With the publication of the paperback edition of his novel, The Secret Trial of Robert E. Lee on September 29, Thomas Fleming is celebrating his fiftieth anniversary as a published writer in high style. He now has no less than three books in the stores this fall.  The others are the paperback edition of  his 2009 history book, The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers, and the 50^th anniversary edition of his first nonfiction book, Now We Are Enemies, the story of Bunker Hill.

         Intimate Lives was named the best book of 2009 by the New York American Revolution Round Table. It was featured on C-Span’s Book Talk and was widely reviewed and praised as a remarkable exploration of the role of women in the lives of the founders. The Secret Trial was hailed in its hardcover edition as “a mesmerizing drama” that uses fiction “to add new, profoundly human dimensions to American history.”   Now We Are Enemies was greeted with fresh acclamations in Boston. The NPR station, Boston Radio, interviewed Fleming for over an hour. Applauding crowds greeted his talks at the Bunker Hill Monument Museum and the Massachusetts Historical Society.

         On October 5,  Isaiah Sheffer, founder of Symphony Space, and Tony award nominee actor Paul Hecht, supported by fifers and a drummer in 18^th Century garb,  staged a New York City tribute to Now We Are Enemies, reading from a script written by former CBS documentary producer Gordon Hyatt.  The audience at a prominent midtown social club was enthralled. “It was the suspense story to end all suspense stories,” one woman said. “And it changed American history!”

     Then there is Fleming’s historical journalism. American Heritage Magazine’s current issue features a ten page article, The Imperial Congress, replete with historic cartoons, about his sardonic look at the doings of the national legislature. Simultaneously, MHQ, the Quarterly Journal of Military History, is running Blinded by Hope, Fleming’s revelatory essay on the way illusions of easy victory have gotten America into almost every war we have fought.  Meanwhile, on HNN (History News Network) Fleming continues his popular series, Channeling George – startling conversations with the greatest founding father, as he views American history from Elysium.  It is the most popular feature on this much visited website.