Customer Reviews

Captains and the Kings: The Story of an American Dynasty

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There are two sides to this book, one is typical of the romantic pulp fiction style of the 70's, this is first the life story of Joseph Armagh, a destitute orphan who emigrated from Ireland because of the famine. His bitter experiences in childhood leave him cold hearted and in pursuit of money at all costs, and he achieves incredible wealth and power in America. His goal at any price is to make his son president of the United States. There was a made for TV mini series based on this story.

The other more interesting part of this book though is about the control of wealth and real power in the world in the hands of a few. Taylor Caldwell has written an add on to the story that is a warning that the "controllers" are not fiction and were more powerful than ever. In the Captains and the Kings some historical events described are the US civil war, the presidencies of Lincoln, labor struggles, the making of Teddy Roosevelt, and immigration. Was the civil war after all just an event arranged & set up mainly by rich European bankers for profit? Are all wars always set up by a handful of distant people for profit? This book really makes you wonder

Joseph Armbaugh was only 12 years old when his mother brought him and his siblings from Ireland to America to reunite with his father, who had come before them. Tragedies occurred and the reunion never happened. Suddenly Joseph was on his own and was the sole support of his young brother and sister. He worked with driven single-mindedness to provide for his family and he learned what is took to survive in his adopted land. He set goals for each person in his family and he was devastated when they had other ideas. His loveless marriage was arranged much like a business deal, and it allowed him to begin a relentless pursuit to make his son President of the United States. Although wealthy and powerful, Joseph was no match for unseen forces which pulled strings and manipulated politicians, businessmen, and countries. This is an American tragedy, written with beautiful prose, unrelenting realism, and extraordinary insight. It is a book you will not soon forget.

If I could recommend only one book, it would be Taylor Caldwell's "Captains and the Kings." Here are three reasons.

Caldwell's fascinating tale is filled with ironic, powerful, and unique insight into human nature and behavior. She will entice you into turning page after page without rest, until you reach the end of her story. Then you'll sit wondering if you really read all that, tempted to go back to read it again. Craftsmanship and story-weaving earns "Captains and the Kings" a place among the world's ten best books.

Caldwell writes historical fiction with intimate knowledge and perception. Her readers often wonder if she actually lived through the times she depicts with her pen. It's been said that she believed that herself; many of her other books tend to encourage this idea. "Captains and the Kings" offers a vivid and unsettling view of an earlier and much different America, in a time that was more free and open than our modern age, but also more dangerous and a great deal more heartless. If you've always wondered what the term "nitty gritty" means, read this novel! So saying, I boost the book into my top-five list!

Finally, this book has defined my experience with personal computers, the Internet, and Reality (tm) itself! After purchasing an Amiga 1000 almost twenty years ago, I found my way onto a BBS that feaured FidoNet forums. I began reading and posting on the "Issues" board. One poster commented cryptically that "Taylor Caldwell's 'Captains and the Kings' exposes how the Council on Foreign Relations rules the world." I was driven (as if by an invisible hand) to the public library, seeking out Taylor Caldwell's book. I found a captivating, often dark story that gripped my interest in sinuous coils as its weaving, bobbing head rose up to mess with my memes. With her right hand, Caldwell uses her suburb writer's skill to dazzle and entertain, but the whole time, her Left hand is busy imparting knowledge and understanding of how things really work in this world. She administers her synergistic potion in just the right strength, proportion, and rhythm to assure that most of us who might never otherwise read about a "Conspiracy" lap this up like mother's milk. During the ensuing decades, I used the 'Net to verify what I'd read; and I learned a whole lot more.

In retrospect, speaking as someone who has "earned a Ph.D. in Conspiracy Theory," it's necessary to add a small disclaimer: Caldwell does not tell all. There are things she could not or would not divulge. But don't fret! If you've had your eyes on the news the past few years - and especially the last few weeks - you'll certainly discern the missing part. The late Sufi, Idries Shah, claimed there are times when long-hidden knowledge suddenly becomes available to one and all. We are living through such a time!

Summarizing, Captains and the Kings is a remarkably well-written and captivating piece of historical fiction that will carry you back to an earlier and intriguing America at the same time it fuels you with subtle insight and knowledge and kick starts your thinking machine, proving once and for all that willful ignorance is the only real sin.

