028 - The Russian Spy

I believe the story as a whole is good, although it seems the public has yet to confirm that judgment. - the author. The Claverings stands out as one of the finest novels crafted for The Cornhill, a testament to the authors skill. As noted by Sadleir, It is a novel rich in atmosphere, capturing that elusive environment often perilous for the English novelist—an atmosphere brilliantly evoked by Thackeray, filled with green-hued gambling rooms, the faded allure of half-abandoned spas, the gentle slopes of foreign beaches, hidden accents, forged passports, impoverished nobles, and the audacious ladies maids... This work represents Trollopes most earnest endeavor to break free from his own persona. - Walpole.