Status
Available
Series
Collection
Publication
St. Martin's Paperbacks (2012), Edition: First, 464 pages
Description
"From the popular author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph. The epic tale of Harry Clifton's life begins in 1920, with the words, "I was told that my father was killed in the war." A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he's left school. But then his unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys' school, and his life will never be the same again. As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question who was his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the first-born son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line? This introductory novel in The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler's Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member mckait
Only Time Will Tell is book one of a new series by Jeffrey Archer.
As anyone who has ever read Archer can tell you, he tends to write
can't miss this one books!
Harry Clifton is a child from a very poor family. His father died
before Harry knew him, and he and his mother live a subsistence existence
in
is not only not plentiful, but barely available. A bit of toast and the
leavings in his uncles bowl are all that there is for Harry's breakfast.
Despite all of this, Harry shows himself to be a remarkable child. Although
he is determined not to sit in a classroom, and as often as possible is found on the docks,
he is a particularly clever and we are to find out, talented boy. He also has good
instincts. Despite being warned away often by his Uncle Stan, Harry befriends
Jack Tar, who lives in a railway car near the docs. Jack is no more than a penniless
ne'er to well, were Stan to be believed. But Harry and Jack become firm friends, and
Jack helps to steer Harry on a path of learning, during their hours in the rail car.
As time passes opportunities com Harry's way. It turns out that he has the voice of
an angel, and this small twist of fate begins to open doors that will improve Harry's
future. What a lucky boy, you say? Well, yes.. but he is also a good and caring young man,
and this too, helps him pave the way to better roads ahead.
Friends are important, and never more so than to a child. Harry's Best friends are Giles Barrington,
who comes from a wealthy family and A. Deakins, who like Harry has had a rough start. They meet in
school and form a fast and enduring friendship. This is yet one more thing that will change Harry
Clifton's life. But nothing will change it more than a decision that Harry himself makes in the
early days of WWII.
I have barely closed the covers on this book, and I am already anxious to see what the next book
in the series will bring. Archer is quite a storyteller. Let his words carry you along...
As anyone who has ever read Archer can tell you, he tends to write
can't miss this one books!
Harry Clifton is a child from a very poor family. His father died
before Harry knew him, and he and his mother live a subsistence existence
in
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a shabby little home with his mother's parents and her brother. Foodis not only not plentiful, but barely available. A bit of toast and the
leavings in his uncles bowl are all that there is for Harry's breakfast.
Despite all of this, Harry shows himself to be a remarkable child. Although
he is determined not to sit in a classroom, and as often as possible is found on the docks,
he is a particularly clever and we are to find out, talented boy. He also has good
instincts. Despite being warned away often by his Uncle Stan, Harry befriends
Jack Tar, who lives in a railway car near the docs. Jack is no more than a penniless
ne'er to well, were Stan to be believed. But Harry and Jack become firm friends, and
Jack helps to steer Harry on a path of learning, during their hours in the rail car.
As time passes opportunities com Harry's way. It turns out that he has the voice of
an angel, and this small twist of fate begins to open doors that will improve Harry's
future. What a lucky boy, you say? Well, yes.. but he is also a good and caring young man,
and this too, helps him pave the way to better roads ahead.
Friends are important, and never more so than to a child. Harry's Best friends are Giles Barrington,
who comes from a wealthy family and A. Deakins, who like Harry has had a rough start. They meet in
school and form a fast and enduring friendship. This is yet one more thing that will change Harry
Clifton's life. But nothing will change it more than a decision that Harry himself makes in the
early days of WWII.
I have barely closed the covers on this book, and I am already anxious to see what the next book
in the series will bring. Archer is quite a storyteller. Let his words carry you along...
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LibraryThing member brendajanefrank
Only Time Will Tell (Advance Readers’ Edition)
I received this book from the Amazon Vine program, thinking that Jeffrey Archer wrote mystery/thrillers. Reading just a few pages proved me wrong. “Only Time Will Tell” is the first of a five-part saga centered on the life of Henry Clifton, a
This well-told tale follows a classic formula. Henry, a pure, intelligent, gifted protagonist of common birth whose widowed mother works herself to the bone to support and educate Henry, suffers at the hand of the powerful Hugh Barrington, a wealthy, evil amoral man. With the help of his few virtuous friends, Henry must overcome the obstacles to his development to ultimately triumph.
This family epic is told by the major characters, each having a separate section of several chapters, with the exception of Henry, who has two sections.
