Mysteries of My Father - Hardcover

Fleming, Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471655155 ISBN 13: 9780471655152

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2005

Synopsis

A son comes of age in a fiercely political world "Thomas Fleming gives us an unforgettable story about an immigrant family––his family––as it struggles to find a place in the American century. He shares with us the dreams and heartaches of his parents, and, in the end, he reminds us of the mysterious and forgiving power of love." ––Terry Golway, author of The Irish in America "A truly moving story of a lifelong duel between father and son, Mysteries of My Father also vibrates with the great good humor that grows out of ward politics, and pulses with the heartfelt drama of a family just getting by. There were some bad times in the Fleming family story, but Tom Fleming prevails to the good times, and the best time is left to the reader. What a wonderful time I had reading this book." ––Dennis Smith, author of the Report from Engine Co. 82 and Report from Ground Zero "A well–written, fascinating political history." ––Margaret Truman, author of Murder at Union Station "With a historian′s fidelity and a poet′s empathy, Tom Fleming has created a textured study of three generations of Irish–Americans, whose clashing spiritual values inform their integration into New Jersey′s social and political hierarchy. Mysteries of My Father is an American classic achieved by a master storyteller′s talents for exploring the tensions and bonds between a father and his sons. Among the literary wonders of this brisk and moving memoir is the father′s emergence as a seminal American character––brusque and pragmatic, yet capable of expected tenderness to his sons." ––Sidney Offit, author of Memoir of the Bookie′s Son "If you care about what it means to be an Irish–American, or about New Jersey political history, or about the relationships between fathers and sons, or about wonderful writing, run––don′t walk––out to buy Tom Fleming′s Mysteries of My Father." ––Nick Acocella, publisher of Politifax

