This Was a Man was published by Macmillan in 2016 (released the same year as Cometh the Hour), concluding the seven-volume Clifton Chronicles. The saga’s resolution brings Harry Clifton to the summit of literary recognition, resolves the family mysteries established in volume one, and settles accounts with the antagonists who have threatened the Clifton-Barrington dynasty across six decades.
The Clifton Chronicles represent Archer’s most sustained fictional achievement: seven volumes, covering 1920–1992, totaling over 3,000 pages, and maintaining a consistent cast of characters across more than half a century of British and world history. The series demonstrated that Archer, often dismissed as a mere entertainer, could sustain a narrative of genuine complexity and emotional depth.
The Complete Clifton Chronicles
Collectors seeking the complete seven-volume Clifton Chronicles in first editions face a straightforward task: all volumes were published by Macmillan between 2011 and 2016, with large print runs. The challenge is finding fine copies with unclipped dust jackets, as the books were widely read rather than collected. A complete set in fine condition represents Archer’s most sustained narrative achievement.
Collecting This Was a Man
First edition (Macmillan, London, 2016): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $15–$25
- Very good: $8–$15
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation. The value lies in the complete seven-volume set rather than individual volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the final Jeffrey Archer novel? No. This Was a Man concluded the Clifton Chronicles in 2016, but Archer continued writing — the William Warwick detective series began in 2019. However, it is the final volume of his most ambitious multi-volume saga.