As other reviewers noted, the book suffers from a few factual glitches. Archer uses the color blindness of all the men in a family to imply the parentage of Henry. In fact, common color blindness is not passed on from male to male in a family. Male children of a father with color blindness and a non-color blind mother will not inherit color blindness; however, all of the female children in the family will be carriers.
Unfortunately, the book ends on a glaring error. In 1940, the police make an arrest in the United States and read the subject his “Miranda Rights.” This practice began in 1966 following the Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). (I hope this is corrected in the final print.)
Until I reached the last chapter, I had planned to read the other books in the saga. However, based on the path Henry chooses in the conclusion of Only Time Will Tell, I can’t go through the classic good v. evil drama again. I felt that Archer was toying with my emotions in the contrived twist ending this book, and I don’t want to ride this merry-go-round, again.
I received this book from the Amazon Vine program, thinking that Jeffrey Archer wrote mystery/thrillers. Reading just a few pages proved me wrong. “Only Time Will Tell” is the first of a five-part saga centered on the life of Henry Clifton, a
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British youth. Despite my misconception, the story grabbed me from page 1, and I couldn’t put it down. This well-told tale follows a classic formula. Henry, a pure, intelligent, gifted protagonist of common birth whose widowed mother works herself to the bone to support and educate Henry, suffers at the hand of the powerful Hugh Barrington, a wealthy, evil amoral man. With the help of his few virtuous friends, Henry must overcome the obstacles to his development to ultimately triumph.
This family epic is told by the major characters, each having a separate section of several chapters, with the exception of Henry, who has two sections.
As other reviewers noted, the book suffers from a few factual glitches. Archer uses the color blindness of all the men in a family to imply the parentage of Henry. In fact, common color blindness is not passed on from male to male in a family. Male children of a father with color blindness and a non-color blind mother will not inherit color blindness; however, all of the female children in the family will be carriers.
Unfortunately, the book ends on a glaring error. In 1940, the police make an arrest in the United States and read the subject his “Miranda Rights.” This practice began in 1966 following the Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). (I hope this is corrected in the final print.)
Until I reached the last chapter, I had planned to read the other books in the saga. However, based on the path Henry chooses in the conclusion of Only Time Will Tell, I can’t go through the classic good v. evil drama again. I felt that Archer was toying with my emotions in the contrived twist ending this book, and I don’t want to ride this merry-go-round, again.
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LibraryThing member TerriBooks
The first of the "Clifton Chronicles", this book has certainly captured my interest. It begins the story of two families in Britain in the years between the world wars, as we are introduced to Harry, his mother, best friend, girl friend, and others important to his story. Although Harry is the
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central character, I became really interested in his mother's story -- that's how well these characters have been developed. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I think cliffhanger endings are a cheap trick in a series. Show Less
LibraryThing member techeditor
I’ll say it right up front: ONLY TIME WILL TELL by Jeffrey Archer is a don’t-miss-it novel, the first in a series that will continue the story of the Harry Clifton family and the Barringtons. It will make you anxious to read the next installment.
Harry is growing up without a father. He died
A child with a “voice of an angel,” Harry receives a choral scholarship to a school attended by rich boys and encounters so much snobbery and mistreatment he runs away. But, at the urging of “Old Jack,” the mysterious man who lives in an old train carriage, Harry returns in time for breakfast.
He does become good friends with two boys at school. One, Giles Barrington, is the son of Hugo Barrington, Harry’s dead father’s former employer. Hugo Barrington is ONLY TIME WILL TELL’s bad guy.
The book is told in parts, each part a different character’s point of view. In this way, we learn more and more. And the mysteries surrounding different characters are cleared up or built up.
ONLY TIME WILL TELL follows Harry, his mother, “Old Jack,” and the Barringtons from 1920 to World War II . At each stage, we see how far Harry’s mother will go to see that he attends the best schools and wants for nothing and how far Hugo Barrington will go to see that Harry does not attend the best schools and is unsuccessful.
Family sagas such as this book can be overly long and boring, especially for readers who enjoy books of thrills and suspense. I’m betting, though, that even those readers will love ONLY TIME WILL TELL. What saves it is Archer’s style. By telling the story from different character’s points of view, he keeps adding mysteries and solving them, building suspense by way of Hugo Barrington and the limping former policeman he employs. Still, this is a family saga, not a thriller.
Also, Archer’s method, telling the story from various points of view, rounds out his characters. You’ll love some of them and care about them. So, even though the last part of the book is predictable and, I think, a little corny, you’ll still hate to see the book end. Your consolation is remembering that, while this book ends, the story continues.
