This is not my typical read. I usually have a specific genre or type of book that I prefer to pick up. However, this particular piece of writing was an exception.

It was truly well written. The author had a great command of the language, using words and phrases that painted vivid pictures in my mind. The descriptions were so detailed that I could easily imagine the scenes and characters as if they were right in front of me.

Not only was it well written, but it was also extremely engaging. From the very first sentence, it grabbed my attention and held it throughout. I found myself unable to put it down, constantly eager to find out what would happen next. The story had a great flow and pacing, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

Overall, although it wasn't my typical read, I was really impressed with this piece of writing. It showed me that sometimes, stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new can lead to great discoveries. I would definitely recommend it to others.

**Title: 4,5 Stars**

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I haven't re-read this book since my initial reading when it was published in 1977. Since I recently enjoyed re-reading PENMARRIC, I decided to continue in the Howatch-mode. This story transports Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony to the world of high finance in New York and London during the years between the two World Wars.

On February 25th, I set it aside after reading about 200 pages. I simply couldn't endure Howatch's lady-romance writing style any longer. Additionally, the character of Paul Van Zale, who regarded marriage as more or less a business arrangement, was decidedly unlikable.

Perhaps I will give it another try some other time. It's possible that my perspective may change, and I might be able to appreciate the story and its characters in a different light. For now, though, I'm content to move on to other books and explore different literary worlds.

I truly have a great passion for Susan Howatch's books. Her works have always been a source of great enjoyment for me, and I eagerly anticipate commencing a new one whenever the opportunity arises.

However, this particular book did not quite measure up to my expectations and was not among my favorites. While Howatch is known for her engaging storytelling and complex characters, something about this particular novel just didn't click with me.

Perhaps it was the pacing, or maybe the plot didn't hold my interest as strongly as some of her other works. Nevertheless, I still appreciate Howatch's talent as an author and will continue to explore her other books in the hope of finding that next great read.

Overall, while this wasn't my favorite Susan Howatch book, it doesn't diminish my love for her writing as a whole.

This is the prequel to "Sins of the Fathers" and in some ways, I truly wish I had read it first.

However, having read it backwards, the incidents in "Sins of the Fathers" actually became much clearer.

I thoroughly enjoyed almost everything about this book.

It is a captivating psychological saga that delves into the lives of rich men and women who were deeply involved in Wall Street from the 1920s through the 1940s.

Dinah Slade plays a significant role in this book. She is not only the lover of Paul Van Zale and his friend Steve Sullivan but also a shrewd business woman, a psychologically perceptive lover, and the mother of four (and sometimes more) children.

The author masterfully involves us in the complex web of feelings, speculations, and deviousness that surrounded the events of those times, including the infamous crash of 1929 and the alarming growth of Nazi Germany.

Overall, I deeply enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to others.

I really enjoyed the period of time that the novel describes - the 20's & 30's.

The characters in the novel are extremely interesting. Each section represents a specific period of time and focuses on a particular character, yet all the characters intersect in some way.

I was so engaged that I simply could not wait to see what was going to happen next. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire reading.

Now, I am looking forward to reading her follow-up to this one, Sins of the Fathers. I have a feeling that it will be just as captivating and exciting as this novel.

I can't wait to explore the new story and meet the new characters that the author has in store for us.

I have lived in NYC for a long time, and I have always been fascinated by the history of NY and England.

This epic tale, which unfolds the life force of the cities' ruling class during a significant period of world history, is truly food for my soul.

Reading this lengthy volume requires a certain commitment, but it is well worth it.

At every turn, just when you think it might start to drift, something shattering and unexpected occurs, which keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The writing is beautiful, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in history or enjoys a good story.

It offers a unique perspective on a particular era and allows you to immerse yourself in the lives of the characters.

Overall, it is a captivating and engaging read that I am sure you will enjoy.

The rich are indeed different. They seem to be a breed apart, often engaging in all sorts of despicable acts. Affairs, illegitimate children, extortion, embezzlement, murder, and arson - these crimes blend seamlessly with the chaos of prohibition, the stock market crash, and the dawn of WWII.

Susan Howatch has done an outstanding job of creating characters with rich inner lives and complex backstories. Each character has a unique voice and style, making them truly come alive on the page. However, at times, she leans a bit too much on telling rather than showing in an attempt to cram in all the intricate background details. This can make the story a bit dense, but overall, it's still an enjoyable read.

The only character I really felt sympathy for was poor Sylvia. It was sometimes challenging for me to get into the mindset of the 1920s and understand why epilepsy would be considered such a terrible secret. Similar to "Wheel of Fortune," Howatch does a great job of making the story cyclical, with the comparisons between the lives of Paul and Cornelius being particularly well-done.

I'm intrigued by the idea of a second book that continues the family line and I'm looking forward to reading it. I can't wait to see what new twists and turns Howatch has in store for her characters.

Dinah, a young woman filled with ambition yet burdened by poverty, makes a proposition to Paul, a wealthy American banker, all in the hope of safeguarding her family's property. The story unfolds in both the UK and the USA, centering around the complex world of high finance and business.

It features fast-paced action, tough and memorable characters, and intricately woven plots that lead to a rather satisfying conclusion.

When I initially read this book in 2000, I came to the conclusion that it wasn't truly the type of book that appealed to me. In a way, that perception still holds true as the banking and high finance life of the early 20th century doesn't particularly interest me.

