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TIME AND TIDE:A NOVEL
The cruiser USS Jefferson City is a ship haunted, perhaps doomed, by a stain on her honor.Her captain is torn between his love for two women, his loyalty to his best friend, and to the Navy to which he has devoted his life.Time and Tide begins with the Jefferson City looming out of the dawn, fleeing a night of terror and death, the bodies of crewmen floating in water-filled compartments below decks. She has deserted her sister ships at the Battle of Savo Island - the worst naval defeat in U.S. history.The Jefferson City's captain, Kansas-born Arthur McKay, has relieved his best friend and Annapolis roommate, Captain Winfield Scott Schley Kemble, and must decide whether to protect his friend's reputation against the Navy's determination to blame him for the Savo disaster or root out the truth.McKay's tough-minded wife Rita wants him to destroy Kemble, a man she once loved and now loathes. But Rita's fragile, seemingly innocent sister Lucy is the secret commander of McKay's soul.McKay's struggle anchors the lives and fate of the officers and men aboard the Jefferson City - from the corrupt Executive Officer Daniel Boone Parker to the doubt-tormented Chaplain Emerson Bushnell to Jack Peterson, the arrogant fire controlman, compelled by his sailor's code to be unfaithful to every woman who loves him.Through these stories and many more, we follow the We are aboard the Jefferson City as she steams into the terrifying night battles off Guadalcanal, with Japanese shells thundering out of the darkness. From the Solomon Islands to the Bering Sea to the kamikaze-ridden skies of Okinawa, the Jefferson City provides a prism through which the Navy's Pacific war is brilliantly reflected as her captain and crew search for the meaning of such words as shipmate, honor, faith.Time and Tide is a passionate love story, a compelling war story, an epic of Americans on the cutting edge of history.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
Thomas Fleming
127 books149 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Thomas James Fleming was an historian and historical novelist, with a special interest in the American Revolution. He was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a World War I hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades. Before her marriage, his mother, Katherine Dolan Fleming, was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System.
After graduating from St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University in 1950. After brief stints as a newspaperman and magazine editor, he became a full-time writer in 1960. His first history book, Now We Are Enemies, an account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, was published that same year. It was a best-seller, reviewed in more than 75 newspapers and featured as a main selection of the Literary Guild.
Fleming published books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary era. He also wrote about other periods of American history and wrote over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds. He said, "I never wanted to be an Irish American writer, my whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer".
Fleming died at his home in New York City on July 23, 2017, at the age of 90.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Thomas James Fleming was an historian and historical novelist, with a special interest in the American Revolution. He was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of a World War I hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades. Before her marriage, his mother, Katherine Dolan Fleming, was a teacher in the Jersey City Public School System.
After graduating from St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University in 1950. After brief stints as a newspaperman and magazine editor, he became a full-time writer in 1960. His first history book, Now We Are Enemies, an account of the Battle of Bunker Hill, was published that same year. It was a best-seller, reviewed in more than 75 newspapers and featured as a main selection of the Literary Guild.
Fleming published books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary era. He also wrote about other periods of American history and wrote over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds. He said, "I never wanted to be an Irish American writer, my whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer".
Fleming died at his home in New York City on July 23, 2017, at the age of 90.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 5, 2017
I'm not sure how to rate this book. It's historical fiction and involves a navy cruiser during WWII. The weird part is that the author modeled the ship's story after not just one but two real ships, switching from one to the second late in the book.
I found the switch to the story of the second ship (the USS Indianapolis) rather gratuitous given that ship's history. The earlier part of the book centered around another real ship (the USS Chicago) disgraced during the Battle of Savo Island - the US Navy's worst defeat in history - and it's fight (literal and figurative) to regain it's honor under a new captain.
It's mostly a compelling narrative with lots of historically correct action and the stories of the individual crewmen and officers are complex. Maybe a little too much so. The author devotes a lot of words to the sailor's ongoing backstories, some of which I frankly lost interest in.
Overall, a good read for naval history buffs.
I found the switch to the story of the second ship (the USS Indianapolis) rather gratuitous given that ship's history. The earlier part of the book centered around another real ship (the USS Chicago) disgraced during the Battle of Savo Island - the US Navy's worst defeat in history - and it's fight (literal and figurative) to regain it's honor under a new captain.