This review is of an advance readers' copy (ARC) of ONLY TIME WILL TELL. Although this book was previously published in the United Kingdom, it will be available in the United States in September. I received this ARC through the goodreads.com First Reads program. This is an honest review.
Harry is growing up without a father. He died
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when Harry was just a year old, but Harry doubts the cause of death that everyone gives him—a war injury. This is the novel’s first mystery.A child with a “voice of an angel,” Harry receives a choral scholarship to a school attended by rich boys and encounters so much snobbery and mistreatment he runs away. But, at the urging of “Old Jack,” the mysterious man who lives in an old train carriage, Harry returns in time for breakfast.
He does become good friends with two boys at school. One, Giles Barrington, is the son of Hugo Barrington, Harry’s dead father’s former employer. Hugo Barrington is ONLY TIME WILL TELL’s bad guy.
The book is told in parts, each part a different character’s point of view. In this way, we learn more and more. And the mysteries surrounding different characters are cleared up or built up.
ONLY TIME WILL TELL follows Harry, his mother, “Old Jack,” and the Barringtons from 1920 to World War II . At each stage, we see how far Harry’s mother will go to see that he attends the best schools and wants for nothing and how far Hugo Barrington will go to see that Harry does not attend the best schools and is unsuccessful.
Family sagas such as this book can be overly long and boring, especially for readers who enjoy books of thrills and suspense. I’m betting, though, that even those readers will love ONLY TIME WILL TELL. What saves it is Archer’s style. By telling the story from different character’s points of view, he keeps adding mysteries and solving them, building suspense by way of Hugo Barrington and the limping former policeman he employs. Still, this is a family saga, not a thriller.
Also, Archer’s method, telling the story from various points of view, rounds out his characters. You’ll love some of them and care about them. So, even though the last part of the book is predictable and, I think, a little corny, you’ll still hate to see the book end. Your consolation is remembering that, while this book ends, the story continues.
This review is of an advance readers' copy (ARC) of ONLY TIME WILL TELL. Although this book was previously published in the United Kingdom, it will be available in the United States in September. I received this ARC through the goodreads.com First Reads program. This is an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Andrew-theQM
A great yarn, told from different perspectives. A refreshing change from many of the books I have recently read, and I can't wait to continue the Clifton Chronicles to find out what happens next! Will definitely change my reading plans next year as I continue this trilogy. I'd forgotten how good a
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story teller Jeffrey Archer could be. Show Less
LibraryThing member melaniehope
This was a very fast paced, interesting story. It begins in the 1920s and the main character is Harry Clifton. Harry grew up believing his dad was killed in the first world war and that he will soon be joining his uncle as a dockworker in the shipyards when he turns 14. Harry is extremely bright
I was hooked to the storyline. The writing is pretty basic, but the book is loaded with twists and turns. One of my favorite things about the book is that it's divided into sections and each one is told from a different character's point of view. What are really great way to get to know the important players in this novel.
The book does leave us with a cliff hanger. I believe there are several more books in this series and I can't wait to read more.
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and has a gift for music. With a little extra help from a friend, he earns a scholarship to an exclusive boys school and very quickly discovers a new way of life. The real intrigue comes when Harry finds out that his father may in fact be a wealthy owner of a shipping line. There is a great mystery in how Mr. Clifton really died.I was hooked to the storyline. The writing is pretty basic, but the book is loaded with twists and turns. One of my favorite things about the book is that it's divided into sections and each one is told from a different character's point of view. What are really great way to get to know the important players in this novel.
The book does leave us with a cliff hanger. I believe there are several more books in this series and I can't wait to read more.
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LibraryThing member dgmlrhodes
Jeffrey Archer is a master story teller. I have always enjoyed his books, but this is probably my favorite that I have read (so far). The characters in this book are extremely engaging - right from the start of the book. The main character, Harry, is so hardworking, sensitive and with so many
The story moves well and keeps you wanting to keep on reading. This book is the first book in a series. If I were to voice any criticism of this book at all, it is the fact that it ends somewhat abruptly. However, from the perspective of wanting to read the next book, the ending certainly leaves you with a cliffhanger to want to wait for the next installment.
Reader won a copy of this book from Good Reads First Reads. Thank you for selecting me to preview such an awesome book!
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obstacles to overcome that you find yourself rooting for him from the start. The story moves well and keeps you wanting to keep on reading. This book is the first book in a series. If I were to voice any criticism of this book at all, it is the fact that it ends somewhat abruptly. However, from the perspective of wanting to read the next book, the ending certainly leaves you with a cliffhanger to want to wait for the next installment.
Reader won a copy of this book from Good Reads First Reads. Thank you for selecting me to preview such an awesome book!
