Written in the 14th or 15th century (the exact date is a matter of debate), this historical novel can be a difficult read at times, but I'm glad I took the effort to finish it.

Anyone reading this for the first time may want to start with the afterword in volume IV, and read it up to the point where the author suggests you start reading the novel itself. It will give you a better idea of what the focus of the novel is. This is important because the focus doesn't really emerge until the second volume, and I was somewhat lost throughout the first volume as a result.