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By the Hands Of Men: The Complete Saga
Brilliant.I couldn’t put this down. I loved every page!--5 star Amazon review, May 2021Robert Fitzgerald, an English Lieutenant, and Charlotte Braninov, an immigrant Russian nurse, meet scarcely a mile from the bloody trenches of World War One, where they witness the hell that the hands of men can create.Ranging from the battlefields of France to civil-war torn Russia, on the streets of Shanghai and the jungles and deserts of Africa, to the wilds of Wyoming and the backlots of depression-era Hollywood, the memory of their brief weeks together will follow them for years as they cross the globe seeking peace.Can love survive in a world staggered by war and revolution or in hearts scarred by loss and human duplicity?Epic historical fiction, the six-book saga sweeps across two decades and four continents in a gripping tale of fate, loss, redemption, and love.Again an amazing work!!! Written by an amazing author. He handles each character so that there is no doubt of their true character and his scenes so brilliantly yet sensitively descriptive that I cried all the way through, so completely did I relate.-- Kindle Reviewer (5 Stars)
- GenresHistorical Fiction
1548 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2020
125 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Roy M. Griffis
20 books143 followers I was born in Texas City, TX, the son of a career Air Force meteorologist. Attended a variety of schools at all of the hot spots of the nation, such as Abilene, Texas and Bellevue, Nebraska. Sent to my grandparent’s house in Tucson, Arizona when things were tough at home. I was pretty damn lost, as my grandparents were largely strangers to me. My older brother, a more taciturn type, refused to discuss what was going on. Fortunately, like so many kids before me, I was rescued by literature. Or, at least, by fiction.
In a tiny used bookstore that was just one block up from a dirt road, I discovered that some good soul had unloaded his entire collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “John Carter of Mars” series in Ballantine Paperback. Moved by some impulse, I spent my RC Cola money on the first book, “A Princess of Mars.” I think what struck me was how these books were possessed of magic: they were able to transport me far from this dusty land of relatives who I didn’t know and relatives pretended not to know me to another dusty land of adventure, heroism, nobility, and even love. It was the first magic I’d encountered that wasn’t a patent fraud, and when I closed the stiff paperback with the lurid images on the cover, I decided it was the kind of magic I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to mastering. And, thus, I was saved.
Since then, I’ve never looked back. I’ve written poems, short stories (twice runner-up in the Playboy college fiction contest), plays (winning some regional awards back East and a collegiate Historical Play-writing Award), and screenplays. I’m a member of the WGAw, with one unproduced screenplay sold to Fox Television. Along the way, I’ve done the usual starving artist jobs. Been a janitor, a waiter, a clerk in a bookstore. I was the 61st Aviation Rescue Swimmer in the Coast Guard (all that Tarzan reading wasn’t wasted). I’m also not a bad cook, come to think of it. Currently, I’m a husband, father, and cat-owner. I’m an avid bicyclist and former EMT.
I live in Southern California with my lovely wife. My friends call me “Griff,” my parents call me “Roy,” and my college-age son calls me “Dadman.” It’s a good life. By the Hands of Men, Book Three: “The Wrath of a Righteous Man” will be released in May, 2016.
In a tiny used bookstore that was just one block up from a dirt road, I discovered that some good soul had unloaded his entire collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ “John Carter of Mars” series in Ballantine Paperback. Moved by some impulse, I spent my RC Cola money on the first book, “A Princess of Mars.” I think what struck me was how these books were possessed of magic: they were able to transport me far from this dusty land of relatives who I didn’t know and relatives pretended not to know me to another dusty land of adventure, heroism, nobility, and even love. It was the first magic I’d encountered that wasn’t a patent fraud, and when I closed the stiff paperback with the lurid images on the cover, I decided it was the kind of magic I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to mastering. And, thus, I was saved.
Since then, I’ve never looked back. I’ve written poems, short stories (twice runner-up in the Playboy college fiction contest), plays (winning some regional awards back East and a collegiate Historical Play-writing Award), and screenplays. I’m a member of the WGAw, with one unproduced screenplay sold to Fox Television. Along the way, I’ve done the usual starving artist jobs. Been a janitor, a waiter, a clerk in a bookstore. I was the 61st Aviation Rescue Swimmer in the Coast Guard (all that Tarzan reading wasn’t wasted). I’m also not a bad cook, come to think of it. Currently, I’m a husband, father, and cat-owner. I’m an avid bicyclist and former EMT.
I live in Southern California with my lovely wife. My friends call me “Griff,” my parents call me “Roy,” and my college-age son calls me “Dadman.” It’s a good life. By the Hands of Men, Book Three: “The Wrath of a Righteous Man” will be released in May, 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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February 20, 2022Author discount 99
January 7, 2021
This is one of the greatest books I was fortunate to read. I think that most readers will have trouble to put the book down, ones they start reading. It is a long story, Its about great love, adventure ,history and survival.
