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The Wages of Fame
The saga of the Stapleton family continues as George, Hugh Stapleton's grandson, a New Jersey senator, is reunited in pre-Civil War Washington with John Sladen, an old friend and the secret ex-lover of George's headstrong wife, Caroline
- GenresHistorical Fiction
461 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
2 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Fleming
127 books150 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 29, 2016
The Wages of Fame by Thomas Fleming kept me spellbound in Ireland and did the same for my husband. It is about the Stapleton family in pre Civil War America and a very good story. The political scene was very different in that time and that interested me as did the story of Caroline Stapleton as a political manipulator of the day. Great stuff!
June 22, 2017
Dan checked this book out, and I read it too. Interesting historical setting in 1800's to Civil War, but too many names and characters talked about, but not developed. Too political based for my liking.
June 11, 2023
Fleming is far better at nonfiction history than he is at historical fiction…but this had enough history in it to make it interesting.
April 8, 2025
Second time reading this. While 200 pages too long, it still gives a very interesting look at US politics and presidents 1830-1860.
January 3, 2026
Just short of a great book
August 28, 2012
I had overdone mysteries, so as i walked by the "F" shelf of the library i stopped to take a look at Thomas Fleming's fiction section. He's an historian who writes great historical fiction, as well as non- fiction. I like him for several reasons: he often writes about NJ/NY history; he writes very strong woman characters, and he knows women's history; i know his historical facts are accurate; and he uses those vocabulary words we had in high school or college vocabulary tests. He uses words that i recognize but generally have not often seen in novels, stretching my vocabulary.
I think the first fiction book i read of his was "Officer's Wives" which is a contemporary book. I laughed out loud at his accurate depiction of an arrogant, dictatorial General. I was working for the Dept of Defense at the time and recognized the caricature. This book is "Wages of Fame", the second in a series of the Stapleton family. It's set in the first half of the 19th century and he's including a lot of history and historical figures.
He also writes "history" stories for juveniles and teens.
I think the first fiction book i read of his was "Officer's Wives" which is a contemporary book. I laughed out loud at his accurate depiction of an arrogant, dictatorial General. I was working for the Dept of Defense at the time and recognized the caricature. This book is "Wages of Fame", the second in a series of the Stapleton family. It's set in the first half of the 19th century and he's including a lot of history and historical figures.
He also writes "history" stories for juveniles and teens.
April 5, 2010
Although this was a continuation of the story of the Stapleton family from an earlier work, this novel was easily read as a stand alone book. I vacillated between giving this three and four stars; I would give it 3.5 but I don't know how to do half stars...The only reason I didn't give it four stars is because parts of the book moved really slowly for me, at times feeling more like a history textbook than a novel.
That said, I loved the narrative; Caroline was a fascinating character, and the author's prose brought the events and scenes vividly to life. I would definitely read other books by this author, but I would be prepared for a not so fast read this time.
I have read alot of John Jakes and James Michener; this is a similar type of historical fiction, although those were lighter reads; this was more along the lines of Gore Vidal's books about early American History and the Civil War.
That said, I loved the narrative; Caroline was a fascinating character, and the author's prose brought the events and scenes vividly to life. I would definitely read other books by this author, but I would be prepared for a not so fast read this time.
I have read alot of John Jakes and James Michener; this is a similar type of historical fiction, although those were lighter reads; this was more along the lines of Gore Vidal's books about early American History and the Civil War.
May 16, 2012
excellent historical novel from the prospective of a fame hungry woman who lusts for a place in the history books. Great characters, but a little too much political minutia at times, which took aways from the flow of the storyline.
March 21, 2010
Another political historical fiction. It was interesting but slow reading for me.
April 11, 2017
i would probably have enjoyed this more if i had read the first book in the series. however, strong women with staunchly held political beliefs are quite appealing. a good read; but, read the books in order.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews