The Confusion

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	History
Author:	Neal Stephenson

It's taken me quite a while to read this book due to it's length and my lack of time for reading. This is the second part of Stephenson's Baroque Cycle after Quicksilver. It continues the story of a set of characters during the late 17th century. There's Jack Shaftoe who's gang of galley slaves plan an audacious robbery and Eliza, a former harem slave, who now moves amongst the nobility of Europe. It also features assorted real royals and intellectuals of the time.

The story is actually mostly about money, with some alchemy thrown in. It was a time when modern concepts of money and science started to form. It's become my favourite historical period and I've been reading a few other books about it.

It's a bit slow at times, but always fascinating. He writes very well and I just hope he comes up with a decent ending in the third and final part. Endings have been his weak point in the past.