When yu read it as a product of its time, i ges it works as disposable fiction. But i still think the author is cheating a lot with the, i think, three conveniently timed earthquakes doing conveniently precise amounts of damage and the just as convenient volcanic eruption.

With modern eyes: The best part is that it’s not openly misoginistic. That is achievd thru the simple means of not having a single woman appear in the book.