More than one book should hold

I read this book, and I finished it. Coming from a person who hasn't read novels in decades, I suppose that's a thumbs up. The Romantic covers an age of exploration, discovery and artistry, and its main character does it all. And that sums up my problem with it. It's a story that could easily, and more realistically, be about at least six different people. Good? Certainly not a bad read, but too much for one book about one person. Entertaining? Sure. But if it were mine, it would be read once and then donated to a charity bookshop.