Although overall this is a novel of intriguing fiction, it is rich both in historical value (both because of the tantalizing intellectual ferment that reproduces the story and because of the background against which the action unfolds) and in unusual characters - or rather , caricatures, because their characterization betrays a certain Dickensian taste for humorous stereotypes. This book is worth reading if you enjoy a complex, thoughtful and challenging novel, or are interested in this time period and perhaps also German character in general.