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
I haven't read Jeffrey Archer for years, but this one makes me wonder why. This new series featuring Harry Clifton, son of a dockworker (or is he the son of an uppercrust owner of a huge shipping line?), and his climb through the British public school system is going to be a delight if this first
The story involves Harry, as he grows from an angelic choirboy into an intelligent, hardworking young man faced with the difficult choice of going to Oxford upon graduation from the US equivalent of high school, or joining the armed forces as Britain enters the war against Hitler. His romance with the sister of his best friend, together with some of the aforementioned story twists makes his choice even more difficult. Harry's mother, a hard-working widow, who takes a series of back-breaking jobs to help with Harry's expenses, is harboring a secret about Harry's parentage. This secret, if revealed could destroy lives, and Archer skillfully weaves his story around it.
My only problem with the book was the absolutely sucker punch ending. I was left gasping, yelling "Don't do that to me!!." I will be among thousands lined up to get my hands on the second book in the series to find out what happens next. The Clifton Chronicles promises to keep us all enthralled for several years to come.
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one of five is any indication. Make no mistake, this is not a Pulitzer, but it is good, solid storytelling, with bold characters, a world wide setting, and a story that has enough twists, turns, and sneaky heart-stoppers to definitely merit the label "page turner."The story involves Harry, as he grows from an angelic choirboy into an intelligent, hardworking young man faced with the difficult choice of going to Oxford upon graduation from the US equivalent of high school, or joining the armed forces as Britain enters the war against Hitler. His romance with the sister of his best friend, together with some of the aforementioned story twists makes his choice even more difficult. Harry's mother, a hard-working widow, who takes a series of back-breaking jobs to help with Harry's expenses, is harboring a secret about Harry's parentage. This secret, if revealed could destroy lives, and Archer skillfully weaves his story around it.
My only problem with the book was the absolutely sucker punch ending. I was left gasping, yelling "Don't do that to me!!." I will be among thousands lined up to get my hands on the second book in the series to find out what happens next. The Clifton Chronicles promises to keep us all enthralled for several years to come.
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LibraryThing member bookaholicmom
I have never read a book written by Jeffrey Archer before. After reading this book I will be looking out for more of his books. What an amazing storyteller!
Only Time Will Tell tells the story of two families, the Barringtons, a well to do family and the Cliftons, a struggling family. The
Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of another character. I found this extremely interesting even though some of the same storyline was retold. It gave me a different look at the situation as it happened. Seeing the same situation through the eyes of another can be quite eye-opening.
The characters are well developed. I felt I knew each character very well. The author does a fantastic job creating each character's personality. Each character seems to be harboring some sort of secret by the time this book ends. Some of the characters are not very likeable but make for great reading. Every saga needs a good villain or two. Other characters such as Maisie and Harry will capture your heart. You can't help but feel for Harry and Maisie. I kept hoping life would get easier for them.
The book ends with a huge cliffhanger that has me dying to get my hands on the next installment of this series. I find myself wondering what will happen to each of the characters in the book. This book ends with many unanswered questions but I knew going into this book it was a series spanning many years and many generations. I adore a good family saga and this one does not disappoint! I loved all the unexpected twists. I can't wait to see where Mr. Archer plans on taking this storyline next! He has made me a big fan! I just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book! I know I'll be reading all installments of The Clifton Chronicles. You don't want to miss this series!
Only Time Will Tell tells the story of two families, the Barringtons, a well to do family and the Cliftons, a struggling family. The
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Barringtons are shipping magnates while the Cliftons are hard working people. Young Harry Clifton's mother, Maisie is a waitress while his uncle is a dock worker as was his father. Young Harry believes his father died in the war. Maisie will do what she needs to do to get her son the type of education he needs to break the cycle. Harry has a phenomenal voice which just may be his ticket to a good school. When Harry goes off to school he meets Giles Barrington and the two become fast friends. The two boys become connected without realizing they may have always been connected. As Harry learns the truth about his father, the world is getting closer to being at war and decisions are made which will affect them all.Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of another character. I found this extremely interesting even though some of the same storyline was retold. It gave me a different look at the situation as it happened. Seeing the same situation through the eyes of another can be quite eye-opening.
The characters are well developed. I felt I knew each character very well. The author does a fantastic job creating each character's personality. Each character seems to be harboring some sort of secret by the time this book ends. Some of the characters are not very likeable but make for great reading. Every saga needs a good villain or two. Other characters such as Maisie and Harry will capture your heart. You can't help but feel for Harry and Maisie. I kept hoping life would get easier for them.
