I had heard great things about this book, but put off reading it, fearing I might get bogged down in the Victorian prose. It was quite the opposite -- I found it to be a quick read (even at 600+ pages) and Collins' style, although certainly Victorian, was very charming. I was treated to lush descriptions, rich characters, and superb plotting. In moments where the characters were over-the-top, too, there were plenty of winks and nods. I definitely didn't expect it to make me chuckle so much. This goes on my list of all-time favorite reading experiences. I loved this book!