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A turn of phrase, a dash of drollery, the ironies and odd insights and of course the eccentric usages of period writing, to say nothing of the foibles of the cast--this is much of what I find so delightful in this novel.

If, however, you prefer your fiction with machine-guns blazing and firebombs bursting, gift or regift this book to a more discerning reader and go have yourself a nice sit-down with some modern-day action-film hero.