though mcewan is gifted with an exquisite command of language, the novel succeeds more for its moral implications than it does on account of its narrative. as with many ethical quandaries, there are often varying shades of what can quantifiably be deemed "right" or "wrong." amsterdam triumphs in unearthing these murky hues, nearly compelling the reader to unemotionally examine the multiplicity of seemingly virtuous action. the entangled relationships and conflicted loyalties between characters is aptly portrayed, as is the self-serving righteousness with which one so certain of their principles is wont to act. while most of the story's characters possess both enviable and loathsome traits, it is the universality of their utter and inevitable fallibility that appears so befittingly realistic.