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It is must read for every fan of historical fiction (especially of seventeenth-century England). I think, not all fans will love the style of writing but still, they should try to read it at least.

It was really good historical fiction. It portrayed superbly everyday life and the impact of big events on common people.

we of the moderate party, hearing all this and ten times as much and having no love for this sour James, such as we had for the lively Charles, were ready to wait for what might happen, rather than care about stopping it

the price of horses' shoes was gone up again, though already twopence-farthing each; and that Betty had broken her lover's head with the stocking full of money

There were also fascinating descriptions of important events and historical issues.

Flying men, flung back from dreams of victory and honour, only glad to have the luck of life and limbs to fly with, mud-bedraggled, foul with slime, reeking both with sweat and blood, which they could not stop to wipe, cursing, with their pumped-out lungs, every stick that hindered them, or gory puddle that slipped the step, scarcely able to leap over the corses that had dragged to die

There was the wisdom too, so precious, especially in historical fiction, that teaches us or at least is trying to teach us.

Too late we know the good from bad; the knowledge is no pleasure then; being memory's medicine rather than the wine of hope

Hope, of course, is nothing more than desire with a telescope, magnifying distant matters, overlooking near ones; opening one eye on the objects, closing the other to all objections. And if hope be the future tense of desire, the future of fear is religion—at least with too many of us.

Now this may seem very strange to us who live in a better and purer age—or say at least that we do so—and yet who are we to condemn our fathers for teaching us better manners, and at their own expense?

But, as I wrote, the style of writing was a bit specific. There were moments I felt tired of reading. There was something in too long sentences and the order in them, that made reading a bit wearisome.

Also, some parts of love story (the talks between lovers) were a tiny bit too... sweet and fairy-tale as to me (I mean, I like it in other books, but in here it didn't feel perfect).

"You sweet love," I said at this, being slave to her soft obedience; "do you suppose I should be content to leave you until Elysium?" "How on earth can I tell, dear John, what you will be content with?" "You, and only you," said I; "the whole of it lies in a syllable. Now you know my entire want; and want must be my comfort

etc. etc.

Nonetheless, these flaws were nothing comparing to the other aspects and advantages of the novel.