This book is a collection of watercolours and sketches by Henrietta Alcock and her husband, the British Consul, Rutherford Alcock, along with the stories behind them. The more than 100 images in this book feature picturesque natural landscapes, traditional Chinese architecture, and scenes of consular life. They bring Henrietta Alcock out of the shadows, providing a unique picture of her as an amateur artist, the wife of a consul and, most importantly, a woman in empire.