A Week in December
With clever nods to Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and Tom Wolfe, Faulks combines a sharp eye for detail with an astute understanding of human nature to create a rich, human novel of contemporary manners. Though he provides a captivating account of London, theLos Angeles Timesmused that, with a few minor changes, the characters could have been the denizens of any major city, so pervasive are the dilemmas they face. Moreover, critics pointed out that some of Faulks's characters and subplots are "undercooked" (Washington Post) and the glut of financial detail weighs down the narrative. However, it is a testament to Faulks's skill that, despite these missteps,A Week in Decemberis mostly a compelling and sympathetic critique of modern life.