Captains and the King

I first read this book as an adolescent, spending a few weeks in August of 1975 delving into the lives of the Armagh clan. It was the year I discovered Taylor Caldwell, and devoured her other books, my favorites being Pillar of Iron about Marcus Tullius Cicero, Dear and Glorious Physician about St. Luke and Testimony of Two Men, a historical novel set in post civil war Pennsylvania. I fell in love with this author, who represented a time and a writing style that has now gone out of favor, but which to me is the best of historical fiction. Captains and the Kings is perhaps her masterpiece, and surely her most famous work, and it is indeed a shadow image of the Kennedy family, but it is also a commentary on the nature of the "American Dream." A poor immigrant suffers hardship beyond imagining, including the tragic death of his mother, and somehow rises like a Phoenix from the ashes. But this is not a story of triumph in the truest sense, because this family and this man suffer a great deal even though they scale the heights of power and amass inconceivable wealth. Ironically, the 13 year old girl who fell in love that August of 1975 is now a 62 year old immigration lawyer nearing retirement, and I decided to read again the tale of Americans who were made, not born. It is no less powerful now, than it was then when I had my reading life ahead of me. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates great, rich, engrossing writing.

Excellent storytelling that keeps you entertained with a family that has aquired wealth at the turn of the century but also has managed to become cursed by the actions of the father. Very engrossing. I would have given this book 5 stars but the ending could have had more impact if it were not so melodramatic.

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.

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.

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

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.