I wasn't sure for quite a while if I was enjoying this book or not. Nevertheless, I didn't want to stop reading it. I ended up realising that thought the "author" of the book was a most unlikeable man, I really wanted to know how his marriage ended up. As it went on, my impatience with him grew into sympathy.

Shreve has done a fine job of writing in the style of the period this book is set in, while still keeping it modern enough that it isn't tedious as son many novels of that period actually were. She does pompous really well, and the tone of the man writing his shameful memoire is excellent.