A Novel of Mary Todd Lincoln - As a young girl growing up in the South, she lived a life of privilege; picnics, pretty dresses and plantation balls. With a fiery temper and passion for politics Mary is unlike the other genteel girls, charming her beaus with witty remarks while trying to disguise her sharp intelligence and learning.

A young woman in her late teens, a reader of novels and with high hopes of romance and passion, marries a widowed country doctor. Although he dotes on her, she is soon bored and discontent.

First, she gives her imagination to a law student in town, and next she takes a lover. When he refuses to run away with her, she takes up again with the law clerk. Her spending on dresses and furnishings mounts; these debts and her ill-advised professional counsel to her husband bring his ruin.

Love holds centrestage in this Elizabeth Gaskell adaptation. The lack or want of affection, admiration and acceptance motivates the characters, leading them down mysterious paths, forging them to lock away untellable secrets. Molly Gibson, the young daughter of the town doctor, is honest and true, so down to earth that she cannot do anything else but speak the truth.

With a town of middle class spinsters, the arrival of a new doctor makes quite a stir and the poor man attracts more attention than he can handle. Whimsical yearnings of marriage run haywire, causing much distress. Dr Harrison's heart is already caught in a net and he can only see his way forward with the Rector's daughter, Sophy.

From three brothers there was only one heir to the throne and this was the young Princess Victoria. King William IV is determined to live until Victoria reaches the age of 18 so he can pass royal authority directly to her. Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, is set to become Regent of England should the King die before Victoria comes of age. The Duchess and her evil advisor, Conroy, scheme to take Victoria's power away from her, so they can rule in her place.

It is Vienna, 1824. Beethoven, played brilliantly by Ed Harris, is racing to finish his new symphony. However, it has been years since his last success and he is plagued by deafness, loneliness and personal trauma.

A copyist is urgently needed to help the composer finish in time for the scheduled first performance. Insightful young conservatory student and aspiring composer Anna Holtz (Diane Kruger) is recommended for the position. The mercurial Beethoven is sceptical that a woman might become involved in his masterpiece but slowly comes to trust in Anna's assistance in unveiling his glorious 9th symphony.

**Note - storyline is not historically accurate