The book starts with more characters named Allan Armadale than I could keep track of, but fortunately, all of them die quickly, except for two-one of whom obligingly changes his name to Ozias Midwinter (really-he chose that name!) so that we don't get confused. Some of the characters are a little flat, but others are brilliantly developed. It is the Lombard Street of plots (for you San Franciscans), with enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. Not that I don't love me some Dickens-his sarcasm and satirization of people and government and social organizations that have aroused his ire is flawless! Armadale, however, moves along at a good clip, with plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages. I found this book to be much faster-paced than those I've read of Dickens, and without the philosophizing that Dickens indulges in from time to time. I was pleased to find that this is not the case, and even more pleased to read in multiple reviews that Collins' other, more well-known novels are generally considered superior to this one. I went into this with the knowledge that Collins had been bff's with Charles Dickens, and for some reason, I started reading with the expectation that Collins was a Dickens wannabe.
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