This book captures those initial impressions in its study of Somerville's sketchbooks from 1880 up until World War 1. It shows how visual art became central in fiction about Ireland that Somerville co-authored with her cousin Martin Ross (Violet Martin).

These ladies of the Big House travelled back and forth from Ireland to continental Europe throughout the belle époque. The sketchbooks and other ephemeral material - such as first draftsd of Somerville and Ross's great realist novel. The Real Charlotte 1894), correspondence, children's books and cartoon strips - bring to life the risks and delights that women artist/writers faced.