A bit boring

A bit boring compared to his other books. It was ok but definitely not the best

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Another great story.

Another great book from a brilliant storyteller.
However the narration was disappointing read every sentence as if it was a question.

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A darned good yarn.....

A good story for those who like the cut and thrust of British political life.
some nearly true to life events intertwined with the author's vivid imagination and local knowledge keeps you wondering where it will go next.

Very enjoyable

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Awesome listen

I read this in paperback format in the 1990s. How fascinating to revisit the novel now, and that ending...Compared to how the actual events occurred, it makes for a thought-provoking alternative reality. Excellent book.

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A captivating read from start to finish

Archer allows an exciting delve into British politics that keeps you enthralled from start to finish. I have no doubt that there is a Charles, Ray, Simon and Andrew in every administration. Informative and great story

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1 person found this helpful

This works - on more than one level.

Any additional comments?

I'll declare a interest (or prejudice) and admit I've never been a great Jeffrey Archer fan, but this one is an exception. I've got a well thumbed paperback and was interested to see if the audio measures up. I think it's better. I'd not heard John Lee before but his narration was excellent.

4 young men arrive in Parliament in the same year, all with the same long term ambition; No 10. There's Ray the butcher's son from Leeds, Simon, son of a Solicitor but no financial featherbedding, Andrew who's treading a different political path from his father and Charles the aristocratic rather nasty piece of work. None of them too caricatured apart from perhaps Charles, whose Damascene conversion years later isn't entirely believable.

Some strong supporting characters help with an interesting story, but with the addition of a lot of real background and insight into Parliament and the way politics work. Even though the world has changed in the intervening years, it's still relevant.

No spoilers as to who, if any of them, succeed. Listen for yourself - you could well enjoy it.

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Disappointed

Not one of Archer ‘s finest or perhaps it was John Lee storytelling that I didn’t enjoy

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Insight into parliment

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Enjoyed the story built around three individuals all who want to go into politics . The story evolves telling the tale and including similar happening over the years in the national press. Contains it all tear jerking moments, humour, betrayal all within twists and turns making a griping tale. Could not wait to pick it up again.

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2 people found this helpful

Crackingly good political roller-coaster

I greatly enjoyed this novel. A mix of real and fictional politicians maneuvering for power over several decades from the 1960s to 1991. Written in 1984 so the last section of the book is an imagined scenario for the political scene in the UK that turned out to be entirely different from what actually happened. A what-if vision that would have made the UK a very different place from what it is now. I remember the true-life parts of the book and am struck by how history repeats itself. The Conservative party in-fighting over the benefit or not of being in the EEC (as it was in the 60s and 70s) and the Labour party crippled by hard-left zealots joining local committees to displace sitting MPs by one of their own just as Momentum trying to do now.
It is an enthralling and interesting book with added veracity owing to the author having been an MP. I've read/listened to many of his books and think this one of the very best.
The narrator is excellent

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excellent book and narration

very well narrated . enjoyed immensely well done again mr archer. will look at more of mr archers books although I have a few already

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