“Counts Ludolf” is a book that tells about the international diplomacy of past centuries and the fate of people who served in the service of world history. Dedicated to the aristocratic family of Ludolf, whose representatives made an invaluable contribution to politics, education, culture and art, the book captivates with historical curiosities, excerpts from the correspondence of kings and noble European families, episodes from the everyday life of monarchs and their courtiers, as well as little-known historical details, including the most curious version of the origin of William Shakespeare. In “The Counts of Ludolph”, unexpected interweaving of family ties and relationships between such names like the Romanovs, Saint-Prix, Golitsyns, Dolgorukies, Shuvalovs, Stackelberg, Liphart and even Gucci - the founder of the famous fashion house and brand.