I wish I were Diane Setterfield. This is a nearly perfect book. It stumbled very, very slightly at the end, but on the whole was magnificent. What a story! I only wish I had a big, cold English house and a fire and snow to go with it. I would highly suggest, if you are going to read this, to get the audiobook version of it. It may take getting used to if you’re not, but for me I’ve grown accustomed to books being read to me by strangers – it passes the time while I perform mundane tasks like laundry and dish washing.

This book now occupies the second place on my books read for the year. It does not unseat Norrell & Strange, but it came damn close. ;) I search eagerly for a contender!