TARNISHED ARMOR, CAPTAINS AND LORDS, and THE MATRIARCHS, by Ed Slavin, are richly researched historical novels-each under 100,000 words-loosely based on his own family tree. These works take the reader on a journey that starts in 1755, with a protagonist who personifies selfishness, greed and corruption, and leaves us in 1857, with the birth of another strong and courageous matriarch-to-be. In TARNISHED ARMOR, a lad of 10 suffers the loss of his entire family, becomes a legendary one-legged hero at the age of 18; and leaves a trail of fame and shame throughout the hills of Ireland. This book introduces the rogue, Sean Hickey-born of potato-picking tenant farmers-who becomes collector for the Crown, and hero to those who believe he will lead them to freedom from the English. His wife and only true love, Maggie, shares a life-long friendship with Paula, the Dominican nun who saved-and fantasizes about-her hero and best friend's husband, Sean. Readers will be left wanting more, and thankful that the story continues to unfold. In CAPTAINS AND LORDS, set in the Napoleonic years, Sean's son, John-who escapes from the tyranny of his family and works his way up to become a sea captain-leads a double life by working for the underground, and tries to live down his father's tarnished reputation by making amends to all those his father hurt. His adventures take him to China and forbidden love, and almost costs him the love of his life, Winny, the woman who starts the line of the matriarchs. THE MATRIARCHS traces the life of John and Winny's daughter, Winifred, who grows up motherless and influenced by her avant-garde friend, Vickie, as well as the same Dominican nuns that were involved in Sean Hickey's fame. Winifred's upbringing, aboard her father's ship, the Gabala, at school, and under exceptional tutelage, offers her an above-ordinary education for a young lady of her times. It ends with the beginning of yet another story in-the-making. The three novels take us t