“The text involves some difficult topics – including views on women, black people, colonialism and slavery, disability and queer people. At times it has been uncomfortable to write and I know that parts may be to read, but I hope that it tries to balance the views and experiences, both positive and problematic by modern views, of the time. The lines intersecting historical accuracy, acceptability in fiction and sensitively truthful representation rarely meet comfortably and there are always choices to be made.”