Tempus Fugit: Time Flies: A Novel

by Lawrence Lee Rowe Jr.

What would our founding fathers do if they suddenly found themselves in the present-day United States? Bask in their anonymity? Announce themselves to the world? Emigrate? Revolt? Run for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976766809
• ISBN13: 9780976766803
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: Lawrence Lee Rowe JR
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A great read!

I couldn't put this book down and it lingered in my mind for weeks after reading it. It's clear from the details in Rowe's elegant prose that he conducted extensive research. And he didn't shirk from writing sometimes less-than-flattering portraits of these iconic men based on what he learned about them. The book is all the better for this "warts and all" approach. In the glossy, Disney-fied culture that is America today, revisionist history that gives us a more realistic view of our roots is welcome -- especially when it's as well written as this.

A catalyst to understanding our forefathers...

I've always been facinated with historical fiction, more so than the encyclopedic versions. Reading these types of novels spurs me to research and learn about the people and their lives where I wouldn't otherwise. I admit that the portrayal of Jefferson is unnerving, but I think the author was showing his own bravery on this point. Instead of massaging Jefferson into a Disneyesque ex-President, simply get into his character with what you know of him from your research and write him as you think he was. I think the author has succeeded in that I can view Jefferson in a roundabout fashion, not really adhering exactly to the manner in which he is depicted. But having shown his intellect, his racist, and "spoiled child" attitudes, it gives the reader a sense of who the man probably was. I have always thought a motion picture of George Washington would be like Superman in real life. His physical nature seems so daunting that I can't imagine such a movie, if done well, being less than an Acadamy award sweep. Washington was an extraordinary human and to see him come to life in this book was wonderful. The book portrays Franklin as a genius beyond compare and that is as it should be. Of course I didn't know he was a rogue and I'll happily look for more history of the man. I think I like him quite a bit more than I ever gave thought and want to research him as much as I can. The book is wonderful, if you like this sort of thing. I think it's easy to take advantage of history when writing fiction, but Rowe seems to have done an enormous amount of research to back his writing. And the writing itself is consistent and well done. I never once felt uncomfortable with the prose. The story is light at times and dark at others, but overall, I loved it...and hope Rowe writes a sequel to compare.

A book I'm going to keep in my collection

There are few books that I've read that were good enough that I think of them more of than just another book on my shelf. This is a book I will keep and show prominently in my study. I can give examples but that would just be a reflection on my taste. I'm not going to give a repeat of the description of the book either, but will just say this: The story kept you thinking, and thinking. It wasn't obvious like many books, you really were trying to think like they were to discover where the story was going. This in itself made it very hard to put the book down until it was completed, I've only known Crichton books to keep me this interested (sphere, prey, state of fear are the ones that kept me for a few straight days.)

Great Read

To bring back our nations hero's into this day and age I couldn't have asked for more. The book held me from cover to cover. The author did a great job! Cannot wait for the next book.

Great read for anyone

Being a person who is not captivated by ordinary history lessons, when I found this book in my hand I was not sure it could hold my attention. What I discovered, was that I could not set the book down. The author has managed to take painstakingly researched pieces of American history, and merge them with funny, dramatic, and thought provoking pieces of fiction. The result is a fantastic novel that entertained me and taught me at the same time. I recomend Tempis Fugit to anyone, regardless of your interest level in American History.