Bagatelle is a metaphor for the fateful game of life played by three families, from three very different cultures, in a business alliance. Two were sworn enemies of the third as the Second World War came to an end, but pursuit of wealth and power invites strange bedfellows. Dicky Bligh, British shipping magnate, Ishido Takamori, descendant of samurai traders and Brad Savage, irrepressible Aussie entrepreneur, all accepted the delicate balance of risk, chance and fate. Wealth and power they got, but mistrust, deceit, tragedy and death cast ubiquitous shadows. A second generation met the call of an emerging global village by defying cultural barriers and taboos that hobbled their parents. In that they also found love! But has society changed all that much? Do the bold of heart mold the future, or is it left to Fate to decide? Many of the answers are found in the intricate weave of Lower’s exploration of his characters.