Interesting, but tedious
I was expecting from the description that this was written in the time period in which it occurred. If it were a period piece, I would have been happier with it, I think. All that aside, the book was a bit tedious to read, but gives a glimpse of the culture of the time period, how different classes lived, and interacted. It allows you to find out in the end who is decent and kind, and who is not. And an important question is addressed - what does one do when one is no longer rich, but refuses to give up the lifestyle that a home represents?