This book is strong in
character, story, language and setting.
Summary:
This intricate tale of love and ambition is set in Victorian England and centers around William Rackham and his wealthy family. Suspecting thievery, William spies on his wife's servant and meets Sugar, a nineteen year old prostitute whose intellect intrigues him as much as her body does. The stories of Agnes, William's sickly wife, and Henry, his pious but morally conflicted brother, are interwoven in this epic's sprawling pages.
I would recommend this book!
Why?
This is a book that lives up to its hype! Every detail of the lives of various social sets rings true. As in life, complex situations do not resolve neatly, but though I longed
for that towards the end of 800+ pages, it would have made the book weaker.
Note: If you are averse to reading VERY explicit sex scenes, you might want to skip this. Sugar's trade is prostitution, and Faber spares no detail.
Other suggested reading:
I would compare Faber's skill at evoking place and character with
Arthur Golden -- this also took years to research, and a male author convincingly gets inside the female mind.
Employee Initials: SB
Review Date: December 2002
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