Excellent but exhausting. It took more than 2 weeks of reading during every lunch hour, and sometimes during dinner, to finish. An epic adventure of epic scope, delving deep into the culture and customs and thoughts of India and later Afghanistan, the people, the politics, the English, the wars... oh the wars. My eyes watered multiple times while reading because it doesn't shy away from the tragedies that litter the lives of this difficult land during a time of drought, disease, conquest, and intrigue. 
 The last chunk of the book segues a bit from the main character as well; it instead focuses on the military career and activities of the main character's friend. Let's just say I was left reeling from the sad fact that many of the tragedies in this book can be traced back to inept people in high places. ;_; If you can stand that kind of realism in your fiction, and have a month of time to spare, then please, read this book.