It's mostly a compelling narrative with lots of historically correct action and the stories of the individual crewmen and officers are complex. Maybe a little too much so. The author devotes a lot of words to the sailor's ongoing backstories, some of which I frankly lost interest in.
Overall, a good read for naval history buffs.
September 7, 2017
Great book. Large cast of complex characters. An unvarnished portrait of men at war. Lots of action as well. GAME OF THRONES like in the way main characters are killed. A masterpiece.
July 20, 2016
Loved it! Great historical fiction of WWII in the Pacific. I learned a lot; there is so much to learn! My main struggle was keeping the characters straight. I actually opened a Word document to help me. If I thought anyone else would ever need it, I'd put it online.
January 22, 2018
Remember the old novel ( and then a movie) " Battle Cry" about young Marines from boot camp to the horrors of the war against the Japanese ? That was a timeless classic compared to this hapless book.
I bought the Kindle version of the book after reading the sample chapters. It seemed right for my interests: a novel of the Navy in WWII. It began with the hero being ordered to relieve the captain of. USN ship that had run from a fight while other ships were taking a beating from the Japanese navy off Savo Isalnd. Moreover , the captain being releived was the former Annapolis roommate and best friend of the man sent to relieve him. It sounded like a great story coming my way.
It was not.
Not unless you think that a book that spends most of its pages relating the bedroom, barroom, and back room sexual adventures, hetero- and homosexual- of the officers, their women and the crew's whoring ,boozing and " wham, bam, thankyee ma'am" adventures has the making for a good novel.
Every time it seemed that the author was gating on track, it was back to " Sex on the Sea." Worse the author conflated the ship in the book with the USS Indianapois, the cruiser which had carried the a-bomb to its airbase destination and was then torpedoed on its way home. This is the wartime tragedy in which hundreds of sailors were left to the Sharks for days before rescue craft were sent out to the proper area. (Remember the fishing boat captain from " Jaws"? )
I found myself flipping past a lot of the book. No doubt that cost me in following the plot and characters, but too bad.
A waste of ink worth a lot less that the $1.99 paid for it.
Notes: crudity, sex, brawling .
I bought the Kindle version of the book after reading the sample chapters. It seemed right for my interests: a novel of the Navy in WWII. It began with the hero being ordered to relieve the captain of. USN ship that had run from a fight while other ships were taking a beating from the Japanese navy off Savo Isalnd. Moreover , the captain being releived was the former Annapolis roommate and best friend of the man sent to relieve him. It sounded like a great story coming my way.
It was not.
Not unless you think that a book that spends most of its pages relating the bedroom, barroom, and back room sexual adventures, hetero- and homosexual- of the officers, their women and the crew's whoring ,boozing and " wham, bam, thankyee ma'am" adventures has the making for a good novel.
Every time it seemed that the author was gating on track, it was back to " Sex on the Sea." Worse the author conflated the ship in the book with the USS Indianapois, the cruiser which had carried the a-bomb to its airbase destination and was then torpedoed on its way home. This is the wartime tragedy in which hundreds of sailors were left to the Sharks for days before rescue craft were sent out to the proper area. (Remember the fishing boat captain from " Jaws"? )
I found myself flipping past a lot of the book. No doubt that cost me in following the plot and characters, but too bad.
A waste of ink worth a lot less that the $1.99 paid for it.
Notes: crudity, sex, brawling .
December 27, 2017
This book tells the story of the fictional USS Jefferson City. The crew are humiliated by the seeming cowardice of their Captain. When he is replaced by Capt. McKay the challenges become more apparent. The interaction of the crew, the constant fighting with both the Japanese and the inflexible Navy traditions provide a complex and fascinating look at the sailors fighting in the Pacific.
Although fiction, the stories ring true and the outcome is not quite what we were led to believe.
Good story, well written. A good read for anyone interested in Navel history.
Although fiction, the stories ring true and the outcome is not quite what we were led to believe.
Good story, well written. A good read for anyone interested in Navel history.
September 14, 2018
Very good read, even better if one has a military background but not necessary. At the risk of being sexist, probably more of a guys book than gals. Having said that, both sisters, and wife enjoyed it immensely. Might be a good idea to keep a log of characters as there are quite a few & do become intertwined.
May 10, 2017
Sounds vaguely like all tales I'be heard of the fateful last voyage of the USS indionapolis
Still an interesting story of seamanship, courage, warcraft,and persavance to duty and honor.maybe the names have been changed, maybe just a good tale.
