bernrr's review
1.0
One star because a) I finished it (despite many moments when I wanted to abandon); and b) for a lively section in part one that set up the rest of the book and held my attention. The problem for me was a matter of pacing. After the relatively fast-paced set-up, which was a page-turner, the book moved into a contemplative low-gear and stayed there, giving me plenty of time to wonder what the actual story was, and why it was worth writing. Just got many details of diplomatic life correct, but only grazed the complexities, and name-dropped the most obvious political figures to let us readers know what decade he was in.
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