On January 4, 2004, Thomas Fleming was the guest on C-Span's In Depth show. For three hours, he discussed his career and answered questions about the forty books he has published since 1960. Only twelve American writers are selected for this honor in a calendar year. It was a climax of sorts to the many appearances he has made on television and radio in recent years. Previously, he had appeared on C-Span's Book Talk show, discussing his 2001 history of America's experience in World War II, The New Dealers' War. C-Span has also filmed many of his speeches, the latest made at the Library of Congress on his book, The Illusion of Victory, America in World War I. He also appears frequently on the History Channel and A&E. He was the principal commentator on the Discovery Channel's July 2, 2003 program on Valley Forge.

In 1996, Mr. Fleming was the principal commentator on PBS's four part documentary, Long Journey Home, the story of the Irish in America. In 1997 his book, Liberty! The American Revolution was the companion volume to the Peabody Award winning series of the same title on PBS. When West Point celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2002, Mr. Fleming was again a principal commentator on the PBS show. His 1969 book, West Point, The Men and Times of the U.S. Military Academy, was praised by the New York Times reviewer as "the best book ever written" about the school. In 2003, The Union League Club of New York gave him their Abraham Lincoln Award for his lifetime contribution to American literature. In 2001, Boston University gave him the Burack Award with a similar citation.

The Illusion Of Victory, America in World War I, was published by Basic Books on June 1, 2003. In the New York Sun, Christopher Willcox called it "a cautionary tale of the destructive potential of blind ambition and self righteous pride." In the Flint, Michigan, Journal, David Forsmark said no other historian approaches Fleming's ability to "douse historical illusions with the cold water of reality." Richard Reeves, noted biographer of Presidents Kennedy and Nixon, called it "an astonishing book." Columnist Robert Novak said the book "brilliantly portrays a process that casts a long shadow over the nation's history and evokes haunting comparisons with America in the 21st Century."

Later in 2003, Mr. Fleming published The Louisiana Purchase, which is part of John Wiley's series on turning points in American History. In the Sunday Times of London, the reviewer wrote: "There should be more books like this: concise, tightly argued, clearly written, and with just enough anecdotal information to sugar the pill of complex diplomatic maneuverings. Fleming is a prolific popular historian and this intriguing read is highly recommended."

The New Dealers' War: F.D.R. the War Within World War II, Fleming's previous nonfiction book, was a vivid account of the politics of the global conflict, both at home and abroad. The Washington Post called it "a gripping, controversial, informative and at times infuriating look at FDR's leadership." Henry Graff of Columbia University said it would force historians "to rethink this pivotal chapter in America's history."

Duel, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr and the Future of America, Thomas Fleming's previous nonfiction book, published in late 1999, won astonishing praise from fellow historians and reviewers. Thomas Slaughter of Notre Dame said: "Fleming gets the story right in ways that generations of historians have missed." The Associated Press reviewer wrote: "It is impossible not to love this book."

Fleming's previous history book, Liberty! The American Revolution told the story of the nation's founding in conjunction with a six part series on the Revolution that appeared on PBS in November 1997. Douglas Brinkley, director of the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans, said Liberty! was "that rare essential book that belongs in every school and home." The History Book Club rated it one of the eight best books of the year.

Earlier this year, Conquerors of the Sky, Fleming's novel celebrating 100 years of flight in America, won lavish praise from many reviewers and was featured in a Publisher's Weekly author interview. His 1981 novel, The Officers' Wives, about three West Pointers and their wives during Korea and Vietnam, was an international bestseller. So was Time And Tide, about a troubled cruiser in the Pacific during World War II. In the 1970s, another bestseller, Liberty Tavern, was called "The Gone With The Wind of the American Revolution."

Thomas Fleming is a Fellow of the Society of American Historians. He has been president of the American branch of PEN, the international writers' organization. He has also been chairman of the American Revolution Round Table. He is currently the senior scholar at the National Center for the American Revolution at Valley Forge. He lives in New York with his wife, Alice, a distinguished writer of books for young readers.