 The opening pages classify it as a "mysterious romance or a romantic mystery," but the book never mentions the mystery again.Rather, to unravel the truth about some of the novel's most mysterious happenings, readers must follow the trail of literature, history and music that Florence leaves behind him, by investigating the writings of Joseph Conrad, William Blake and Gilbert and Sullivan.While the book can be read on its own as a surrealistic journey, solving the mystery leads to greater insight in to the truth about Florence.