Moderately interesting book about English nobility in the early 1800's - specifically involving the familial relations between that of Sir Edward Moseley and that of the Earl of Pendennyss. A fascinating look into the seemingly bizarre rituals these families go through to maintain their appropriate 'upright' standing amongst society....much wooing and rejection and more wooing and betrayal.....all with a somewhat casual emphasis on whether there is any appropriate chemistry. There is also a heavy focus on Christian morality and the importance of never sacrificing principles. Ultimately worth the effort, but there were moments when i was absolutely overwhelmed by the names, titles and ever-changing referencres to different generations of the same families with similar names......and plenty of flowery, convoluted language from the period, or at least of that of Cooper when written....long drawn out sentences full of qualifiers that were difficult to follow....but like the foreign subtitled films that i am convinced i will not be able to engage in, the brain has a remarkable ability to reprogram itself and when i was able to stay with it for a while, that effort seemed less on my part. I also very much loved this actual 1880 hardcover volume....beautiful feel, smell, binding and beauty....almost hated for it to end just cuz i liked carrying it around. .This is my first Cooper, and also one of his very early books. I will be anxious to compare this and its style with those of his famous books when i get to them. ( )