K.H. Cumiskey – Library Journal: Delbanco (What Remains) here fictionalizes the life of one of the most widely accomplished yet unknown characters in American history. Benjamin Thompson married well; betrayed and abandoned his country; invented, among other things, the most efficient fireplace of his time; made tremendous contributions toward the welfare of the poor in Munich; proudly acquired titles, including count of the Holy Roman Empire; and established the Royal Institution of Great Britain. But as seen here, he had an irrevocably fractured relationship with his daughter. Although the narrator, a distant relative of Thompson's, writes pulp romances for a living, the novel is far from formula and titillation. Thoroughly researched, it will appeal to readers who are interested in the history of science, the early years of this nation, and the turbulent central Europe of Napoleon. But it should also appeal to a wider audience because Delbanco writes beautifully. In the penultimate chapter, for instance, he skillfully depicts the count's loneliness and deteriorating mind as he catalogs his contributions to humanity, justifies his transgressions, and lashes out at his second wife. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.