Lady Anne Barnard lived at the Cape from 1797 to 1802 and was official hostess of the colonial administration for the first two years, after which she continued to play an important role in the social life of Cape Town. This is an abridged version of her Cape diaries of the year 1799 and 1800, and it is beautifully illustrated with her own drawings, paintings and handwriting, as well as pictures of the landmark homes she resided in (referred to in the title). It contains annotations which provide contextual and historical information, anecdotes and insights into Lady Anne's thoughts and comments, providing the reader with a deeper understanding of her life, times and the people with whom she interacted.