The book ends with a huge cliffhanger that has me dying to get my hands on the next installment of this series. I find myself wondering what will happen to each of the characters in the book. This book ends with many unanswered questions but I knew going into this book it was a series spanning many years and many generations. I adore a good family saga and this one does not disappoint! I loved all the unexpected twists. I can't wait to see where Mr. Archer plans on taking this storyline next! He has made me a big fan! I just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book! I know I'll be reading all installments of The Clifton Chronicles. You don't want to miss this series!
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LibraryThing member asigg44
I won this book from Library Thing's First Reads.
This is a very good book! It is the first book in a series and is a great story of a boy named Harry Clifton. This book starts out in the early 1900's in Bristol, England. Harry's father, Arthur Clifton, who is a dock worker, mysteriously vanishes
I loved how the author switches the story-tellers at each important point in Harry's life. There is action, adventure, romance and mystery in this book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, as this book is ended at a pivotal point, which makes the reader eager to continue this story. Very good, delightful book!
This is a very good book! It is the first book in a series and is a great story of a boy named Harry Clifton. This book starts out in the early 1900's in Bristol, England. Harry's father, Arthur Clifton, who is a dock worker, mysteriously vanishes
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with no explanation. His mother, Maisie Clifton, is forced to go to work in a tea shop to support them. This story encompasses a span of time from when Harry begins school, until the time that Harry is set to go to college at Oxford. There are many important people from Harry's life who tell this story from their perspective as the story goes on.I loved how the author switches the story-tellers at each important point in Harry's life. There is action, adventure, romance and mystery in this book.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, as this book is ended at a pivotal point, which makes the reader eager to continue this story. Very good, delightful book!
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LibraryThing member StephaniePetty
Harry Clifton is the only child of a deceased dock worker and a waitress, though it doesn't take long for his intelligence and choral talent to shine through and he's whisked away to some of the best schools in England- those rarely attended by anyone in the lower class. He grows up blissfully
I was amazed at how quickly the book sucked me in. Archer's multigenerational points of view naturally develop the plot more and more with each character's side of the story. The reader gets to experience the conflict from not just the eyes of the primary protagonist, but from five other major characters of varying age, social class, and occupation and learns each character's deep, dark secrets firsthand.
Being the first book in The Clifton Chronicles, documenting Harry's life from 1919 to 1940, I immediately craved its sequel as I finished the last page, desperate to know what happens to Harry Clifton as another great event begins to unfold. Archer's chosen ending to this installment leaves the reader in awe of what could possibly happen next! A job very well done! Giving Only Time Will Tell five out of five stars still doesn't seem to do it justice.
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ignorant of the scandals surrounding his entire existence, as hints that expose several deep-rooted lies begin to fall into his lap. The story takes place in World War II era England- a dramatic, violent backdrop for an equally tumultuous series of events. Harry must learn to accept the truths he discovers, among them are the circumstances of his father's death, his uncle's imprisonment, and his true parentage.I was amazed at how quickly the book sucked me in. Archer's multigenerational points of view naturally develop the plot more and more with each character's side of the story. The reader gets to experience the conflict from not just the eyes of the primary protagonist, but from five other major characters of varying age, social class, and occupation and learns each character's deep, dark secrets firsthand.
Being the first book in The Clifton Chronicles, documenting Harry's life from 1919 to 1940, I immediately craved its sequel as I finished the last page, desperate to know what happens to Harry Clifton as another great event begins to unfold. Archer's chosen ending to this installment leaves the reader in awe of what could possibly happen next! A job very well done! Giving Only Time Will Tell five out of five stars still doesn't seem to do it justice.
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LibraryThing member suetu
Only time will tell… how many years it will take to get the full story!
Remember decades ago when Jeffrey Archer used to write those fantastic epics? Kane & Able, As the Crow Flies; that’s what I’m talking about! Here’s the good news: His latest novel, Only Time Will Tell harkens back to his
Except, except, this is NOT a trilogy—this is, in fact, the first of the FIVE planned novels that will comprise The Clifton Chronicles. And as entertaining as the book is, and I’ll get back to that in a moment, this is very annoying. Back in the day, you write an epic, it’s 600 or 800 or even 1,000 pages. James Michener did it. James Clavell did it. And, yes, Jeffrey Archer did it. But in the very recent past, some marketing genius realized that you could get readers to pay a lot more for a long book by chopping it into pieces. Maybe pad the text a little, and leave some white space on the pages. What once might have been an 800-page novel is now three 300-page novels. It is the era of the trilogy. And writers don’t even have to worry about writing in story arcs to end each segment. No, just end them wherever—or even better, end on cliff-hanger! And don’t warn readers that they’re only getting a very incomplete portion of the story they signed on to read! And make them wait years to get to the conclusion!
