Mysteries of my father

the long version

An Irish-American coming of age story, this memoir shows what Teddy Fleming had to do to make himself a success to himself & what that cost him at home. A son comes of age in a fiercely political world "Thomas Fleming gives us an unforgettable story about an immigrant family-his family-as it struggles to find a place in the American century. "Inspired by the discovery of a ring once worn by his father during World War I, historian and novelist Fleming (The Officers' Wives) chronicles three generations of his Irish American family in early 20th-century Jersey City, NJ. The narrative alternates between the families of Fleming's father and mother, both of whom had lower-class Irish American beginnings. His father, Teddy, rose to prominence as a sheriff under the reign of corrupt political boss Frank Hague, while his mother, Kitty, raised two sons and remained devoted to her husband, even after their love deteriorated. By uniting these two strands of personal history, Fleming's story transcends traditional memoir and becomes a moving examination of the unique challenges faced by 20th-century Irish Americans as they struggled to integrate into American society. The constant rift between Catholics and Protestants, survival in the midst of crippling poverty, the significance of education, and the deep, persistent bonds of family are key themes here. Recommended for large public and academic collections.-Ben Bruton, Murray, KY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information."--Library Journal.