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Captains and the Kings

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 5,981 ratings · 104 reviews

This is a great surging novel about the amassing of a colossal fortune, the political power that comes with it, and the operation of a curse laid on an Irish-American dynasty and the ruthless driving man who founded it.

Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh was thirteen years old when he first saw America through a dirty porthole on the steerage deck of The Irish Queen. It was the...more

Paperback, 816 pages

Published December 12th 1983 by Fawcett (first published 1972)

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May 12, 2012 Philip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Taylor Caldwell is largely unknown today, and CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS is virtually the only novel of her left in print in mass-market paperback, and less than a handful are available in oversized paperback editions. But from 1938 (DYNASTY OF DEATH) through her last published novel, ANSWER AS A MAN (1980), Caldwell kept countless readers enthralled with her powerful sagas of ambition and destiny, set during various periods of American and European history (along with a few diversions to Ancient Ro...more Taylor Caldwell is largely unknown today, and CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS is virtually the only novel of her left in print in mass-market paperback, and less than a handful are available in oversized paperback editions. But from 1938 (DYNASTY OF DEATH) through her last published novel, ANSWER AS A MAN (1980), Caldwell kept countless readers enthralled with her powerful sagas of ambition and destiny, set during various periods of American and European history (along with a few diversions to Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece). Her novels were notable for their great emotional depth, as well as her unerring eye for detail - she was often (and justifiably) accused of verbosity, but she was nevertheless a thunderingly good storyteller.

CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS is one of her best novels, almost a late-career companion to DYNASTY OF DEATH and NEVER VICTORIOUS, NEVER DEFEATED (1954). Both novels are about men with a passion for success who let no one and nothing stand in the way of achieving it. Caldwell herself called CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS her "Kennedy novel," because the tragic family she chronicles here does indeed resemble that famous family. The novel's central character, Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh, arrives in America from Ireland as a penniless orphan - decades later he's one of America's wealthiest and most powerful men, with one ambition left: to make his son, Rory, the first Catholic president of the United States.

CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS is about power - actually, even more than that, it's about the power behind power, the people behind the scenes - bankers, investors, manufacturers - who control politicians and the destinies of nations.

I was besotted with CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS as a teenager, and read it four times between 1972 and 1975. I re-read it two years ago, well over 30 years after my last reading, and enjoyed it all over again.

If you've never read Taylor Caldwell, CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS is well worth seeking out, along with DYNASTY OF DEATH, TESTIMONY OF TWO MEN, and DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN. With historical fiction once again highly popular, it's time Caldwell was rediscovered.

5/12/12: 39 years after it was published, the paperback edition of CAPTAINS AND THE KINGS has gone out of print. It was the last mass-market paperback of a Caldwell title available - end of an era!(less)

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Jan 10, 2009 Laura marked it as to-read

Ok--Be very careful with Taylor Caldwell books. She has geared these toward women who want hardcore romance--if you know what I mean. It is usually brief I hear, but the point of her books is not about "heaving bossoms" it's to educate the average reader about governments and what goes on behind the scenes. She is very educated and a very talented writer and usually writes about a specific conspiracy. They may sound strange but I would highly recommend any of her books (minus the bedroom scene)...more

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Jan 27, 2012 John Glass rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read Taylor Caldwell’s Captains and the Kings at my father’s suggestion. Caldwell is definitely someone who thinks. Since the book is written in novel form, most of her ideas are implied (strongly) rather than explicitly stated. Often these ideas are implied in a manner which reminds me of the society of devils in C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. Caldwell’s dark, club to your head style however, makes Screwtape look light and humorous by comparison. Her ideas are presented in as part of a liter...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Ken Rossignol rated it 5 of 5 stars

Taylor Caldwell reveals the ruthless world of the era after the industrialization of America began and one could imagine the same world of today's corporate climate in the digital era. The common thread of course is mankind with the good and the bad traits shining through! Captains and the Kings was made into a mini-series and CD set is available even now on Amazon. I am going to order the set. After reading the book in the 70's, I gained a great insight not only into the history of the era but...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A truly extraordinary book in every way! My mom told me that a long time ago, she read a book that was so good, and I thought to myself, I have to read this. I enjoyed every page, and it's amazing to think about how it applies to our lives today. If you read it and think about it, the book should both frighten you while making you wonder who the hell is actually running our country and the world. Men behind curtains that no one has ever heard of making decisions that change how the world functio...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Renie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book started out super strong with vivid details, moving images, and character investment. I loved, loved, loved it. Then, imagine my surprise when on page 100 the author tells all about the protagonist moving to Titusville, PA (my humble home town) in order to strike it rich in the oil fields. It was absolutely fascinating reading about my town 150 years ago! I enjoyed the book, except there are places where it gets bogged down in politics which, although I recognize is the main theme of t...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Valeria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Captains and the Kings is such a great all around read in my opinion. So much so that it is one of my favorite books of all time (and that's saying a lot coming from me).

