This was a wonderfully quirky drama and love story, embellished with advertising "broadsides" describing the various turns performed by the characters, as well as illustrations for each chapter heading.
The picture drawn of the travelling life in Georgian England was vivid and earthy and the character and development of the heroine was believable and readily engaged my sympathies. The language used felt suitable for the period and soon settled down to something very readable after a slightly challenging opening chapter.
The structure of the story clearly owes a lot to its origins as a radio drama, and the number of monologues in the middle section (albeit relieved by the parrot's timely interjections) did make it drag a little.
However, this was followed by some glorious action and a finale well worth waiting for.
The picture drawn of the travelling life in Georgian England was vivid and earthy and the character and development of the heroine was believable and readily engaged my sympathies. The language used felt suitable for the period and soon settled down to something very readable after a slightly challenging opening chapter.
The structure of the story clearly owes a lot to its origins as a radio drama, and the number of monologues in the middle section (albeit relieved by the parrot's timely interjections) did make it drag a little.
However, this was followed by some glorious action and a finale well worth waiting for.