This large format paperback brings together the three stories of "the guys called George."

George was a very common name in the Regency, which was the time of the "four Georges", that is, four kings called George -- George I, George II, George III, and soon to be, George IV. It was a very common name so it seemed strange to me that there are so few heroes of the period called George. I have to admit that it's not a romantic name as far as I'm concerned, however, so I sort of ducked the problem. After all, if you were three boys called George, all born within weeks of each other and living in the same areas, you'd take nick-names, wouldn't you?

In this case, George Vandeimen became Van, George Connaught Somerford rejected Somer in favor of Con, and George Hawkinville became Hawk. I really fought that one because it's so cliche to have a hero called Hawk, but he insisted.

They are close friends, but also very different. Van is the only son in his family and heir to the title of Lord Vandeimen, but he's also wild and adventurous, impatient with country life. Con is the second son, steady and fond of the country, but he knows he needs a career. Hawk has a ferociously sharp mind, but he'd be happy enough at his family home if he didn't dislike his parents so much. For these and many other reasons, at sixteen, the three lads decide to head off and fight Napoleon. Their paths soon go in different directions, but they stay in touch. Their stories begin in 1816 when they are all home again, to very different worlds.

The stories are available individually in In Praise of Younger Men (Van), The Dragon's Bride (Con), and The Devil's Heiress (Hawk.) The latter two connect to my Company of Rogues series. Con is a Rogue, and the lady Hawk becomes entancled with, Clarissa Greystone, played a part in a Rogue's book, the RITA winning An Unwilling Bride.

Yes, it's a complex, but I hope interesting, world.

The omnibus edition was published in June 2004.
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