical detail I expected, and an interesting story line, involving a Jewish commodities trader in 1659 Amsterdam who hopes to make a fortune trading coffee. Unfortunately most of the characters are so unpleasant that I found this slow going. It is so hard to care what happens to any of them. Aside from this, the book is as well crafted as his two earlier books and worth taking a look at.