This is a delightful tragicomedy about life and love on a grand scale, filled with wacky characters: including a greedy villain, star-crossed lovers, a duke in disguise, the village fool, and the good Padre (priest). I don't know if many people would appreciate this wonderful book. This is different from most current historical fiction. It's written in an old school style--omniscient voice that takes turns from each character, so we see the happenings from a range of views, and the 16th century Tuscan village comes alive. The writing is beautiful, bawdy at times. It reminded me of Shakespeare and opera buffo and old writers like...Orwell, maybe, I dunno. To do this type of omniscient voice is hard and takes talent. I really liked the story, especially the second half, once we got to the race. I should explain that this yearly tradition isn't a normal race. It involves donkeys and riders with one hand tied behind and wine.