This book is the written version of the great ballet film, THE RED SHOES. If you love the movie you'll love the book, and maybe even love it a little bit more than the movie (if that's possible) just because you get fuller character background and description of the stories of Vicky, Julian, etc. (Being able to know Vicky's thoughts during her first dance of 'The Red Shoes' ballet is great. When I went back and watched the movie, I was able to do so with a little more "inside knowledge" of what was going on in her head.) These characters and their conflicts seem very real -- which goes to show that Michael Powell and Emric Pressburger were excellent writers, as well as excellent filmmakers.