The Players:

Cornelius: The wealthy old merchant in Amsterdam.
Sophia: His young wife wanting more than wealt and riches.
Jan: The young painter hired by Cornelius to paint the couple and immortalize them.
Maria: The maid of the family with secrets' of her own. The one who knows all and sees all.
Willem: Maria's Lover
Jacob: Jan's apprentice
Gerrit: Jan's manservant
Tulip: The center stage of the entire story. As sinful as ever.

So these are the characters and the story takes place in 17th century Amsterdam, where tulips are a madness, where love is sometimes adulterous, where there is a yearning for a child, where there is betrayal, crimes of passion, blackmail, gamble, dreams, and no conscience.

This book kept me awake as I flipped the pages that revealed the genius of Ms. Moggach. With every chapter and every character introduced, Ms Moggach provides the readers with a tapestry so magnificient and amazing - that sometimes the locale just fades into background. The tulips hog the limelight for most part of the tale with the players and the description is beautiful. Before you know it, you wish that this story would not end. A must read for all those who like literary page turners!