I visited Amazon this evening to buy a used copy of this book for a workplace friend. So I dedicate this review of Taylor Caldwell's "Captains and the Kings" to Ernestine.

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It was so good that I recently read it again. It's the classic rags to riches story. The main character is Joseph Armaugh, who grew up poor in Ireland and is finally able to go to America. His mother dies onboard ship. Joseph is determined to be rich, and of course America is the place for a determined, young, ambitious immigrant to acquire vast riches and power. It's also the story of how a few powerful men run the economic strata of the world. I also got the impression that this book is loosely based on the life of Joseph Kennedy.

I first read this book aome 20 odd years ago, and just finished it again. The reason I read it again is the amazing phiosophical and intellectual insight into the humanities of man, along with the current politcal happenings all over the world. Taylor Caldwell will go down in history as one of the greatest authors of our time. I've worn out my dictionary, but I've enjoyed doing it versus the usual annoyance of having to use it. I also this believe this book should be a "must read" assignment in college. Thanks again Taylor.

Michael Collins

This book is one that truly stands the test of time. I first read it in the 70's as a teen, and it has stayed with me all these years. If you are a lover of historical fiction, appreciate bold, sweeping epochs, and are fascinated by human nature, this is a read for you. I love Taylor Caldwell's books, but beware if this is your first foray into her works, as she sees the world and people in general as very duplicitous. She can be very dark and brooding, and appears to have been a rapt conspiracy theorist judging from the introduction and the bibliograpy that appear in this book. Her characters tend to be quite black and white, but that of Joseph Armagh is quite complex and will be an endless source of fascination to the reader. Aside from the heavy handed political tones in this book, it is the saga of the Armagh family that will keep the reader engrossed. Caldwell weaves a formidible tale-one that is engaging, educational, emotional, and yes even a little frightening. I find myself wondering at the conclusion of this book: What if, in fact, we truly are at the mercy of the "deadly quiet men"? This book will entertain you and make you think!

If I were marooned on a desert island, I would have to have this book with me! I read it in the 70s and have also enjoyed the mini-series many times over which starred the late Richard Jordan as Joseph Armagh. While it would be easy to draw parallels with the fictional Armagh family and the Kennedy dynasty, I prefer to think of the book as a testament to one Irish immigrant who found and then lost the American dream. The more disturbing aspect of the book (and one I always think of when a major news event takes place) is the presumption by the author that there are powerful men with money who control much of the destiny we call history. Do these men exist? Who can say? A riveting book and one worth more than one read.

This is simply the best book I've every read. It has an appealing sense of uproar that grabs you from page 1, and it will not let go until you hit the last page. The violence and the change of vast fortunes will give you a feeling of power of a capitalistic society untold in any other book before. I believe in a small round about way, it is telling a story about the Kennedy dynasty. With the untimely passing of JFK-JR, recently it is bringing up many discussions; is there a curse on this family. Read this book, and you decide if is there a curse, or if this book brings back memories of this well know "POWERFULL" family.

I am a fanatic for Taylor Caldwells books. this one follows the same terrifying premise of many of her other books and I sometimes wonder if she was a mystic. Her forwards always remind us that there is, indeed, a conspiracy and after being caught up in the first book of hers that I read," the Devil's Advocate", I have become more and more convinced that this is all truly happening.
The Devil's advocate takes us beyond this book to the future when the takeover has actually happened and all of the things that led up to it, which are happening right now and have been happening steadily over the last 50 years or so. It is remarkable that The Devil's Advocate was written in the 1950's! To me, these are not books of fiction!
It is not surprising that this book and The Devil's Advocate are out of print! Can't you guess why?

Joseph Armbaugh was 12 years old when his mother brought him and his siblings from Ireland to America to reunite with his father. Tragedy occurred before that happened and Joseph was suddenly on his own, supporting his young brother and sister. He worked with driven single-mindedness to provide for his family and learned what it took to survive in his adopted land. He had goals for each person in his family, and was terribly disappointed when they had ideas of their own. His loveless marriage was arranged as a business deal and it allowed him to begin a relentless pursuit to make his son President of the United States. Although wealthy and powerful, he was no match for unseen forces which pulled strings and manipulated politicians, businessmen and countries. This is an American tragedy, written with beautiful prose, unrelenting realism, and extraordinary insight. It is a book you will not soon forget.