Only Time Will Tell

ByJeffrey Archer

Release Date: 2011-08-30
Genre: Fiction & Literature

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 2,351 Ratings

Description

From the internationally bestselling author Jeffrey Archer comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in the ambitious Clifton Chronicles series that tells 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 an 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, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

This introductory novel in Archer's engrossing series 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.

Reviews

Really enjoyed the storyline
5
By Steveg208
An easy and fast-paced read. Thoroughly enjoyed the first book of the series. Looking forward to reading the next one.
Very good loved the chact
5
By b.j. lind.
Clean mouh
I should have listened
1
By lsa of NYC
People said the ending sucked. It couldn’t be that bad.

I’m going to do the unthinkable: when the 20 year old protagonist, who was 12 at the start, lands in 1939 Manhattan assuming the identity of a dead shipmate from a British merchant ship torpedoed by the Germans, he is arrested, read his Miranda rights (1939), and charged with first degree murder. End of book. Period No sequel offered. Nothing.

But. Read it if you want...
only time will tell
5
By Bigalarc
Archer on target with this compelling series.
Only time will tell
5
By Trena10
Excellent book- keeps you turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. Family dynamics and events of the times woven into this book.
Only time will tell
1
By JozRpt
Worst ending I've seen - totally unbelievable ending . Villian disappeared; kills off another with a heart attack; and main character gets into very unbelievable "semi-plot, while rest of characters become bunch of loose ends.
Ending following the "non-wedding" ruined the book for me and made it a waste of time.
Only time will tell
5
By 1-12-16
I loved the book well written and many interesting plots and characters. Can not wait to read more of this Author.
Compelling
5
By KarolK189999
Great story, great storywriter.
Page turner
5
By louiskuitton
Keeps you entertained throughout the entire book. Want to see what happens next in the series!
Enjoyable...
3
By Tedious!
Until the end, I enjoyed this story. Having spent many hours on ships, the rescue did not ring true. Then, the grand finale when "Tom" was read his Miranda Rights... The Miranda Rights did not come into law until 1966, twenty+ years after the character's arrest in the book. Although a fictional story, these small details detracted a lot from the story for me, sad to say.