This fine book could have been even better with a competent editor. Slurs such as "soul brothers" and the tired and embarrassing American Indian-speak were distracting and disappointing.
Supposed slapstick moments were often too slowed-down to enjoy without completing the scene ahead of the narrator; others were so cliche or repetitive (such as the running gag of double-meanings misinterpreted) that they cheapened the book.
Combined with beautiful sentiments about man's relationship with his world, the duty of royals, and the beauty of life lived for others, the result was a jumble of impressive passages and others where you wondered if the editor skipped over whole chunks of the book in an effort to coax the author to finish.

I love Mark Helprin. I did not like this book. I certainly thought parts of it were good, and funny, but as a whole -- nyeh. I did listen to the whole thing, assuming I would be glad I did in the end. But seriously, the minute it was done, I was GLAD it was done, not glad I had stuck it out!

The first 6 hours contain the funniest material I've ever heard/read--very slapstick, but literary slapstick, if that is a category. After that set up, the pace slows (it's a picaresque novel, afterall.) Along the journey, there is lots of word play, some very clever, some just silly and in a few cases repetitive, but entertaining.

It's like a Wodehouse farce (first 6 hours) then a salad of elements similar to Sue Townsend, Jasper Fforde and Pirseg's Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, spiced with Helprin's own style. The narrator's comic timing more than made up for an occasional odd accent- I think the narrator knew his range (still quite broad) and stuck to it.

It's not a profound political farce (the usual critique, just a bit more imaginative) but if you listen carefully, neither is it a defence of monarchy as some reviews suggest. Might be more enjoyable for citizens of the Commonwealth, though, overall, it's very flattering to the U.S.

I liked this book, but just couldn't suspend my belief enough to really get into it. If you enjoy the foibles of royal families then you will probably like this.

I did not recommend this book to friends but did not regret listening to it. FWIW.

This book seemed to have a lot going for it - good author, fresh plot, interesting characters - unfortunately Mark Helprin fell in love with comedy based on inane misunderstandings between characters and dialog repetition. It seemed as though a quarter of the book was comprised of nothing more than Freddy making a comment and Fredericka repeating it back to him - or vice versa. Add to that a weak ending and what's left is just not enough to make this novel worth while.