However, it is undeniably a very well-written book. Upon re-reading it, I found myself just as captivated as I was the first time. Additionally, I gained a greater appreciation for the author's skill in characterisation and the ingenious way in which the historical tales of Caesar and Mark Anthony were utilised as the foundation for this remarkable novel.

It is a testament to the author's talent that even though the subject matter may not be to everyone's taste, the quality of the writing and the engaging nature of the story can still draw readers in and keep them hooked.

The story took a while to really get started.

At first, it seemed a bit slow and uneventful.

However, once it picked up the pace, it was truly amazing!

It managed to maintain my interest throughout the remainder of the book.

I have a particular fondness for books that revolve around rich people and those set in the 1940 - 50s era.

The pre-depression period is also quite appealing to me.

I was relieved that there wasn't an excessive amount of writing dedicated to the depression itself, as I already have some knowledge about that.

What I really wanted was to read about the luxurious lives of the rich, lives that I will likely never experience.

I understand that a significant amount of setup was necessary for the story to unfold properly.

So, if the beginning chapters seem boring or tedious, just persevere.

The reward is definitely coming!

My copy of the book was quite large, with small writing, and at times, it almost felt as if I was reading "War and Peace", haha.

Don't be deterred by the size of the book.

The story it contains is well worth the effort.

I truly enjoyed it and was completely surprised by the ending.

I have re-read this book from last year and am now writing reviews for all the early novels, taking into account their historical back stories. This review is largely the same as that for the sequel Sins of the Fathers.

I truly love Susan Howatch's psychological writing style. Moreover, I am fascinated by her method of taking a historical context and adapting it to a more modern one. In this case, it's the story of Julius Caesar. It seems that very few people read the back story of Caesar when they review this book, so I thought I would write a more detailed review than usual.

All of Howatch's books are written in this manner, including the Starbridge series and the St Benet's trilogy. However, this is one of the earlier novels, all written in a Gothic novel style and covering an historical epoch. This is part 1 of the story.

The cast of characters is extensive. Paul Van Zale represents Julius Caesar, Lucius Clyde is Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and Dolly is Cornelia, Caesar's first wife. There are many others, each with their own complex roles and relationships.

The other aspect I love is the way she switches from one character to another. This allows the reader to hear a part of the story from a completely different perspective and gain a different view of a character. As we look behind their masks, we see that they are all complex psychological studies, just like real people.

I'm not entirely in agreement with the way she develops some of the characters. For example, Elizabeth is a very gentle Scribonia. But that's part of the charm. After all, we all perceive people differently. In the sequel, I'm surprised by the lack of intelligence in Andrew (Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus).

So, you can read this book straightforwardly as a Gothic novel, or you can read it while keeping one eye on the back story. Either way, it's engaging writing. But when you read it with the back story in mind, it becomes truly mesmerizing, as Howatch shows that all human stories can be repeated over and over again, with only the context changing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book (and also the sequel). I'm a great fan of Susan Howatch's family sagas with a historical basis.

What I especially like is the way she divides all her sagas into 6 sections, with one of the main characters narrating each section in the first person. This gives several different insights into one person. You might think you dislike a particular character when seen through the eyes of another. But then, when you read the section narrated by the character you dislike, you find that they're actually sympathetic and likeable.

In this book, five of the characters act as narrators, with Dinah Slade narrating two sections. The story is very exciting, filled with lots of wheeling & dealing, scandal, mayhem, and derring-do. Dinah and Cornelius are in the leading roles (although Paul plays a major role throughout).

I don't know if Howatch intended us to "like" Dinah and "dislike" Cornelius, but I personally found Dinah an incredibly irritating and silly character, while I always liked Cornelius. And I don't understand why the blurb for this book describes Dinah as beautiful. She isn't. One of the main points about Dinah is that she's (in her own words) "fat and plain". Even Paul thought she was plain at first.

Dinah's strong points are that she's very intelligent (academically and commercially), she has plenty of personality, and she's determined to succeed. Which she does, at least in the world of commerce. But not in her private life.

***SPOILER ALERT*** It's true that Dinah's a brilliant businesswoman, and she builds up a hugely successful cosmetics empire from scratch, which is admirable. However, her attitude to Paul is at times so cringing and servile it's embarrassing. Her later husband, Steve Sullivan, is an intolerant, brainless, irresponsible, self-centred idiot with a disastrous personality. He even comes across as such in the section he himself narrates. Dinah was extremely unwise to marry him and even sell her own business to enable him to set up his own bank, despite the fact that he's a chronic alcoholic and doomed to total failure.

As for Cornelius, he reveals his intensely private tragedies, his basic shyness and lack of confidence, and the motives for his sometimes dubious behaviour in the section he narrates. This makes him vulnerable and likeable. Even when he's just heard that he can never have any children - the great tragedy of his life - he still gives away all the money and personal possessions he's carrying when he walks home, to the poor people on the streets who've lost everything in the crash.

Most of the other characters in the book are incredibly negative about him, while Dinah appears to regard him as the devil incarnate (again, thoroughly silly of her). And some of her actions - such as burning down her home just to spite Cornelius, and then going off to get herself killed although she still had four underage children to look after - were completely irresponsible, childish, and stupid. Despite this, she is a very real and credible person, and the plot as a whole is truly excellent. I recommend the sequel "The Sins of the Fathers" to round off the saga.