Time and Tide [Hardcover]

Thomas J. Fleming (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fleming's astonishing gift for portraying the gut realities of war experience in a vast, historically accurate context, clearly evidenced in his bestselling The Officers' Wives, shines forth in this battleship of a novel about the Pacific conflict of WW II, a conflict largely forgotten and (so Fleming's research convinces us) partially covered up. The main focus is on the fictitious USS Jefferson City (modeled on a real-life counterpart), which sailed away from the battle of Savo Island, the biggest defeat in U.S. naval history, and is now fighting to redeem its honor under a man who is the dismissed captain's best friend. Captain McKay probes the mystery of his friend's disgrace while simultaneously seeking to free his ship of its "bad joss" in searing naval confrontations and to overcome his disillusion with the Navy and with a wife who seems the embodiment of its system. There are several eye-openers: the mediocrity of the American admirals at Guadalcanal, and in the earlier phase of the war generally; ordinary sailors' anger at FDR and the politicians for pitting them against the Japanese with inadequate ships and planes; onboard homosexuality, and the Navy's short way with it; the wildness of liberty in Australia; the demoralizing effects of the kamikaze attacks; and the Navy's resentment of the atomic bomb for depriving it of its victory. The numerous memorable characters include a stalwart boatswain, a bullying, homosexual boatswain's mate, a cowardly executive officer, a chaplain whose platitudes are scorched away in the fire of experience, McKay himself and the two women in his life. The story is high drama, grim in detail, prevailingly bitter in tone, about men forced by the hell of war to fight for their honor, their lives and, in selected instances, their souls. It's also a very close look at the U.S. Navy as it is and was. Major ad/promo; Military Book Club selection; Literary Guild alternate.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Having left the Battle of Savo Island under suspicious circumstances in 1942, the USS Jefferson City is a ship haunted by bad joss. Arthur McKay is sent to relieve the cruiser's captain, Win Kemble, also his Annapolis roommate and best friend. Accused of cowardice under fire, the men of the JC fight a constant battle to prove their valor to themselves and the rest of the Navy. They see action from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, losing all sense of time or season as they wage an interminable war. With a myriad of characters, this is a maritime Upstairs, Downstairs, detailing the personal lives, loves, and conflicts of those aboard. The reader experiences first-hand life on an American warship. A well-researched and moving historical novel. Literary Guild featured alternate; Military Book Club main selection. Maria A. Perez-Stable, Western Michigan Univ. Libs., Kalamazoo
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 734 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First edition (July 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671621513
• ISBN-13: 978-0671621513
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,889,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"How do you write a book?" 24 year old Thomas Fleming asked bestselling writer Fulton Oursler in 1951. "Write four pages a day," Oursler said. "Every day except Sunday. Whether you feel like it or not. Inspiration consists of putting the seat of your pants on the chair at your desk." Fleming has followed this advice to good effect. His latest effort, "The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers," is his 50th published book. Twenty three of them have been novels. He is the only writer in the history of the Book of the Month Club to have main selections in fiction and in nonfiction. Many have won prizes. Recently he received the Burack Prize from Boston University for lifetime achievement. In nonfiction he has specialized in the American Revolution. He sees Intimate Lives as a perfect combination of his double talent as a novelist and historian. "Novelists focus on the imtimate side of life. This is the first time anyone has looked at the intimate side of the lives of these famous Americans, with an historian's eyes." Fleming was born in Jersey City, the son of a powerful local politician. He has had a lifetime interest in American politics. He also wrote a history of West Point which the New York Times called "the best...ever written." Military history is another strong interest. He lives in New York with his wife, Alice Fleming, who is a gifted writer of books for young readers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gritty Gut-Wrenching Fiction, June 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Time and Tide (Hardcover)

You almost have to have been A U.S. Navy Sailor to appreciate this book fully. Those who have "gone down to the sea in ships" through the years will understand what I mean. This book combines all the elements of good fiction (in my humble opinion). Good characters, most niether good noe evil, but human: war, love, honor, deciet, and friendship. My favorite aspect of this book is the air of mysticism applied to the sea nad the ship, you either have been to sea and understand it or you haven't and probably don't. The characters are very good, it is obvious that Mr. Fleming read Herman Wouk, the parallels between Arthur McKay and "Pug" Henry cannot be missed, but I believe this is a plus and as a long time member of the Pug Henry fan club I cannot fault him for it.

If you are or have ever been on a Navy Combat vessel at sea READ THIS BOOK. If you haven't, read it anyway, and perhaps you will see what it is about this duty that forever changes those of us who have.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a page turner..., March 6, 2002

By 

Sonterro (Lakeland, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time and Tide (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book a while back. I just saw it in the library today. I remember it so well that I felt compelled to right a review.

Anyone that is familiar with WW II and the naval campaigns will want to read this book. This is the story of a light cruiser with a new captain. The previous captain (if I remember correctly) was court martialed for cowardice. He was a close friend of the new captain. That's the first sub plot in this book.

There are other plots that that happen throughout the book. The book is so well written and the character so well developed that I can still remember the pleasure of reading it. There were good guys and bad guys, creeps and regular Joes. The ship is like a small town.

Oh, I left out the battle sequences. Wow! Incredible. Even the aftermath and cleanup after the battles was well handled. The cruiser limping back to port for a refit and overhaul.

The ending is a little sad. But, after you read the book, you will understand why it had to be so.

If you at all enjoy WW II naval action, this is a must read book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jeff City--- Light Cruiser /Heavy Cruiser ??, January 8, 2011

By 

patrick (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time and Tide (Mass Market Paperback)

A couple of reviewers at least, have referred to the Jeff City as a "light cruiser",(maybe such as Boise-class)
but I think that it is actually probably intended to be an 9X 8inch gun "Treaty Cruiser"...each ship that i can think of that the Jeff moves into the shoes of, was a 10000 ton Portland/Indianappolis class cruiser?

the following might be regarded as a <<<<<< Spoiler >>>>>>

------------

It begins playing the part of the USS Chicago from Savo Island..(an 8in treaty cruiser)...becomes USS Salt Lake City at battle of Bering Sea(I think another treaty heavy cruiser)
becomes admiral Spruances flagship in later years of Pacific War ---USS Portland ..
finally it steps into the ill-fated clothes of the --USS Indianappolis-- and shares its fate..
to play those 'roles" it needs each time to be a Quincy/Vincennes/Astoria/Houston style 8in cruiser, im pretty sure.

Someone compares McKay to Hermann Wouks Pug Henry ...perhaps so, it is incidental that in "War and Remembrance", Henry is in command of the USS Northampton..another actual "treaty cruiser" sunk in the Solomons Campaign