Thomas Fleming (historian)
Encyclopedia
Thomas James Fleming is an American
military historian and historical novel
ist.
Fleming is the son of an Irish-American World War I
hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades, starting in the 1920s. At the time, the city was dominated by an Irish political machine. "Irish politics was the be-all and end all."
After graduating from St. Peter's Prep., Jersey City in 1945, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy
. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University
in 1950. He was admitted as an honorary member of The Society of the Cincinnati in 1975.
, was published that same year.
Since then, Fleming has published a long list of books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary
era. He has also written about other periods of American history,and had published over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds.
"I never wanted to be an Irish-American writer," he says. "My whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer." Immersing himself in American history, and writing books on colonial families and military men, has helped him build such a bridge. Besides his well-received early novels, with stories set in the waning days of Irish-American political power, Fleming has published acclaimed biographies
of George Washington
, Thomas Jefferson
, and Benjamin Franklin
. He has written extensively on the American Revolution and both world wars. Seven of his novels trace the fortunes of one family in particular, the Stapleton
s, through different historical periods.
Starting with the Revolution, Fleming says, Americans have been torn by what he calls "the great dichotomy
": the clash between American ideals and brutal political and economic realities. It was a conflict he saw firsthand as a sailor aboard the warship USS Topeka
in the Pacific at the close of World War II
, and later while he was conducting research for a history of the United States Military Academy
at West Point. He lived at West Point from 1964 to 1968, and interviewed officers and their families as the controversy over America's involvement in Vietnam
intensified.
. He also spent ten years as chairman of the New York American Revolution Round Table and is currently the senior scholar at the American Revolution Center at Valley Forge
.
Fleming has donated his papers to Boston University
's Special Collections. Among the items on file are the interviews he conducted for a book on West Point and notes from his research on everyday life during the American Revolution. Eventually he plans to send over a large amount of material on World War I.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military historian and historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
ist.
Biography
Thomas Fleming was born in 1927 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is a historian and novelist with a special interest in the American Revolution.Fleming is the son of an Irish-American World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
hero who was a leader in Jersey City politics for three decades, starting in the 1920s. At the time, the city was dominated by an Irish political machine. "Irish politics was the be-all and end all."
After graduating from St. Peter's Prep., Jersey City in 1945, Fleming spent a year in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He received a Bachelor's degree, with honors, from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1950. He was admitted as an honorary member of The Society of the Cincinnati in 1975.
Literary career
After brief stints as a newspaperman and magazine editor, he became a full-time writer in 1960. His first history book, Now We Are Enemies, an account of the Battle of Bunker HillBattle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
, was published that same year.
Since then, Fleming has published a long list of books about various events and figures of the Revolutionary
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
era. He has also written about other periods of American history,and had published over a dozen well-received novels set against various historical backgrounds.
"I never wanted to be an Irish-American writer," he says. "My whole idea was to get across that bridge and be an American writer." Immersing himself in American history, and writing books on colonial families and military men, has helped him build such a bridge. Besides his well-received early novels, with stories set in the waning days of Irish-American political power, Fleming has published acclaimed biographies
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, and Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
. He has written extensively on the American Revolution and both world wars. Seven of his novels trace the fortunes of one family in particular, the Stapleton
Stapleton
-Places:Australia* Stapleton Island, QueenslandUnited Kingdom*Stapleton, Bristol*Stapleton, Cumbria*Stapleton, Herefordshire*Stapleton, Leicestershire*Stapleton, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire*Stapleton, Selby, North Yorkshire*Stapleton, Shropshire...
s, through different historical periods.
Starting with the Revolution, Fleming says, Americans have been torn by what he calls "the great dichotomy
Dichotomy
A dichotomy is any splitting of a whole into exactly two non-overlapping parts, meaning it is a procedure in which a whole is divided into two parts...
": the clash between American ideals and brutal political and economic realities. It was a conflict he saw firsthand as a sailor aboard the warship USS Topeka
USS Topeka (CL-67)
USS Topeka , a Cleveland-class light cruiser was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named after the city of Topeka, Kansas.-Construction and Commissioning:...
in the Pacific at the close of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and later while he was conducting research for a history of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point. He lived at West Point from 1964 to 1968, and interviewed officers and their families as the controversy over America's involvement in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
intensified.
Professional contributions
A frequent guest on C-Span, PBS, A&E and the History Channel, Fleming also contributes articles to such magazines as American Heritage, Military History, History Today, and MHQ, the Quarterly Journal of Military History. He has served as president of the Society of American Historians and the PEN American CenterPEN American Center
PEN American Center , founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators...
. He also spent ten years as chairman of the New York American Revolution Round Table and is currently the senior scholar at the American Revolution Center at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
.
Fleming has donated his papers to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
's Special Collections. Among the items on file are the interviews he conducted for a book on West Point and notes from his research on everyday life during the American Revolution. Eventually he plans to send over a large amount of material on World War I.