Sorry, was I ranting? It’s true that Mr. Archer (Sir Jeffrey?) and his publishers are guilty of most of my complaints above. For instance, this novel ends very abruptly, with no sort of resolution at all, on a cliff-hanger. So, yes, this new trend is really bugging me. I’ll move on now.
The series is named the Clifton Chronicles after the protagonist, Harry Clifton. This novel opens in 1919, when Harry is a mere gleam in his father’s eye. What follows is roughly the first 20 years of that young man’s life. Despite his very modest circumstances, Harry, it turns out, is a gifted fellow. In addition to being very bright, he’s a truly exceptional singer. Harry’s talents are recognized by several people in a position to nurture them, and so it comes to pass that this dock worker’s son has an opportunity for an education and a future his family could not have imagined.
This first book covers Harry’s school years—the friends and enemies he makes along the way, the triumphs and setbacks, the secrets and lies, and the many, many melodramas. Archer is at his soapy best, and Harry’s story is engaging, eventful, and fast-paced. He’s a likable protagonist, a veritable paragon of virtue, as are his mother, friends, educators, and so forth. You’ll know the baddies when you see them. Archer’s characters are not nuanced. What you see is what you get. But none of this takes away from the fun of the story being told. Only Time Will Tell is not challenging or literary; it’s just good old-fashioned escapist fiction. I had a great time reading it. And as much as I grumble, I will be back for part two. Grrr.
Remember decades ago when Jeffrey Archer used to write those fantastic epics? Kane & Able, As the Crow Flies; that’s what I’m talking about! Here’s the good news: His latest novel, Only Time Will Tell harkens back to his
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glory days. It’s the most entertaining thing he’s written in years, in my humble opinion. Here’s the bad news: What once would have been a juicy epic tale has fallen victim to the publishing industry’s current trend of trilogizing. (New word. I coined it.) Except, except, this is NOT a trilogy—this is, in fact, the first of the FIVE planned novels that will comprise The Clifton Chronicles. And as entertaining as the book is, and I’ll get back to that in a moment, this is very annoying. Back in the day, you write an epic, it’s 600 or 800 or even 1,000 pages. James Michener did it. James Clavell did it. And, yes, Jeffrey Archer did it. But in the very recent past, some marketing genius realized that you could get readers to pay a lot more for a long book by chopping it into pieces. Maybe pad the text a little, and leave some white space on the pages. What once might have been an 800-page novel is now three 300-page novels. It is the era of the trilogy. And writers don’t even have to worry about writing in story arcs to end each segment. No, just end them wherever—or even better, end on cliff-hanger! And don’t warn readers that they’re only getting a very incomplete portion of the story they signed on to read! And make them wait years to get to the conclusion!
Sorry, was I ranting? It’s true that Mr. Archer (Sir Jeffrey?) and his publishers are guilty of most of my complaints above. For instance, this novel ends very abruptly, with no sort of resolution at all, on a cliff-hanger. So, yes, this new trend is really bugging me. I’ll move on now.
The series is named the Clifton Chronicles after the protagonist, Harry Clifton. This novel opens in 1919, when Harry is a mere gleam in his father’s eye. What follows is roughly the first 20 years of that young man’s life. Despite his very modest circumstances, Harry, it turns out, is a gifted fellow. In addition to being very bright, he’s a truly exceptional singer. Harry’s talents are recognized by several people in a position to nurture them, and so it comes to pass that this dock worker’s son has an opportunity for an education and a future his family could not have imagined.
This first book covers Harry’s school years—the friends and enemies he makes along the way, the triumphs and setbacks, the secrets and lies, and the many, many melodramas. Archer is at his soapy best, and Harry’s story is engaging, eventful, and fast-paced. He’s a likable protagonist, a veritable paragon of virtue, as are his mother, friends, educators, and so forth. You’ll know the baddies when you see them. Archer’s characters are not nuanced. What you see is what you get. But none of this takes away from the fun of the story being told. Only Time Will Tell is not challenging or literary; it’s just good old-fashioned escapist fiction. I had a great time reading it. And as much as I grumble, I will be back for part two. Grrr.
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LibraryThing member bjmitch
Jeffrey Archer's latest book comes out this month. Only Time Will Tell is the first volume in a trilogy, the story of the Clifton family and therefore called The Clifton Chronicles. It begins in Bristol, England and at the end of the first book Harry Clifton comes to New York City.
