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Only Time Will Tell (The Clifton Chronicles) Hardcover – August 30, 2011
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From the internationally bestselling author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes Only Time Will Tell, the first in an ambitious new series that tells the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.
The epic tale of Harry Clifton's life begins in 1920, with the words "I was told that my father was killed in the war." A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle, who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he's left school. But then an unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys' school, and his life will never be the same again.
As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question, was he even his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the firstborn son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?
This introductory novel in Archer's ambitious series The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler's Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only Time Will Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.
- Print length400 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSt. Martin's Press
- Publication dateAugust 30, 2011
- Dimensions6.44 x 1.32 x 9.56 inches
- ISBN-10031253955X
- ISBN-13978-0312539559
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Archer delivers another page-turning, heart-stopping saga, with delightful twists, and a surprise ending… readers will surely wait for the next with bated breath.” ―Publishers Weekly
“General readers as well as Archer fans will enjoy this unforgettable tale, which abounds with cliff-hangers that propel its intriguing and intricate plot.” ―Library Journal (starred review)
“What appears at the outset to be a straightforward coming-of-age tale becomes, by the end, a saga of power, betrayal, and bitter hatred. The novel ends on a deliberately dark note, setting the stage for the sequel…An outstanding effort from a reliable veteran.” ―Booklist (starred Review)
“I was utterly hooked. It was an absurdly enjoyable read.” ―Anthony Horowitz, Daily Telegraph (London)
“A dynamite commercial novel…Archer brings it off with panache.” ―The Washington Post on A Prisoner of Birth
“A compelling read…The pace never flags.” ―Newsday (New York) on A Prisoner of Birth
“A storyteller in the class of Alexandre Dumas.” ―The Washington Post on A Twist in the Tale
“Kane and Abel…that classic of modern literature.” ―The Times (London)
About the Author
Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain's House of Commons and nineteen years in the House of Lords. All of his novels and short story collections--including And Thereby Hangs a Tale, Kane and Abel, Paths of Glory and False Impression--have been international bestselling books. Archer is married with two sons and lives in London and Cambridge.
Product details
- Publisher : St. Martin's Press; First Edition (August 30, 2011)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 400 pages
- ISBN-10 : 031253955X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0312539559
- Item Weight : 1.3 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.44 x 1.32 x 9.56 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #653,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7,508 in Family Saga Fiction
- #47,948 in Historical Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Jeffrey Archer is one of the world’s bestselling authors, with sales of over 275 million copies in 97 countries, and is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (twenty times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries). He was born in London, and brought up in the West Country. He gained a Blue in Athletics at Oxford, was President of the University Athletics Club, and went on to run the 100 yards in 9.6 seconds for Great Britain in 1966. Jeffrey has served five years in the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament, and thirty years as a Member of the House of Lords.
He has written 27 novels, 7 sets of short stories, 3 prison diaries, 3 plays (all of which have been performed in London's West End) and a gospel. His first novel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less was sold to 17 countries within a year. It was also made into a successful serial for BBC Radio 4, and was later televised in 1990 by the BBC. He won the Prix Relay du Roman d’Évasion, a prize that rewards a novel in which readers can ‘escape from everyday life’, for his novel Paths of Glory, and the Prix Polar International Prize for the best international thriller of the year, for his novel A Prisoner of Birth. The Clifton Chronicles, a series of seven novels published between 2011-2017, topped the bestseller lists around the world.
Famous for his discipline as a writer who works on up to fourteen drafts of each book, Jeffrey also brings a vast amount of insider knowledge to his books. Whether it’s his own career in politics, his passionate interest in art, or the wealth of fascinating background detail – inspired by the extraordinary network of friends he has built over a lifetime at the heart of Britain’s establishment – his novels provide a fascinating glimpse into a range of closed worlds.
Jeffrey is also an amateur auctioneer, conducting up to 20 charity auctions a year. He has been married to Dame Mary Archer, Chair of the Science Museum Group, for 55 year, and they have two sons, two granddaughters and three grandsons. He splits his time between London, Cambridge and Mallorca - where he writes the first draft of each new novel.
The fifth book In his new William Warwick novels - the first of which, Nothing Ventured, was published in 2019 - is NEXT IN LINE which will be out in September 2022.
Photo credit: Toby Madden
www.jeffreyarcher.com
Follow Jeffrey on Instagram - Jeffrey_Archer_Author, Facebook and Twitter @Jeffrey_Archer
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book and find it entertaining. They praise the interesting story with realistic events and a well-plotted tale told from different perspectives. The writing style is described as easy to read and descriptive. The characters are well-developed and given their own chapters, giving the story a three-dimensional feel. Readers appreciate the brisk pace and natural flow of reading. Overall, they find the author's writing skill to be effective and consider this one of the best works from this great author.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book and find it entertaining. They say it's a good start to a great series and an addictive tale of good over evil.
"Great start to a (so far) great series. I'm on book 3 at the moment and still gripped by this well paced, well plotted tale...." Read more
"...I will say that I recommend this book to all who want a good story, great and individual characters, different settings and just great writing style...." Read more
"...Thoroughly enjoyable." Read more
"...really my thing, so it was a pleasant surprise that I enjoyed the greater majority of the book...." Read more
Customers find the story interesting and well-crafted. They appreciate the realistic characters and events, as well as the multiple perspectives that keep the plot fresh. Readers also like the hinting at plot twists and the masterful storytelling of Jeffrey Archer. Overall, they describe the book as an engaging beginning to a family saga.
"...I'm on book 3 at the moment and still gripped by this well paced, well plotted tale...." Read more
"...discover but I will say that I recommend this book to all who want a good story, great and individual characters, different settings and just great..." Read more
"...who affect the protagonist, young Harry, in an unpredictable kaleidoscope of love, greed, rivalry, honor...." Read more
"...The unique aspect of the book is how Jeffry Archer stitches the plot together. He tells it in sections from several different characters...." Read more
Customers enjoy the writing style and detail of the book. They find the author's writing easy to read, with descriptive terms and phrases that help transport the reader. The book flows nicely and provides insightful vignettes into English life during pre-World War II times.
"...and one-in-a-million chances rule but such is the quality of writing and storyline, that you easily bypass the 'unlikely' and accept that though not..." Read more
"...He is a master of words and storytelling. Every character is developed to the point that you know them...." Read more
"...The author possesses an innate deft brilliance highlighted with a seamless eloquence enticing the reader to shut the world out of all distractions...." Read more
"Firstly I must say this was a pretty good easy read that kept me interested until the end. BTW, I loved the final paragraph...." Read more
Customers appreciate the well-developed characters and their histories. The book is structured with different character points of view, giving it a three-dimensional feel.
"...I love the structure, whereby the characters are given their own chapters, running parallel, in the same time lines...." Read more
"...There are many characters and each has their own story to tell and yet they are also deeply intertwined, although some do not know it until late in..." Read more
"An absorbing tale of well developed characters who affect the protagonist, young Harry, in an unpredictable kaleidoscope of love, greed, rivalry,..." Read more
"...be either saintly or devilish and nothing in between, the characters are drawn well and you fall into this story with the ease of jumping into a..." Read more
Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They say the story moves along quickly and is easy to follow. Readers find it captivating from the start, with dynamic characters that keep them hooked throughout.
"...I'm on book 3 at the moment and still gripped by this well paced, well plotted tale...." Read more
"...It's a good story and well paced, but not much happens in book one as you can tell the series will go on...." Read more
"...What's to like? The storyline, for example, flows nicely and gives the reader insightful vignettes into English life during the pre-World War II..." Read more
"...the first person ... Third person .... Back to first person... Annoying as hell... If you want to know the rest of my review of this book you will..." Read more
Customers enjoy the author's writing style. They find the book engaging with numerous characters recounting the same event. Readers describe the author as a master of novels and talented storyteller. Many consider it a good introduction to his writing if you have not read him before.
"...I highly recommend this book. You know the author is a good writer, when they can have a story that is an excellent read, and don't fill it with..." Read more
"...read for all who have never tried a family tale because author has outshined throughout...." Read more
"...Mr. Archer is a very talented story teller and this particular book is a page turner.....until it is not...." Read more
"I haven't read Archer for so long, I'd forgotten what an enjoyable writer he is and the style he maintains...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book. They find the story engaging and praise the content as classic Jeffrey Archer.
"...It chronicles the life of Harry Clifton from his birth to his late teenage years...." Read more
"...Overall I enjoyed the story of Harry Clifton, a young English boy who faces a great deal of adversity, but continues to excel...." Read more
"...On a positive note, the content was classic Archer and there can be no disappointment in that...." Read more
"...Nice historic background that has the sound of authenticity to it. If something like this appeals to you, this is a nice series for you." Read more
Customers have different views on the content. Some find it clever and unique, while others find it predictable and repetitive.
"...There were few surprises in book 3, and I'm not interested to follow the family further...." Read more
"...Sometimes a little predictable, but that maybe because I read so many books...." Read more
"...At the beginning of Harry's story, he is presented as a very intelligent child but bored with school so he is constantly playing truant and spending..." Read more
"...The plot line is a bit thin and at times too predictable, but the reader benefits significantly from the accuracy of Archer's historical portrayal..." Read more
Reviews with images

Uplifting and absorbing - creates a yen to live a productive life!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2016Great start to a (so far) great series. I'm on book 3 at the moment and still gripped by this well paced, well plotted tale. I love the structure, whereby the characters are given their own chapters, running parallel, in the same time lines.
Okay, so coincidence and one-in-a-million chances rule but such is the quality of writing and storyline, that you easily bypass the 'unlikely' and accept that though not probable they are possible...this IS fiction after all.
I should state that I am a Archer fan. Many moons ago, I read Kane & Abel and have since, read just a out everything the man has written. There is something Kane & Abel(ish) about this tale and that suits me perfectly because I still think of that as Mr. Archer's best to date, or maybe 'my favourite', would be more accurate given that it is very much subjective. I think that this series is probably going to take the top spot in my own personal 'Archer list'. I'm fairly confident that it will continue to hold my attention to the end - seven books - if it continues, as it started.
Above all else, Mr. Archer is a storyteller and a bloody good one! Existing fans will have already started reading this series, maybe even finished it. To those, who have never picked up a book by this master storyteller, this book/series would be a great place to start, while bearing in mind that he is a more diverse writer than this.
I bought the first three books on amazon.co.uk for my kindle at 99p each...how is it NOT worth taking a chance, with offers like that? Go ahead, try it, I'm confident that you'll like it
- Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024The characters... they're either saints or they're, shall we say, not very good people. I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Archer, but for me, the Clifton Chronicles is falling a little short and I think it's around the lack of development for the characters. Just there's just not much there there, there's no mistaking which side good/bad the characters fall into, there's no in between.
It's a good story and well paced, but not much happens in book one as you can tell the series will go on. It ends in an odd way, maybe a bit of a cliffhanger, but it just kind of stops. I quickly started boon two, Sins of the Father, but moved on to a different book about halfway through. I might come back to it later.
This book is a far cry from Archer's earlier works, Kane & Abel, A Prisoner of Birth. Even with A Prisoner of Birth the characters were quite dull and not developed, but the story and the narrative carried it. A fantastic book! As I said, I love Jeffrey Archer's books, but this series just isn't doing it for me, so I'm shelving it and will try it again later.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2017Jeffrey Archer has long been a favorite author of mine and this book did not let me down. He is a master of words and storytelling. Every character is developed to the point that you know them. This story flows easily and you are finished and left wanting more. Luckily, there IS more as it is a series. These sagas are Archer at his best. This first book is set for the most part in England around 1920's up until WWII. Archer easily takes you back to the feel of that time period. There are many characters and each has their own story to tell and yet they are also deeply intertwined, although some do not know it until late in the book. I don't want to tell the story, will leave that to you to discover but I will say that I recommend this book to all who want a good story, great and individual characters, different settings and just great writing style. The ending is a twist that may leave you with your mouth hanging open but that's ok because there is a next exciting book just waiting for you.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2023An absorbing tale of well developed characters who affect the protagonist, young Harry, in an unpredictable kaleidoscope of love, greed, rivalry, honor. So impressed by this first volume, that I, therefore, purchased the entire set of the Clifton Chronicles. Rather than buying the first volume as a barometer of gaging literary excellence, I strongly recommend purchasing the complete series for a better bargain. The author possesses an innate deft brilliance highlighted with a seamless eloquence enticing the reader to shut the world out of all distractions. Thoroughly enjoyable.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2011Firstly I must say this was a pretty good easy read that kept me interested until the end. BTW, I loved the final paragraph. But there were problems with the depth of the story, with so much missing detail. I will list some below - SPOILERS MIGHT BE HERE.
1. When Harry is going to BGS Maisie worries about Harry sharing a room with Stan and the impact it will have on his work, but this is never covered, so did he continue sharing, or not?
2. When Maisie is hit in the face you never have any reference back to how this impacted on her livlihood. Surely as she works in the hospitality industry it would be a problem, not only because of her face, but also revenue. And how do her family react to it?
3. Emma and Harry's relationship. I cannot beleive that with Maisie/Hugo/and Old Jack beleiving they could be related, they would allow the relationship to continue until the day of the wedding. It's beyond silly how this part played out.
4. Old Jack's emergnece back into society. Again this is hardly covered and surely this would have been a major event for so many people to welcome him back, or be angry with him. And how did he managed to get his job with the governement and the refugees.
these are just some of my problems, anybody got any others?
Top reviews from other countries
- Graham FentonReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A great author
Brilliant storytelling and so easy to read and empathise with. Loved it! Super twist at the end - didn't see that coming.
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in India on April 21, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Timely delivered n fresh condition.
Timely delivered n book looked fresh...rest as far as reading is concerned...it was a great read...not that romantic types...but Jeffrey archer us good at twisting a plot...it's a about a boy whose is not aware about who his father is...n mother is trying to make the ends meet to give him a better education..it's not a sad read...as the plot looks like..!!
- AmeReviewed in Canada on February 2, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an enjoyable read.
I liked the story-line and the way the book is written. The setting is in the 1920s in England and is about a boy with a special gift. He gets a scholarship to go to a private school where mostly kids from wealthy families attend. His supportive mother struggles financially trying to see that he has the opportunity for this education.
It is different as the author writes it from several character's points of view. It is the first in a series - I haven't read the second book in the series yet.
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SReviewed in Mexico on July 12, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Muy bueno
Excelente libro. Llegó en perfectas condiciones!
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Der DennisReviewed in Germany on November 2, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr gut zu lesen!
Der Schreibstil gefällt mir sehr. Interessante Charaktere und eine spannende Atmosphäre machen die Story nie langweilig. Geschichtliche Ereignisse werden immer wieder am Rande erwähnt und schaffen so einen seriösen Rahmen.
Ich habe nach dem Ende des Buches sofort Teil 2 gekauft und zu lesen begonnen ;)