The seven daughters of the Indian civil servant James Pattle and his French wife formed one of the more unusual family groups, the foremost among them being Julia Margaret Cameron – a pioneer of photography. While providing a compelling biography of one of photography's most famous names, this highly entertaining book also illuminates the lives of her equally remarkable siblings. These include the legendary society hostess, Sarah; Virginia, who became a muse for Thackeray and outraged Victorian society with her loose living; and Maria, grandmother to Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf.