Only Time Will Tell
Clifton Chronicles, Book 1
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Only Time Will Tell
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Narrated by:
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Roger Allam
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Emilia Fox
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By:
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Jeffrey Archer
About this listen
Ambitious and addictive, Only Time Will Tell is the first novel in Jeffrey Archer’s The Clifton Chronicles, beginning the epic tale of Harry Clifton, a working-class boy from the docks of Bristol. Read by Emilia Fox, known for her role in Silent Witness, and Roger Allam.
It is 1920, and against the backdrop of a world ravaged by conflict, Harry’s story begins with the words ‘I was told that my father was killed in the war’. Harry’s existence is defined by the death of his father and he seems destined to a life on the docks until a remarkable gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys school and entry into a world he could never have envisaged.
Over the course of twenty years, as the Second World War and the fight against Hitler draws nearer, Harry will learn the awful truth about his father’s death and of his own connections to a powerful shipping family, the Barringtons. And in doing so, he will change his destiny forever . . .
Richly imagined and populated with remarkable characters, The Clifton Chronicles will take you on a powerful journey, bringing to life one hundred years of family history in a story neither you, nor Harry, could ever have dreamt of.
Continue the bestselling series with The Sins of the Father and Best Kept Secret.
©2011 Jeffrey Archer (P)2011 Macmillan PublishersRelated to this topic
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,141
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,075
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Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone? Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.
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Narrator doesn’t get Backman’s satire or rhythm
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By: Fredrik Backman, and others
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Say No More
- By: Caroline Overington
- Narrated by: Anna Skellern
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,684
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,649
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,649
Who is Audrey Hoedemaker? It's a question her sister Maureen has heard more times than she can count, and she doesn't know what the short answer would be. Little sister, troubled teen, backpacker, musical theatre coach, con artist, childcare worker. Murderer. A tragic, traumatic childhood casts a long shadow on the Hoedemaker sisters. Maureen has worked hard to move beyond the violence of the past and build a good, honest life for herself. Audrey, however, just can't seem to do the same, careening from one state of chaos to another.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Seriously, that was the ending?
- By alicia in athens on 02-13-25
What listeners say about Only Time Will Tell
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carol
- 08-07-12
Brilliant
What made the experience of listening to Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1 the most enjoyable?
Captivated me from the very beginning and couldn't wait to hear more and more. Excellent.
What other book might you compare Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1 to and why?
Matthew Flinders Cat. Both great stories and told in a way that keeps not only me but my husband enthralled.
Which scene was your favorite?
Knowing that the main character may still be in the mix
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
One to watch
Any additional comments?
Hadn't read a Jeffrey Archer in years so thrilled to hear a great story. Reviews certainly count.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- AR
- 12-13-18
Great Story Excellent Rendering
The potentially banal story is beautifully told. It is a unique experience to read a penny novel told by a master.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- diana mackenzie
- 02-27-19
excellent storyline
it was superb in every way especially for an 80 year old readers...hope the saga continues in audibles
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Tracey
- 05-06-15
only time
What did you love best about Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1?
it was a good story with the characters shown from there sides of the story
What did you like best about this story?
old jack he is good
Have you listened to any of Roger Allam and Emilia Fox ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
no i haven,t
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
only time and truth can tell
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Jane
- 07-01-11
A ripping yarn
Archer carries a narrative strongly and this ripping yarn is no exception. However he presents his characters descriptively -- we see their actions and hear their words rather than clearly picture them or understand their (repressed) emotions. This is underscored by allowing different protagonists to take up various threads of the story. His women are somewhat cliched nineteenth / early twentieth heroines as they play their roles as martyr, lover, upholder of what is Strong and True. But that works ok -- and, after all, it is is set in the first half of last century. Archer does make us care what happens to his characters and of course he creates compelling twists and turns in the plot. The sequel will be eagerly awaited. The readers were first rate.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jennifer smith
- 12-26-16
Great read!!
Beautifully narrated. Good story. Well defined characters. I'm looking forward to sequel of this book!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 02-22-19
great listen and a good story
it is always easy to listen to a book when you like the narrator. it makes a great story even better. such is the case here. cant wait to listen to the next one.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gabrielle
- 09-17-12
Great saga
What did you like best about this story?
I love family stories and sagas, this once was a great one! Comparable to Ken Follett...
Who was the most memorable character of Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1 and why?
Old Jack Tar - it's nice to have an old misunderstood-by-most type of character
Any additional comments?
Sometimes I had the feeling that some parts of the book where missing - like a sentence stopping in the middle (but didn't impede the understanding of the book, and only happened once or twice at the beginning), but this problem would be due to technical issues, and not the story in itself.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- catherine
- 05-17-14
Boring and extremely disappointing
What disappointed you about Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1?
I have read everything Lord Archer has written. I bought this book assuming a good read and was very much disappointed. I would go so far as to say I do not believe this book would have been published if not for the author's fame.It was so boring I started to listen to it on fast play on my ipod (x2). Even then, the story progressed about as quickly as grass grows. I've read a review comparing it to The Forsyte Saga - I loved the Forsyte Saga - this is in no way in the same class. It is a long, long, long story with characters not totally likable, slightly unbelievable situations and no hook to capture your attention and make you want to keep reading. I would have returned this book, but for some reason my audible account says it accepts returns, but doesn't let me return them. All I can say is that if you like watching plants grow for hours on end, then this is the book for you.
Has Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1 turned you off from other books in this genre?
Yes
What do you think the narrator could have done better?
Read faster
What character would you cut from Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1?
I'd suggest that the telling of the same events several times from different viewpoints is the most frustrating part of this book.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Barbara
- 05-12-14
These are not individual books!
Would you try another book from Jeffrey Archer and/or Roger Allam and Emilia Fox ?
After Kain and Abel always - these books are drawn out incomplete sequals, not complete books and as such boring and VERY pricey for a very average drawn out story. NO I have no interest in hearing the rest of it.
What do you think your next listen will be?
Am already listening to Ken Wilber and reading Jojo Moyos
What aspect of Roger Allam and Emilia Fox ’s performance would you have changed?
The performance was OK, the storyline is the problem
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Only Time Will Tell: Clifton Chronicles, Book 1?
The whole book needs a 20-40% or more condensation, too drawn out and painful.
Any additional comments?
My last Jeffrey Archer! - life is too short to read this.
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