The plot of this
As I finished the book yesterday afternoon I was anxious to know what will happen next, particularly since there is a fascinating twist at the end that throws everything up in the air.
The major character is Harry Clifton, a boy of only about five when the story begins and a young man at the end of the book. He is a character so believable and vividly drawn that I'm sure he will stay with me until the next book comes out. The poor kid goes through struggles that would make most people give up, but Harry struggles on showing he is truly his mother's son. She works as a waitress and has her own difficulties as she works to make enough money for Harry's schooling. His amazing voice helps him get ahead for several years, but puberty sends him to the drama department where his maturing voice and theatrical talent added to his determination to make good grades ensure his success.
The other character I love in this book is known as Old Jack Tar. He lives at the docks and befriends Harry, becoming a father to this fatherless boy. You'll be surprised at who Jack really is, as is most everyone in the town.
There are many other wonderful characters in the book, all of whom raise this story above the ordinary telling of this well-worn plot. I do recommend the book which I won from the blog "Tutu's Two Cents."
The plot of this
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book is as old as storytelling and so it takes a master writer to make it fresh, new, different from all the other versions. Archer solves this problem with an unsettled time period and with the characters he creates to populate his story. His characters, after all, have to be real enough and interesting enough for the reader to care what will happen to them in the next volume of this trilogy. As I finished the book yesterday afternoon I was anxious to know what will happen next, particularly since there is a fascinating twist at the end that throws everything up in the air.
The major character is Harry Clifton, a boy of only about five when the story begins and a young man at the end of the book. He is a character so believable and vividly drawn that I'm sure he will stay with me until the next book comes out. The poor kid goes through struggles that would make most people give up, but Harry struggles on showing he is truly his mother's son. She works as a waitress and has her own difficulties as she works to make enough money for Harry's schooling. His amazing voice helps him get ahead for several years, but puberty sends him to the drama department where his maturing voice and theatrical talent added to his determination to make good grades ensure his success.
The other character I love in this book is known as Old Jack Tar. He lives at the docks and befriends Harry, becoming a father to this fatherless boy. You'll be surprised at who Jack really is, as is most everyone in the town.
There are many other wonderful characters in the book, all of whom raise this story above the ordinary telling of this well-worn plot. I do recommend the book which I won from the blog "Tutu's Two Cents."
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LibraryThing member milibrarian
This is the first in a projected series and tells the story of Harry Clifton from elementary school to Oxford. Throughout the novel, Old Jack encourages Harry to do well in school and become his very best, but he never tells Harry how his father really died. Harry has been told that he died in the
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first World War, but the dates just don't match up. Old Jack is also influential behind the scenes in providing opportunities for Harry. His best friend's father dislikes him for no apparent reason, eventually, leading to the questions of not only how his father died, who was responsible for his death, and who is really his dad? There are great characters and storytelling in this novel, probably one of Archer's best among his recent books (but only time will tell if it is as good as The Prodigal Daughter or Kane & Abel). The final twist in the tale will make the reader want more as neither Harry's nor the reader's questions are fully answered. Show Less
LibraryThing member repb
I bought this book in London to read on flight back home. I liked the way it was written; that is from different points of view and I liked the plot. Other than the rotten ending, I felt the story was well-paced until the last couple of chapters when it went by way fast! However, I must say I was
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dreadfully irritated at the close of the story - which, of course, was no close at all. This is a cheap piece of 'buy my next book to see what happens.' I expected more - much more - from this author who is now made my 'don't bother' list. Show Less
LibraryThing member marient7
The Life of Harry Clifton beginning in 1920 and going thru his school years, a romance with Emma Harrington , school at Oxford and ending with his internship on a ship torpedoed by the Nazis. The next book is Sins Of the Fathers.
LibraryThing member ccayne
I've listened to Jeffrey Archer and loved him. This is the first book of his I read and I was disappointed. I found it too predictable and somewhat outlandish. Although I kept turning the pages, I felt manipulated. This is the first in series following the life of Harry Clifton and it is told in
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alternating narratives within which there seems to be a third person narrator which I found confusing and odd. Diverting but nothing more. Show Less
LibraryThing member FremdeB
Jeffrey Archer is a wonderful storyteller. I enjoyed this first in the Clifton Chronicles series just as much as I have his other titles. If you like stories involving generations of families and their intertwining lives, you should definitely read Jeffrey Archer. Highly recommended.
