Jeffrey Archer passes away: 5 essential bestsellers by the author that everyone must read
Renowned British author Lord Jeffrey Archer, whose sprawling family sagas and political thrillers captivated millions of readers worldwide across generations, has passed away at 86. Here's a look at 5 of his most essential bestsellers that every literature enthusiast should read.
Jeffrey Archer and his legacy
For generations, British author Jefferey Archer and his books offered a window into Europe and its society. Archer’s books not only had intricate plots but also provided a backdrop of the society in which they were set. He was known for writing multi-generational sagas and stories with dramatic twists. On Monday, HarperCollins announced Archer's death, saying that he died suddenly and peacefully at his home. In 2014, the writer revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The exact cause of his death has not been revealed.
Here are five books by the author that everyone should read.
Kane and Abel
The first book in the trilogy, Kane and Abel, is an epic saga that follows two men born on the same day on opposite sides of the world- Lowell Kane, a wealthy Boston Brahmin born to a powerful banking dynasty, and Wladek Koskiewicz (later Abel Rosnovski), a penniless Polish immigrant orphaned by war. Spanning over six decades, the story is of ambition, rivalry, and financial power, where two ruthless men relentlessly seek to destroy each other, oblivious to how deeply their lives are intertwined. Archer followed it up with sequels: The Prodigal Daughter and Shall We Tell the President?
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Archer’s debut novel, written after he lost his fortune in an investment scam and faced personal bankruptcy, was a heist story. The story centres around four men from drastically different backgrounds—an Oxford don, a doctor, an art dealer, and an aristocrat—who are swindled out of $1 million by Harvey Metcalfe, a ruthless international fraudster. Packed with clever heist schemes and dry British humour, this fast-paced thriller established Archer’s signature flair for intricate plotting.
A Prisoner of Birth
Danny Cartwright, an honest East End mechanic, proposes to his childhood sweetheart, only to be framed for murder by a group of wealthy upper-class men. Sentenced to 22 years in a high-security prison, Danny forms an unlikely friendship with his cellmate, a well-educated aristocrat who happens to look identical to him. A modern-day reimagining of Alexandre Dumas’s The Count of Monte Cristo, this legal thriller delivers high-stakes court drama and a satisfying tale of double identities and calculated revenge.
First Among Equals
Set against the backdrop of British politics from the 1960s through the 1980s, the novel follows four ambitious men—two Conservatives and two Labour MPs—as they fight their way through Parliament to reach the ultimate political prize: Prime Minister.Drawing heavily on Archer’s own insider experience as a former Member of Parliament, the book offers a thrilling, detailed look at parliamentary backstabbing, political intrigue, and personal scandal.
Only Time Will Tell
The opening novel of The Clifton Chronicles, a seven-book epic set between 1920 and 1940. It follows Harry Clifton, a working-class boy growing up in the docks of Bristol who discovers he possesses a brilliant mind and a voice that earns him a scholarship to an elite boarding school. The Clifton Chronicles became a global publishing phenomenon. The book blends family mystery, secrets of paternity, and WWII history, ending on one of Archer’s most iconic cliffhangers.
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