Escaping the hangman’s noose in England, commoner Tom Andrews finds himself aboard a privateering ship before fleeing to New York at the time of the Revolutionary War. It is a corrupt place where opportunities abound for the unscrupulous. Betrayal forces a hurried return to England where he and business partner Joseph Star, a half Carib freed slave, ruthlessly chase riches in the early industrial boom, investing in iron, mines and cotton. But will Tom’s phenomenal luck desert him as he see...

This classic historical fiction novel follows the rise of Tom Andrews to the fringes of political power and social respectability. All seems to be going smoothly until a dangerously demented farmer has to be dealt with, and a shady character from Tom’s dubious days in New York at the time of The Revolutionary War, unexpectedly turns up in London.

Tom becomes involved in the sordid suicide of Lord Castlereagh, the Foreign Secretary, and plays a major part in the cover up, earning much political gratitude for the whole family. Meanwhile, James marries well and begins to lay the foundations of a political career. The hunt for Tom’s attacker, Godby Fletcher, leads to America. Joseph, busy with his inventions, faces tragedy which may be too much for him. There are shocks in store for both families that will herald great changes.

Tom and Lady Verity intend to place their dynasty in a position of economic, social and political leadership in England. Captain Matthew Star returns to England and makes a love match with their daughter, Charlotte, much to her mother’s displeasure. There is social unrest in the country and riots become commonplace. The problem of unemployment in and around Tom’s estate is solved by encouraging a shipload of local families to emigrate to America. Henry Star continues to prosper in New Orle...

Tom Andrews and Joseph Star’s sons enjoy success in the world of commerce. In America, Henry Star is growing wealthy from illicit deals, but is implicated in a murder. Meanwhile, the settlers in New York State are facing dangers as disease strikes. There are shady dealings in Bombay involving slaves and opium-running.

It is a new era and the children must establish themselves as the next generation of the families. Still mourning the loss of his wife and new-born child, Joseph seems to be on course for spectacular failure, and a serious mining accident adds to his sense of desolation. Overseas, Henry Star flourishes in the corrupt world of the Southern States.

The families face new challenges as the Victorian Age arrives. It is a new era but many of the old problems persist; food prices remain high, the poor remain hungry and the threat of civil unrest is ever-present. Furthermore, the health of the people is endangered as the cities grow but are unable to cope with swelling populations. The overcrowding increases the risk of deadly diseases, and wealth and social standing afford no guarantee of immunity. Books best read in series order....

The Depression is over and fears of revolution have subsided, but there is still resentment over the previous year’s hangings. Robert is carrying out some very controversial actions on behalf of the government under cover of his bank’s business in America. Mad King George finally dies and a new reign appears to offer the possibility of change, but the realities of political and economic existence remain unaltered. William Rumpage rises in the world, to his own, and his wife’s trepidation. ...

George IV dies and the rambunctious age of the Regency passes with him. Joseph Andrews is determined to atone for his weakness, in doing so he risks family unity. George Star flourishes in his ruthless money-making ventures, while the Railway Age is born, to the profit of some and dismay of others. In India, Wolverstone learns of a sinister plot involving poison, and Luke Star is facing unexpected danger in America.

After the introspective years following Tom’s death, events take a very dramatic turn. There’s a devastating cholera outbreak in India, Luke Star is dicing with death as a mercenary in Greece, while in New Orleans, Henry Star has a potential troublemaker ruthlessly disposed of… and the villainous John Star continues to pose a danger to both families. Meanwhile, haunted by past misdeeds, one of the settlers in Upstate New York panics when he spots a familiar face in town, leading to a blood...

Lord Frederick Masters is rescued from his folly in Belgium and is sent to obscurity on a plantation in Virginia. Ireland is starting the downhill slide that leads to the Great Famine of the 1840s, and cholera sweeps through London, claiming many lives. In the United States Henry Star is still profiting and brother Luke is taking the Protestant sword to the Mexicans in Texas. Stavros is desperately hoping for an opportunity to exact revenge on Luke.

The Navy has its new submarines and must discover what to do with them. They cannot fall back upon Nelson as a precedent, and Their Lordships of the Admiralty are at a loss to create a strategy.Gilbert Maltravers is given a new E Class boat and sent off to the Mediterranean, in the hope that the Admiral Commanding there will find something useful for him to do. He leaves his new wife behind and sails off to do his duty, hoping that somebody will know what his duty should be.