Oh dear. I've never read this before and probably won't again, but I feel a bit bad giving it two stars. Basically because of the prose, which is gorgeous and so accomplished - if only that prose had been put at the service of a story I gave a damn about. As it is I don't like any of the characters and don't remotely care what happens to a single one of them. At least the novel is relatively short, so the time spent with these tiresome individuals was limited - but even the prose couldn't keep me from being a little bored while reading, I'm afraid. It goes into the pile of books I admire for their achievements but cannot warm to.