We are told its history, its youth, its joys and disappointments. All is well detailed and we begin to want to know more and more. Then we find ourselves in familiar territory and we are pleased to meet the characters of Jane Austen again. The story evolves as in the original but with elements that are revealed to us as the place where the Colonel is called to go to the utmost urgency in London.
Most of this book is the story of his youth, not described by Austen elements that are perfectly fit together and narrated to perfection.
The least are few false notes for my taste - and an original oeuvre by rereading allow me to see more clearly. Also, there is no real epilogue what bothers me a bit but will not be for others.
Good reading in short, fast, fluid, enjoyable.