The Fallen Leaves

This is a fascinating Victorian novel that has a bit of everything--utopian socialism, prostitution, gilded-age crooks, premarital sex, and sympathetic feminism. Fascinating look at England in the 1870's with themes that few novels of the time dared to explore. I have never been a fan of Collin's Moonstone, but this book changed my opinion of him as a writer. I was riveted. (Jim Jones)