Hugh Walpole skillfully weaves these plot threads and half a dozen others into this increasingly exciting saga. His characters leave the page in a living, breathing color; his descriptions are better than photographs, including sounds, smells, tastes and emotions, as well as vivid visual descriptions; he skillfully plays on our feelings, including us as good colleagues, sharing the views of his fantastic world. Joyful Delaneys were very, very good. Funny, makes you think, wonderfully recalls time and place.