I have written four stories about my ancestors, Charlotte, Adele, Nelka and Lucretia. Strictly speaking only Charlotte is an ancestor, the other three are collateral antecedents. Any way, all four women lived remarkably interesting lives. They were fortunate in that they were well educated and energetic and full of ideas. All four married men who loved them dearly and encouraged them to be themselves.

The stories are largely finished, but I'm surprised at the number of pieces of information that keep showing up, some of them very important and most coming from my nephew Ashton who is helping me write the book.