I feel a bit bad for giving this a low rating, because I only stuck with the book for its first section. I had looked forward to reading it based on a NYT book review that I read at the time it was published. Probably if I had read it then, when my tastes were more in line with the more outsized, historical absurdity of the book, I would have enjoyed it more. I did find the sections I read very memorable and well drawn. It was the narrator, a wide-eyed and naive innocent, that I found most objectionable. Again, that's in large part because I find that point of view annoying. This book appears to have many things in common with Little Big Man, another sprawling, historical romp, and The Sot Weed Factor, both of which I love. But I just found the rhythms of the storytelling to be a bit off-putting. I will say, however, that I read through the first section for its descriptions of Boston in the 19th century, and those were quite interesting, especially if you live in the area. Epstein is a skilled writer, and therefore I feel that I can recommend the book for others, just not for myself. ( )