Wall Street. Investment. Profit. These words are music to a business major's ears.

They are also common themes in Gary Krist's Extravagance.

The story focuses on young William Tobias Merrick, who arrives at the world's financial capital to work for his uncle and to seek his fortune.

Extravagance possesses a surprising twist. The setting alternates between modern-day New York City in the 1990s and London in the 1690s, while the characters and the plot remain consistent.

Krist successfully shows how two distant societies are remarkably similar -- money and progress are their common loves.

However, Krist's most striking comparison is about human nature. Greed and power are universal characteristics, regardless of whether one is at London's Royal Exchange in 1690 or on Wall Street in 1999.

As Will increases his wealth through technology investments, his hunger for money seems insatiable. He transforms himself from a country bumpkin into a savvy investor.

Will takes more and more risks, and the reader has an uneasy feeling that the young fortune seeker is headed for disaster.

Apart from the analysis of human nature, Extravagance lacks creativity. Krist could have done more to develop Will's inner struggle or the description of 17th-century London.

One waits patiently for a turning point, but it does not exist. The novel's climax is insignificant and brief.

In an attempt to capture the reader's romantic side, Krist includes a not-so-interesting human-interest story as Will falls for the wealthy, vivacious Eliza Fletcher.

Different upbringings and opposite ideals make them an odd couple. Eliza's social consciousness and her disdain for Will's greed could create an interesting story, but Krist barely develops this aspect of the plot. The romance is limited to shallow banter and one steamy scene.

The book jacket boasts that Krist's inventiveness is on par with that of Tom Stoppard. This claim is rather presumptuous -- Extravagance is not even in the same league.

For those who enjoy reading about stock prices and Wall Street, Extravagance's combination of stock market savvy and fictional adaptation may be a perfect fit. But those who are interested in history or romance will be disappointed.