Title: Disappointed!
Product review: I have read some of the preceding reviews and I must say that the reviewer from Greece was pompous and insulting. I consider myself very well read in fiction and history and I came away from this book empty. Yes, the 18th century part was well written and evocative of that time and place, but I failed to understand the purpose of the whole. The sections in the 20th century were completely unbelievable. I twigged the business about evil, but it didn't mean anything to me. There was nothing new here. I have enjoyed Ackroyd's biographies but this stumped me. I also found the point of view to be extremely anti-intellectual. For a much better depiction of the stupidity of members of the Royal Society, read Longitude!!!
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