The author has researched his own family history extensively and explains how he went about this and sets out the resulting discoveries which include finding a direct line of descent from the Plantagenet Kings of England which in turn established links to many royal and aristocratic families. There are many interesting characters revealed in the process, about whom the author comments, and there is much advice about how to research family history together with some warnings of some of the pitfalls which may mislead the unwary. This anatomy of a family provides some illuminating insights into social history and some entertaining anecdotes.