Don't have time to do this book justice but want to let you know that you will really enjoy it, there's no doubt of that! Taylor Caldwell's books are so much better than most, even the glut of superficial bestsellers we all know so well. She writes with a depth of feeling and consumate knowledge of man to a degree one rarely finds elsewhere. All of her books are remarkable, real treats! This book was published years ago and the pages are yellow but not brittle and the binding is tight and strong. There is no writing or underlining. The covers show some wear but are not bad.