While the theme at first glance seems to be a rags to riches story, it goes so much more beyond that. You have history, romance, politics, drama (plenty of it yet not overdone), and it also delves into the different natures of human beings. It is easy to read, yet pretty intense and I had a difficult time putting this book down...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-best-ever-reads

I don't think you can find many Taylor Caldwell books still in mass publication today. I read this book when I was a teenager or early 20's at the urging of my mother, who was an avid reader and lover of great fiction. This is one of my favorite books and captures the type of story line I crave and enjoy reading -- the sweeping family epic story - love, betrayal, loss, regret. If you like these types of epic, historical family dynasty type novels it's well worth a trip back into 1972 (when publi...more

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May 30, 2012 Gerald rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, 2012, genre-historical-fiction, theme-family-saga, favorites

Captains and the Kings is the sweeping 1972 novel of the family of Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh, who departs Ireland as a 13-year-old with his mother and younger brother Sean to join his father in America. His mother dies upon arrival in New York harbor giving birth to his baby sister Regina. He promises her to take care of the family. They are penniless and find out they will not be allowed to debark in New York at the same time that he is informed that his father has recently died. They debark...more Captains and the Kings is the sweeping 1972 novel of the family of Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh, who departs Ireland as a 13-year-old with his mother and younger brother Sean to join his father in America. His mother dies upon arrival in New York harbor giving birth to his baby sister Regina. He promises her to take care of the family. They are penniless and find out they will not be allowed to debark in New York at the same time that he is informed that his father has recently died. They debark in Philadelphia. Joseph uses most of the little money he has been left by his father to place Sean and Regina with the nuns in an orphanage. Joseph begins working at anything and sends money to the orphanage so they won’t put Sean and Regina up for adoption. He frequently goes hungry because he won’t spend money to himself when it is needed to keep his family together.

Joseph happens on a newspaper article about an oil strike in Titusville, PA and “borrows” money from his employer (which he later repays with interest) as he leaves without notice for Titusville. During a train accident he saves the life of an injured fellow traveler Harry Zeff, following which he is befriended by a rich and powerful fellow Irishman Ed Healey. Joseph soon becomes indispensable to the wide variety of business interests in which Mr. Healey is involved. This evolves into an almost father-and-son relationship and at Mr. Healey’s death, Joseph becomes the principal heir to the majority of the vast business interests. Now, after fifteen years, Joseph is able to provide a beautiful home for Sean and Regina and takes them from the orphanage.

The inheritance Joseph received from Mr. Healey was VERY large. Joseph is so driven that he has increased the value many times in the years following. He is a very ruthless businessman and will take all necessary steps to reach his goals. This included threats against the family of a congressman which drove him to commit suicide rather than face the consequences of what Joseph threatened to do. However, the congressman writes Joseph a letter prior to his death in which he places a curse on Joseph’s family. Joseph is not superstitious and does not initially believe in the curse, but as the novel progresses, so many deaths occur to members of his family and others for whom he cares, that the curse begins to haunt him. This becomes especially true when he is financing the effort to get his last living child elected as the American President.

I well remember the 1976 TV miniseries that was made of this novel and have intended to read it many times. I’m very glad to have gotten the push to do so from the Aussie Readers’ Group, i.e., Book Reading Challenges -> May Challenge - Reduce your TBR list! I barely finished it during the month of May, but do intend to continue the “Reduce my TBR list” effort.

Captains and the Kings is a well written very enjoyable family saga. It has many parallels to the Kennedy Clan and their alleged curse. I enjoyed it a lot and recommend it to others who might be interested.

[Book 45 of revised 2012 target 70 (Jan-10; Feb-11; Mar-9; Apr-8; May-7)]
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Jun 30, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't even know where to start with this book. My dad told me about it years ago. Its not exactly one you find lying around on library shelves waiting to be checked out. And, in fact, I only have a copy because I borrowed it from my dad... and HE only has a copy because my sister found it at a thrift store. Anyway- back to reviewing it.