LibraryThing member easefulreader
This is the first thing I've ever read by this prolific author and I was about to say it would be my last when the extraordinary cliff-hanger in the last sentence made me hesitate. MAYBE I'll go on and read the next one in the series. The hook is a good one -- but so is the frustration factor. I'm
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surprised at what a CLUNKY writer he is. He telegraphs every twist and turn in the plot. He repeats many scenes from the point of view of other characters. And ultimately it's a FAIRY TALE of a very British sort, with a fairy godmother (well, godfather in this case) protecting young Harry at every turn and that strangely British notion that 'noble birth' actually means something. Here's one American reader who would have been much more impressed with Harry Clifton if his father HAD been a dockworker. If you're yearning for a story about a young British lad who starts out poor but is always better, smarter, and nobler than the others, and who comes up just fine through their peculiar 'public' school system you'll like this. If you want characters who feel real you'll have to look elsewhere. Show Less
LibraryThing member mojomomma
The story of Harry Clifton born in the early 1920s with every strike against him, which he overcomes by being watched over by a rather large group of adults who all served together during the Boer War. Naturally, the father of his best friend (who is very wealthy) turns out to be Harry's father as
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well, and of course he falls in love with his best friend's younger sister who he discovers at his wedding could be his half-sister....it goes on like that, but its pretty entertaining for a soap opera in a book. Show Less
LibraryThing member dpappas
This is the first book by Jeffrey Archer that I have read, and right now I am debating whether to continue on with this series or not (I do plan on reading some of Archer's other books though). This book started off great and I really enjoyed reading about Harry Clifton. I also enjoyed the changes
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in point of view between the main characters, it really enhanced the story for me. I loved the first half of the book and if it had continued the way it began it would have been a great book. Sadly in the second half of the book everything seemed to go off the rails. Some of the events of the second half of the book made me lose interest in the book and wonder where the book was going. Even though I could have passed on parts of this book I still liked it. I haven't quite made up my mind yet to continue on with the series but I am curious to see what Archer's other books will be like. Show Less
LibraryThing member nyiper
I love reading Jeffrey Archer's books----I'm just so glad that I happened to see that the sequel is already OUT as I was reading this first in the series---great relief! I would have been horrified to get to the end and get left hanging there wondering, "what next????" I wouldn't have minded a
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gigantic book with all of it in one place. Show Less
LibraryThing member labdaddy4
Easy read, very strong character development, a family saga involving class, status, crime, money, etc. I am looking forward to reading the next in the trilogy
LibraryThing member DWWilkin
I have been reading Lord Archer for years. Not a Penny More, a classic example of his ability that catapulted him to the top of the profession.
Here we have the beginning of a new tale, but aside from what he normally does, interweaving a story with a great amount of detail about the economics of
Some sequences move us forward. Some reiterate what we have already seen and sometimes we have seen it too many times.
That we really only see the interwar years between WWI and WWII and from a narrow perspective means that there is a large swath of history that we would like to see. But we do not. That our educated heroes do not fully prepare themselves for the oncoming war, or that we see how many parts of England just could not comprehend that it was coming is a little light.
As always though Archer gives us a way to look at the characters he writes and ties us emotionally to them. I fear that the tale may be overly drawn out, as the end here, was clearly the end of the beginning. That this was not a complete book that you would read and think, ah, The End. Nope, you have to read more. That is not really fair when you purchase these 'Bestsellers' and hope that you get a full story.
Hope but doubt that the next one will be complete. But they are filling.
Here we have the beginning of a new tale, but aside from what he normally does, interweaving a story with a great amount of detail about the economics of
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his characters, he has broken the tale up with views of other characters revisiting and embellishing events along the storyline.Some sequences move us forward. Some reiterate what we have already seen and sometimes we have seen it too many times.
That we really only see the interwar years between WWI and WWII and from a narrow perspective means that there is a large swath of history that we would like to see. But we do not. That our educated heroes do not fully prepare themselves for the oncoming war, or that we see how many parts of England just could not comprehend that it was coming is a little light.
As always though Archer gives us a way to look at the characters he writes and ties us emotionally to them. I fear that the tale may be overly drawn out, as the end here, was clearly the end of the beginning. That this was not a complete book that you would read and think, ah, The End. Nope, you have to read more. That is not really fair when you purchase these 'Bestsellers' and hope that you get a full story.
Hope but doubt that the next one will be complete. But they are filling.
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LibraryThing member MaryAnn12
As usual Jeffrey Archer writes a great story. You won't want to put it down. Great characters and evolving story that is easy to follow with an intriguing story line. I can't wait to read the next two books. The end of the first book is a jaw dropper!
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
7.47 inches
ISBN
9780312539566