A big, bold, gorgeous, bloody, colourful epic of the mighty struggle between Shamyl the Imam of the Caucuses and Nicholas the Tsar of all the Russias. Lots of people die horribly, lots of people do horrible things, on all sides, but there is amazing heroism in the struggle, much to deplore on both sides, but some to admire. Blanch plays fair, being even-handed in her depiction, though it's clear her heart's with the fierce mountain folk in their struggle for freedom over the vast serf-owning empire. The descriptions are astonishing - vivid and rich, bursting with passion for the landscape, the events and most of all for the people involved. Thee are historical events depicted unashamedly as historical epic, almost overwhelming in detail and odd tangents and illustrative scenes and dramatised events. An overpowering book in many ways, that completely takes hold and refuses to let go.