In 1894, the London evening newspaper the St James's Gazette announced 'a real acquisition', a new novel from the publishers Ward and Downey. The Real Charlotte was the first collaborative success of many for Somerville and Ross, two Irish women who were second cousins, received as a fresh, original, and funny treatment of Irish life.

It tells the story of clever, greedy Charlotte Mullen, an Irish spinster, who takes in the beautiful Francie Fitzgerald.

But soon after there are crossed lines of desire, money and land, and the two women quickly become rivals.