DNF. 

They say not to judge a book by its cover. I made a rookie error. Its cover is precisely the reason why I picked The Old Drift. It's beautiful. The blurb made the story interesting enough. Something different. I wanted to like it. 

But having trudged through the first section of the book, with its succession of odd-ball characters and seemingly unfinished stories, it's time for me to let it go. I simply can't be bothered with any of it. 

It's not badly written but there is no sense of momentum, despite the momentous period of history used a a background. Despite all the imaginative flourishes, it is as flat as yesterday's Champagne.