He knowns how the describe things and you start to feel part of it. It depict the horrors of war, you can feel the pain and suffering. The fight for survival is so well depicted. The struggle between good and evil. The decline of peoples freedom, due to greed by others, all over the world. You feel ashamed the way human beings can behave. If we could only life like the animals, they can set an example to some of the human race.
This book can be a warning to so many of us. How we should live and enjoy the real pleasurers .
I felt sad when I got to the fine finish of the story, as I wanted so much for it, to go on and on. Love finally found its reward.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work. Thank you for a great book.
He knowns how the describe things and you start to feel part of it. It depict the horrors of war, you can feel the pain and suffering. The fight for survival is so well depicted. The struggle between good and evil. The decline of peoples freedom, due to greed by others, all over the world. You feel ashamed the way human beings can behave. If we could only life like the animals, they can set an example to some of the human race.
This book can be a warning to so many of us. How we should live and enjoy the real pleasurers .
I felt sad when I got to the fine finish of the story, as I wanted so much for it, to go on and on. Love finally found its reward.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work. Thank you for a great book.
March 31, 2025
weaving history through two characters
The reader travels through momentous historical events through two characters traveling a parallel journey. While it seems unlikely two people could survive so many historical events, it’s a story of uncompromising good and unbelievable evil all in the hands of mankind.
Mr Griffis uses an amazing vocabulary to take his readers beyond the ordinary story. He weaves personal interactions with people from history in accurate events many of us are familiar with and some we are not. It gives us an unpleasant taste of man’s cruelty and of man’s ability to survive. That so many people perished at the hands of cruel, power mongers is a grim side to this epic, but forgotten history allows for a repeat of the horrors of war or mistreatment of animals and people.
This is a book worth experiencing. Be prepared for a history lesson you may never forget.
The reader travels through momentous historical events through two characters traveling a parallel journey. While it seems unlikely two people could survive so many historical events, it’s a story of uncompromising good and unbelievable evil all in the hands of mankind.
Mr Griffis uses an amazing vocabulary to take his readers beyond the ordinary story. He weaves personal interactions with people from history in accurate events many of us are familiar with and some we are not. It gives us an unpleasant taste of man’s cruelty and of man’s ability to survive. That so many people perished at the hands of cruel, power mongers is a grim side to this epic, but forgotten history allows for a repeat of the horrors of war or mistreatment of animals and people.
This is a book worth experiencing. Be prepared for a history lesson you may never forget.
December 9, 2020
A most interesting collection covering from the end of WWI to 1940. Excellent research, attractive characters and most enthralling plot. Started with Book One and could not put my Kindle down till I finished Book 6.The coverage of the Russian Revolution, Africa in the 20's and the USA are superb. I highly recommend this series and hope the author will produce similar novels.
November 25, 2022
By the Hands of Men
I very much enjoyed reading this series by Roy Griffis. He has an amazing grasp of the English language and how to convey ideas and emotions. I felt totally involved with the main characters in the story and emphasized with their struggles, both physical and emotional, with the ultimate goal of finding true love.
I very much enjoyed reading this series by Roy Griffis. He has an amazing grasp of the English language and how to convey ideas and emotions. I felt totally involved with the main characters in the story and emphasized with their struggles, both physical and emotional, with the ultimate goal of finding true love.
June 7, 2025
epic and moving
One of those rare stories that stays in your thoughts. At times it was hard to read the trials and hardships that Charlotte and Robert experienced. The author brought history to life. Few books have had such an impact. It would make a great mini-series, in many ways reminiscent of the Yellowstone prequel 1923.
One of those rare stories that stays in your thoughts. At times it was hard to read the trials and hardships that Charlotte and Robert experienced. The author brought history to life. Few books have had such an impact. It would make a great mini-series, in many ways reminiscent of the Yellowstone prequel 1923.
February 21, 2021
The first tree books were excellent but not so good the last 3 ones, at times became so repetitive and almost boring, from 1 to 10 I would give the first tree books a 10 and the last 3 ones a 7.5, that's the way a fill, but I would say that I enjoyed the book collection.
February 20, 2022
A well written, historical saga of relationships, a trip around the world, wonderful characters set in WW1 and the following twenty years, you are in for a treat. Well researched and detailed. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books and feel some sadness that it is over!
April 11, 2025
By the Hands of Men
This book had many characters and places that were very interesting.
A very well written book.It was an eye opener to what had gone on during the war in different countries.
Looking forward to the next read.
This book had many characters and places that were very interesting.
A very well written book.It was an eye opener to what had gone on during the war in different countries.
Looking forward to the next read.
January 5, 2021
I wanted to read the first book as it was about WWI and I had family in that war. Now have read the complete 6 book series. Enjoyed all of them. So much information I didn't know and very easy to read.
May 8, 2025
Learned a great deal
Wonderful storyteller who conveyed truths dug up from research.
This story, the characters will stay with me for quite awhile!
Wonderful storyteller who conveyed truths dug up from research.
This story, the characters will stay with me for quite awhile!
October 29, 2025
An extremely well written series. Highly recommend to those who want to be knowledgeable in the impact of the horrors of war blended with a heart-wrenching love story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews