Jeffrey Archer : Only Time Will Tell

Only Time Will Tell is a first part of the five in Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. The book was published worldwide in 2011. It was launched by Jeffrey Archer himself at Bangalore, India in March 2011, as the beginning of a global book tour.

Plot

The plot revolves around the main protagonist Harry Clifton, spanning the time between 1920 and the beginning of the Second World War. The novel is set in Bristol, England, from 1919 to 1940 and centers on Harry Clifton, a young boy destined to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle and work on the docks until a new world is opened up to him. Harry has the gift of song, and when Miss Monday, the choir mistress, Mr. Holcombe, his elementary school teacher, and Old Jack Tar, a WWI hero and lonerfe is changed forever. Harry’s mother, Maisie, works as a waitress and scrimps and saves to send her son to school and give him a better life.

Maisie’s sacrifices and the secret of Harry’s parentage are the main focus of Only Time Will Tell. Harry has grown up thinking Arthur Clifton is his father and that he died in the war, but he begins to doubt that story when he does the math and realizes Arthur couldn’t possibly be his father if he died during the war. Maisie knows the truth about Harry’s parentage, and a few people know the truth about Arthur Clifton’s death, but no one tells Harry anything.

While Harry is off at school befriending Giles Barrington, the son of the man who owns the shipping company where Harry’s father and uncle work and who knows what happened to Arthur Clifton, Maisie deals with countless personal tragedies and must make some tough decisions to continue Harry’s schooling. At the same time, it looks as though England may go to war with Germany, and Harry must consider what this means for his future.

Reception

The novel quickly became a bestseller, reaching number one a day after its release. All the copies of books were sold out the day it was launched by Archer in India.

Characters

• Harry Clifton - The main protagonist of the book.

• Old Jack Tarr - Is supposedly based on 2 or 3 real life people including General Tommy Mcpherson. In the book he is said to have killed 11 men. The nation awarded him with the Victoria Cross for the service he did to the nation.

• Mr Holcombe - Harry's first teacher at Merrywood Elementary school

• Mr Frobisher - Harry's house master at St Bede's

• Sir Walter Barrington - The patriarch of the Barrington family. A god-fearing man.

• Hugo Barrington - Son of Sir Walter.Referred to by Old Jack Tarr as "A man not cut out of the same cloth as his father." Also the main antagonist in the book. Creates obstacles in Harry's life.

• Maisie Clifton - Harry's Mother

• Deakins - Harry's friend throughout school life

• Giles Barrington - Harry's best friend and Hugo's son.

• Emma Barrington - Giles' sister and Harry's love.