The Coffee Trader

The Coffee Trader is a 2003 historical novel by American author David Liss. Set in Amsterdam in 1659, the story centers around Miguel Lienzo, a Portuguese Jewish merchant, and his foray into the trade of coffee, a new commodity on the market. The story surveys the everyday dealings at the Amsterdam Exchange at the middle of the 17th century and provides perspective on the various cultures (Dutch, Portuguese) and religions (Christian, Jewish) practiced by the city’s inhabitants.

Liss is the author of several historical mystery novels, including A Conspiracy of Paper, which won the 2001 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. In A Conspiracy, the character of Miguel Lienzo appears as the great-uncle of the protagonist, Benjamin Weaver. The Coffee Trader is a national best seller and a book club favorite.

Plot Summary

Miguel Lienzo is a Portuguese Jew who escapes the Inquisition to begin a new life as a trader in Amsterdam’s bustling commercial center. In this city, fortunes are won and lost during the risky business deals that occur daily on the world’s first commodities market, the Amsterdam Exchange.

At the outset of the novel, Miguel has recently experienced a major setback in his sugar trade and is worried that he will not be able to pay his debts at the end of the month.