This book has historical charm of the Delerfield Family Saga... spiced with the intimate drama of "Upstairs, Downstairs" and the "Duchess of Duke Street",two favorites of mine. Set in England in the year 1808, the family consist of head of household, John Atkinson, lawyer & widower of Lancaster. His sons: Ephraim married to Mary Bateman, Francis married to her sister Ann Bateman, & Reverend John married to Jane Haythornthwait. Plus the Batemand girls are the daughters of the Bateman's of Highriggs Farm, near Lancaster, and they have another sister,Margaret. King George is on the throne of Englnad, and going mad.