First- beware it is what I call "old" writing. What I mean by that is it is more of a Margaret Mitchell or MM Kaye style than say a modern day popular author. I...more

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Jun 23, 2012 LemonLinda rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a pretty powerful HF from the early 70s. Caldwell was quite a prolific writer. This is one of her later books which was made into a popular mini-series in the 70s. On the surface it is a book of a young Irish immigrant who with hard work and a willingness to do whatever was needed for success was able to build a multi-million dollar business empire and to consort with the world's most powerful people. Joseph Armagh closely resembles Joe Kennedy in his Irish heritage, his interest in poli...more

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May 25, 2009 James rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

After more than three decades of writing novels Taylor Caldwell demonstrated with Captains and the Kings that she could still tell a great story. In it young Joseph Armagh arrives in America in 1854, an impoverished orphan with a younger brother and sister to provide for. The narrative highlights his drive to pursue success and money, and with it the powerful allies and enemies he makes while practically alienating his family. He even gets involved with conspiracies in his drive for success.
Like...more After more than three decades of writing novels Taylor Caldwell demonstrated with Captains and the Kings that she could still tell a great story. In it young Joseph Armagh arrives in America in 1854, an impoverished orphan with a younger brother and sister to provide for. The narrative highlights his drive to pursue success and money, and with it the powerful allies and enemies he makes while practically alienating his family. He even gets involved with conspiracies in his drive for success.
Like many of her earlier novels, at least those that I have read, she tells a memorable sprawling story with fascinating characters. Standing at the center of this large cast is Armagh himself. Joseph has an aura or perhaps charisma that he uses to make himself fascinating to others, but he is not an easy person to like. His character is filled with contradictions. As he engages in dangerous activities like slave trading, bootlegging, and shady business deals, he wants more of what the people engaged in these enterprises have to offer. His character is dark and he disdains the notion of any hope or optimism. Joseph orders the death or disgrace of most enemies with very little conscience. He marries for position rather than love, while turning to another woman for the sustenance his marriage lacks. He dominates his brother and sister and becomes furious when they begin lives of their own. But Joseph is not a one-dimensional character. He is a very multi-faceted man with a bit of humanity that shows every once in awhile. He has a very romantic and chivalrous side. At first dismissive of his children, he slowly begins to accept them and take pride in them up to the point where he has ambitions that include the presidency for his eldest son (which would make him the first Catholic President of the United States about 50 years before John F. Kennedy). One of the most touching scenes that shows Joseph’s better character is where he shows real regret in disgracing a senator, whom he realizes is a truly good man.
Another theme is the idea that there is a secret group controlling the real power behind the government. Joseph comes into a world of The Committee of Foreign Relations; shadowy men who make decision that affect the world around them. Joseph and later his son, Rory, become involved in some chilling meetings where these men discuss upcoming world wars, stock market panics and crashes, and Communist uprisings in a nonchalant matter as though they were items on a shopping list. This sort of conspiracy theory motif does make for fascinating reading and makes one wonder. Joseph despite all of his money, and cynicism is at heart a naive character and doesn't truly realize how dangerous they can be until they turn on him and his son. The story is well told and the family with all of its warts and issues is interesting to the end.
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Jun 20, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookmooch, america, family-saga, fiction-20th-century, mtbr-challenge-2012, historical-romance, read-2012, favorites

A long awaited book, just arrived from USA through BM.

The tumult and the shouting dies,

The Captains and the Kings depart.

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice -

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget, lets we forget!

Rudyard Kipling

This is the story of Joseph Armagh, an Irish immigrant, and his family.

He struggled in order to survive as soon as his mother and two little brothers arrived in America but his perseverance made him a rich and powerful man, which...more

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Feb 27, 2009 Tom rated it 1 of 5 stars

It's been an long, long time since I read this book, but what I do remember is getting the feeling that even the richest bad guys in all the world couldn't possibly pull off all their nefarious plots as flawlessly as these guys did. It's not that I don't believe that people are out there trying to manipulate things for their own purposes; I just can't believe they can be 100 percent effective in their efforts 100 percent of the time.

