without knowing the genesis that brought this book to life, it's easy to see it was not just another deliverable owed to a publisher by an established author, but a true work of ardor and interest. follet bled these characters. and aside from some godfather III like political complexities towards the end, this novel from the first sentence to the last proves to be as wrenching and entertaining a story as ever told. and as a storytelling effort rivals the works of gabriel garcia marquez and alexandre dumas. simply one of the best.