Samuel Godwin, an aspiring artist, is forced to drop out of art school following his father's death.

Wealthy businessman Ernest Farrow advertises for an art tutor for his two daughters, and Godwin successfully applies for the position.

[1] The author, Linda Newbery, considers the book to be young adult fiction rather than specifically for children.

[2] The novel is set in 19th-century England, influenced by Wilkie Collins and Charlotte Brontë, with hints of Victorian gothic.

[5] The other shortlisted books were David Almond's Clay, Julia Golding's The Diamond of Drury Lane and Meg Rosoff's Just in Case.