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Aug 26, 2009 Jeanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a fascinating read. You feel totally involved in this world while you are reading. I read it as a teenager and as an adult and it's loosely based on the story of the Kennedys more particularly their father Joseph with a lot of intrigue and nasty back-stabbing thrown in. Creepy doesn't even begin to describe the kind of people that are in this book...and anyone who comes in contact with them is fighting a losing battle.

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May 14, 2012 Richard rated it 5 of 5 stars

Powerful and lengthy. But it held my attention, especially when I realize what family this story was based upon. The author has a way of making you feel the period and emotions of the main character as he grows from man child to man hood. Being driven by his circumstances to take on the responsibility of caring for those in his circle of life to realize in the end that .... will lets say," money answereth all things."

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Aug 20, 2012 Peg Gasperoni rated it 5 of 5 stars

Rereading this book... 40 years later!! Often recalled this book - especially during election years. I am, again, totally engrossed again. The story of Joseph Armaugh takes place back in the mid 19th century, but it seems like only yesterday... and, yes, today. It will color your view 'politics-as-usual'. Always thought it shoukd be a required read/discussion book. -

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May 18, 2012 Helen rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the most memorable books I've ever read. Couched as an interesting novel based on a famous, powerful American family, Caldwell tucks thought-provoking political and historical tidbits in amongst the drama. I hope to read it again someday - just to see if, after all these years, I perceive it the same way again.

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Oct 20, 2009 DOC rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a very good read. I found some minor plot problems, but was able to look past them. The idea of a secret society of bankers running the world is shocking, scary, and all too believable. Also, I couldn't help but think of A. Mary F. Robinson's line from A Ballad of Heroes: Now all your victories are in vain.

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Jul 17, 2011 Susan Stell rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is a story of a poor Irish immigrant who arrives in America penniless, but becomes a person of wealth and stature. It also weaves in the bigotry, "discrimination," and the great opportunities that shaped this Irish teenager into a person of wealth and power.

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Apr 19, 2013 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Taylor Caldwell is a good writer that is very intelligent. This book took me forever to get through however, because she is not a "character" writer. This book was a political commentary with a storyline. I didn't particularly like or "know" any of the characters so I didnt really care what happened to them. The story was cohesive and interesting, but I think it could have been a lot shorter.

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Apr 30, 2010 Daniel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Taylor Caldwell's novels are always good reads...but I must say, I prefer her novels about biblical characters. She takes you into the minds and lives of people like, Paul, Luke, Judas and others with such emotion and insight!

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Jun 11, 2009 Linda O rated it 5 of 5 stars

1983. Powerful story that had a great impact upon me in my younger adulthood, the way I looked at the world of leaders, power and the existence of good and evil as it exists in the world of the 'powerful' and the not-so powerful.

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Sep 02, 2012 Annette rated it 2 of 5 stars

One of those books that I read after seeing the mini-series. Although I really liked Taylor Caldwell's Wicked Angel, this was not as good as I had hoped (neither was the mini-series from what I remember!)

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Feb 18, 2010 Elizabeth marked it as to-read

My dad sent me this as a surprise in the mail. We do NOT have similar reading tastes, but I will give it a try. It might be part of his underhanded scheme to get me to join his conservative agenda.

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Apr 08, 2009 Marilyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second time I have read this book, and I enjoyed it and understood it much better this time!! Maybe that's because I looked up words I had never seen like epergne and Panjandrum.

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Jul 16, 2010 Nancy Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Nancy by: mme52@verizon.net

I read this novel the first time when I was very young. It really made an impression on me at the time.
It is another book which reminds me how much we the readers bring to the experience of reading. Life experiences definetly have an impact on what we understand while we are reading.
In addition this time I really noticed how much information the author packs in a single sentence--so many concrete images, details. It is still a good story.
It was written after several assasinations in American...more

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Feb 19, 2009 Pat Cromwell rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book so much! I love fictional characters surrounded by real life events (i.e. an the appeal via Forrest Gump). Excellent and unforgettable character piece.

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Feb 12, 2009 Gd added it

if you can find any of her books i recommend them highly,she wrote so many books and they are wonderful,i read these years ago and still look for any copies i can find,

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Feb 14, 2013 Bettie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Bettie by: Laura

Shelves: film-only, winter-20122013, published-1972, historical-fiction, north-americas, revenge, catholic, families, incest-agameforallthefamily, epic-proportions, politics

TV miniseries

Great watching but glad I didn't read - know what I mean?

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About Taylor Caldwell

Also known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner.

Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it...more

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“The world is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.” — 5 people liked it

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