When I opened the book, there was only one other review with a 1 rating which I have never seen but I have a German heritage and love Goethe and was looking forward to reading this and wondering why a 1 rating. I feel sorry to say that I agree with that review and with why that person explained it as it was written. Starting from page 1 it was full of an adjective for each noun in relatively short sentences and there was no cohesion. It felt like sentence 1,2,3,4…. on and on. After trying to continue reading , I my mind was more focused with what the adjective would be and I felt no story evolving. Very disappointing.

The book took on historical characters that were perhaps too ambitious (Goethe), but the plot had some promise. Most of all it needed a stronger hand in editing the overwrought description at the level of the sentence. I’m sorry to say it wasn’t for me.