As a local historian I have always had an interest in history and the idea of creating a fictional noble family and putting them into actual historical pieces appealed to me,. How would they fair, and how would that affect history. I think the first paragraph of the first chapter sums it up perfectly:

'Will we, after we are gone, make some small mark on the pages of history? It's comforting to think that we might. Most people are not able to do this, mainly because they are insignificant little nothings who would have about the same impact on history as a fart in a thunderstorm. Others do make their mark, mainly because they are insignificant little nothings who, by quirks of fate or perhaps by sheer determination, fart louder than everyone else and have no concept of just how loud thunderstorms can be.'