New York Times Bestseller: Sweeping from the 1850s through the early 1920s, this towering family saga examines the price of ambition and power. Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh is twelve years old when he gets his first glimpse of the promised land of America through a dirty porthole in steerage on an Irish immigrant ship. His long voyage, dogged by tragedy, ends not in the great city of New York … great city of New York but in the bigoted, small town of Winfield, Pennsylvania, where his younger brother, Sean, and his infant sister, Regina, are sent to an orphanage. Joseph toils at whatever work will pay a living wage and plans for the day he can take his siblings away from St. Agnes’s Orphanage and make a home for them all.
Joseph’s journey will catapult him to the highest echelons of power and grant him entry into the most elite political circles. Even as misfortune continues to follow the Armagh family like an ancient curse, Joseph takes his revenge against the uncaring world that once took everything from him. He orchestrates his eldest son Rory’s political ascent from the offspring of an Irish immigrant to US senator. And Joseph will settle for nothing less than the pinnacle of glory: seeing his boy crowned the first Catholic president of the United States.
Spanning seventy years, Captains and the Kings, which was adapted into an eight-part television miniseries, is Taylor Caldwell’s masterpiece about nineteenth- and early twentieth-century America, and the grit, ambition, fortitude, and sheer hubris it takes for an immigrant to survive and thrive in a dynamic new land.
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Not much
Wanted to like this book as about the early Robber Barons, an interest to me. However characters very stiff, unappealing and extremely difficult to like or connect to. All one sided and shallow. I did finish it but kept questioning why.
Although the story seemed a bit “plodding” and difficult for me to maintain my interest, it finally captured my fancy. It was a long one, but gratifying, overall.
The Captain and The Kings was one of the best books I have ever read. Taylor Caldwell is an excellent author. I recommend to anyone that hasn’t read one of her books to do so. You won’t be disappointed!
Most depressing. Always more tragedy for the protagonist
Too long & detailed
This was a great story of a family saga. Wonderful characters showing an authenticity to historical detail. A page turner for a Taylor Caldwell lovers.
Wow
Mini series was too much like the families she mentioned. The acting was good. I enjoyed the book better. Recommend.
A book that can never be forgotten. Taylor Caldwell books are are always gems.
I enjoyed the rags to riches story. Immigrant to wealth.
I could never like the main character at all. Read 85 % and then just stopped.
This is the worst book I have ever read! Boring and everybody died!
Terrific. My favorite.
Great fiction that reads like factual history. The characters, their trials and tribulations, will remain with you for a very long time.
It was very informational I love the way she is real people real historical historical content,painted characters so that baby came visual
One of my all time favorite books.
Having watched the TV movies series first, I was thrilled to find the book to read. It was even better than the movie mini-series. Very thought provoking.
Everything she has written so far in my opinion is superior.
I read this book when it was first published and had to read it again. It is descriptive but not dragged outs. The characters jump out at you and found a way to my heart.