Still an interesting story of seamanship, courage, warcraft,and persavance to duty and honor.maybe the names have been changed, maybe just a good tale.
June 24, 2017
strikes me as an epic novel along the lines of War and Remembrance. It's very long and detailed. I now feel like I have a good understanding of life around a heavy cruiser in the Navy during World War 2.
August 5, 2017
Excellent read
A well written historical drama which is accurate to the period and an interesting account about life aboard a WW II cruiser in the Pacific. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend if you are a fan of this genre and time period.
A well written historical drama which is accurate to the period and an interesting account about life aboard a WW II cruiser in the Pacific. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend if you are a fan of this genre and time period.
October 11, 2020
Good read
When they loaded the bombs I turned into the story of the story of the USS Indianapolis. But it gave the ship a personality in doing it. I enjoyed the interactions between the enlisted an officers.
When they loaded the bombs I turned into the story of the story of the USS Indianapolis. But it gave the ship a personality in doing it. I enjoyed the interactions between the enlisted an officers.
November 27, 2024
Time and Tide
If you like stories that fully develop characters, their flaws and virtues, you'll love this book. Fast-paced action interspersed with some slow moving, occasional boring reading..but well worth it!
If you like stories that fully develop characters, their flaws and virtues, you'll love this book. Fast-paced action interspersed with some slow moving, occasional boring reading..but well worth it!
June 19, 2022
Didn’t care for the book, too much like a soap. Disappointing!
January 3, 2023
Long book but, really good. I feel like I've been living in the WWII era for nearly a week!!!
August 14, 2024
Didn't like it for the language
April 24, 2020
Started fine. Then slowed to boring and ended with awful. Sorry I wasted my time reading this drivel. Too bad, because Fleming is generally very good.
November 13, 2009
A story of World War II.
February 27, 2011
A page turner. Not my favorite sort of story but interesting.
January 24, 2016
I gave up, unfinished: got bored with it.
August 28, 2013
Outstanding novel of WW II set around the navy. loved it.
March 25, 2017
Absolutely outstanding!
I just finished reading this marvelous book for third time. It is one of my all time favorite novels. I highly recommend it.
I just finished reading this marvelous book for third time. It is one of my all time favorite novels. I highly recommend it.
April 3, 2017
Failure of command, dereliction of duty and falsified history
The author played fast and loose with history to advance his thesis of a country and Navy that did not deserve victory. While well written, it portrayed an artificially damning narrative of the United States and the U.S. Navy in World War II. I found it unconvincing in its portrayal of disloyal officers putting personal issues above their duty to their men and ship. This is an example of revisionist storytelling. I believe the author was trying to hide an anti- American bias behind a portrayal of the nitty gritty "real" story.
On another note, this is proof of the demise of proof reading. There were so many errors of punctuation that nearly every page contained at least one and many pages contained several. This product should not have cost even one cent. Even free, this would have cost too much.
The author played fast and loose with history to advance his thesis of a country and Navy that did not deserve victory. While well written, it portrayed an artificially damning narrative of the United States and the U.S. Navy in World War II. I found it unconvincing in its portrayal of disloyal officers putting personal issues above their duty to their men and ship. This is an example of revisionist storytelling. I believe the author was trying to hide an anti- American bias behind a portrayal of the nitty gritty "real" story.
On another note, this is proof of the demise of proof reading. There were so many errors of punctuation that nearly every page contained at least one and many pages contained several. This product should not have cost even one cent. Even free, this would have cost too much.
April 8, 2017
Rip Off
This book is a rip off of the true story of the USS Indianapolis, and a disservice the brave officers and sailors of that ill-fated ship. Read the true story of the Indianapolis not this so-called novel. Cannot recommend this book.
This book is a rip off of the true story of the USS Indianapolis, and a disservice the brave officers and sailors of that ill-fated ship. Read the true story of the Indianapolis not this so-called novel. Cannot recommend this book.
April 24, 2017
This book took a l-----ong time to read. Avery 20-25 minutes I would have to set is aside as all of the characters names would get all twisted up in my head. If you are good at remembering the names and interaction with 25-30 characters this may be your find of book, but not mine.
May 3, 2017
Excellent story. It was very well put together and evenly paced through out. Well worth the time and effort Mr. Fleming put in crafting this tale.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews