I like Faulks's work and have read many of his others but this one I found was hard work. He still has his glorious descriptive style but I found that the story wandered all over the place. It covers a lot of ground but somehow it never feels coherent - as if he had something he was trying to work through in himself via the writing. I really don't like to give up on a book but this one nearly beat me. I've read other reviews where people were enthralled but compared with his other work this just didn't do it which is a shame as I had been eagerly awaiting publication. Enjoy the style but don't expect it to be another Birdsong.