Maria Bowring (1817-1899) was the daughter of Sir John Bowring and his
first wife, also called Maria. This story goes through Maria's life, as
if she were writing it in a diary, and encompasses such things as her
time in a convent, being poisoned, being shipwrecked, and having many of
her beloved family members die. It is based on newspaper articles and
books about her father, as well as letters from the various children to
and from their parents. Some of the details in the book are historical
fiction.