Strong beginning with the dawn of the humankind tracking intriguing observations on co-relation between the physiological, sociological and psychological aspects of human nature and then a little disappointing second part where the focus is more on economy and "dry" historical facts. If I had read only the first half of the book, I would have given it the maximum score but that just because of my bias towards evolutionary psychology.

Not sure I can call it "the 1001 Arabian Nights of the new century" as Jonathan Carroll does but it is definitely a full-blooded novel: vibrant, daring, a bit messy, colourful, frightening at times...
One of the main characters - the french dandy Didier resembles to a great extent O.Wilde's Lord Henry from The Picture of Dorian Grey which automatically adds another big plus for the book.
Не знам дали е "съвременната Хиляда и Една Нощ", както я нарича Джонатан Карол, но е определено пълнокръвен роман: ярък, дързък, шарен, малко шантав и на моменти плашещ...Един от главните герои - французинът Дидие напомня до голяма степен Лорд Хенри от Потрета на Дориан Грей, което автоматично добавя още един голям плюс за книгата.