About this title

Review

"A truly moving story of a life–long duel between father and son, Mysteries of My Father will become embedded in your memory. There will be reviewers who will call this an Irish–American story, but Thomas Fleming has given us one of the most uniquely American memoirs I have ever read. He brings us through the process of American social integration, not only of ethnic assimilation, but also of that wondrous travel from economic despair to that certain stability that comes with education and the hard work of determination. But, this memoir also vibrates with the great good humor that grows out of ward politics, and pulses with the heartfelt drama of a family just getting by. There were some bad times in the Fleming family story, but Tom Fleming prevails to the good times, and the best time is left to the reader. What a wonderful time I had reading this book." ––Dennis Smith, author of Report from Engine Co. 82 and Report from Ground Zero "With a historian′s fidelity and a poet′s empathy, Tom Fleming has created a textured study of three generations of Irish Americans, whose clashing spiritual values inform their integration into New Jersey′s social and political hierarchy. Mysteries of My Father is an American classic achieved by a master story teller′s talents for exploring the tensions and bonds between a father and his sons. Among the literary wonders of this brisk and moving memoir is the father′s emergence as a seminal American character –– brusque and pragmatic, yet capable of expected tenderness to his sons." ––Sidney Offit, author of Memoir of the Bookie′s Son "A well–written, fascinating political history." ––Margaret Truman "If you care about what it means to be an Irish–American, or about New Jersey political history, or about the relationships between fathers and sons, or about wonderful writing, run –– don′t walk –– out to buy Tom Fleming′s Mysteries of My Father." ––Nick Acocella, publisher of Politifax "With Memories of My Father Tom Fleming clinches for himself the undisputed title of Historian–as–Storyteller Extraordinaire. This book is not only a history of three generations of an Irish–American family, it is a story of fathers and sons, the Irish in America, World War I, and the Jersey City of political boss Frank Hague. Fleming tells it like it was – unvarnished accounts of two–fisted politics, the complex influence of the Catholic Church, resentment against the WASP establishment for past discrimination, and how the Irish came to rule a city and a state –– with a vengeance." ––David S. Cohen, Ph.D., Director, Ethnic History Program, New Jersey Historical Commission "Thomas Fleming′s richly–recalled, compelling, multi–generational family chronicle––including the story of his stormy but loving relationship with a colorful father––is as poignant and beguiling as a superb novel." –– Neil Hickey, Contributing Editor, Columbia Journalism Review "Tom Fleming’s moving memoir of his father, Teddy, stands alone as a portrait of a man seeking the path to the American dream in the midst of the big city politics of the first half of the twentieth century. Fiercely loyal to Boss Frank Hague, Teddy is confronted along the way with the loss of his wife’s love, and the danger of losing the affection of his sons as well. No storybook ending here, only understanding. The writing is so true to life that I came away having felt part of this story." ––Lloyd Gardner, Rutgers University, author of The Case That Never Dies: The Lindbergh Kidnapping "A poignant recollection of family, politics, and power that combines the pains of memory to reach the passions of perception. A superb narrative, an absorbing read." ––John Patrick Diggins, Distinguished Professor of History, Graduate Center, CUNY "Thomas Fleming gives us an unforgetable story about an immigrant family –– his family –– as it struggles to find a place in the American century. He shares with us the dreams and heartaches of his parents, and, in the end, he reminds us of the mysterious and forgiving power of love." ––Terry Golway, author The Irish In America "Thomas Fleming′s Mysteries of My Father is a remarkable book, fascinating as social and political history, and deeply moving as the brutally honest and touchingly told story of one American family. This is the story of what it was like to grow up in the rough–and–tumble world of Jersey City politics as the son of one of its principal leaders during the reign of the legendary Frank ′Boss′ Hague, but it is far more than that. The reader goes to the battlefields of the First World War with Fleming′s tough and heroic father, and gains painful insight into the intellectual and social ambitions of his sensitive mother, who loved his father but could never accept the consuming life of ward politics in which he moved and thrived. The Fleming clan was filled with colorful, complicated characters who lived their desperate lives with great and often tragic intensity. Within this crucible, young Fleming meets, survives, and finally triumphs over competing challenges and emotional demands to become the fine writer that so many readers know today. This has to have been a hard book to write, but the reader walks in the presence of a man who in his quest for identity sees, understands, resolves, forgives, and frequently makes the reader laugh. A greatly rewarding book to read, Mysteries of My Father transcends its time and place: it is hard to imagine a more interesting, honest, vivid account of a family than this one is." ––Charles Bracelen Flood, New York Times bestselling historian, biographer and novelist. "Mysteries of My Father is a classic memoir: The story of one family, set in a larger historical framework – Frank Hague′s ruthless political fiefdom in Jersey City. Thomas Fleming writers about his parents′ unraveling marriage with tenderness and with fierce honesty." ––William Zinsser, author of Writing About Your Life "Thomas Fleming′s Mysteries of My Father is a remarkable book, fascinating as social and political history, and deeply moving as the brutally honest and touchingly told story of one American family. This is the story of what it was like to grow up in the rough–and–tumble world of Jersey City politics as the son of one of its principal leaders during the reign of the legendary Frank ′Boss′ Hague, but it is far more than that. The reader goes to the battlefields of the First World War with Fleming′s tough and heroic father, and gains painful insight into the intellectual and social ambitions of his sensitive mother, who loved his father but could never accept the consuming life of ward politics in which he moved and thrived. The Fleming clan was filled with colorful, complicated characters who lived their desperate lives with great and often tragic intensity. "Within this crucible, young Fleming meets, survives, and finally triumphs over competing challenges and emotional demands to become the fine writer that so many readers know today. This has to have been a hard book to write, but the reader walks in the presence of a man who in his quest for identity sees, understands, resolves, forgives, and frequently makes the reader laugh. A greatly rewarding book to read, Mysteries of My Father transcends its time and place: it is hard to imagine a more interesting, honest, vivid account of a family than this one is." ––Charles Bracelen Flood, New York Times bestselling historian, biographer and novelist.

Synopsis

A son comes of age in a fiercely political world "You and your brother you're all I've got!" This cry of anguish from his politician father's lips changed 16-year-old Tom Fleming's life. Set in Jersey City, where Frank Hague, the ultimate boss, ruled by fear and favor, Mysteries of My Father is a heart-searing exploration of fatherhood and sonship in a world where power was seemingly the final arbiter in everyone's life. The book opens with the mysterious return of a gold ring given to Fleming by his father and lost 30 years earlier when he was visiting the Argonne battlefield, where his father fought in World War I. The story received wide TV and print coverage, including People and the New York Times.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0471655155
• ISBN 13: 9780471655152
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352