A portrait of the Victorian-era writer and Anglo-Florentine colony doyenne covers her work for the London "Times," achievements as an avid agriculturalist, and relationships with such contemporaries as Mark Twain and Bernard Berenson.

Poggio untoppled -- A dynasty of sorts -- Successions -- Sitti Ross -- Intermezzo : the Anglo-Tuscans -- La padrona di Castagnolo -- Castle Ross -- Aunt Janet -- Legacies.