Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • First Among Equals

  • By: Jeffrey Archer
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (197 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
First Among Equals cover art

First Among Equals

By: Jeffrey Archer
Narrated by: John Lee
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Fourth Estate cover art
Sons of Fortune cover art
The Eleventh Commandment cover art
A Twist in the Tale cover art
A Prison Diary cover art
Hell cover art
To Cut a Long Story Short cover art
Getting It Right cover art
The Man cover art
Hour of the Hunter cover art
Colorworld cover art
Finale cover art
All the Shiny Things cover art
Flight of the Intruder cover art
Amber Magic cover art
Lady in Green cover art

Summary

Playing for the highest stakes of all . . .

In the 1960s, four ambitious new MPs take their seats at Westminster. Over three decades they share the turbulent passions and upheavals of the race for power with their wives and families, men and women caught up in a dramatic game for the highest stakes of all. But only one man can gain the ultimate goal - the office of Prime Minister.

©1984 Jeffrey Archer (P)2014 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

What listeners say about First Among Equals

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    61
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    113
  • 4 Stars
    46
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    97
  • 4 Stars
    42
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A bit boring

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great story.

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dated but decent

A very simple look into what is supposed to be typical British politics... All the clichés are here, Tories as bankers, labour firebrands... Perfectly decent time killer and quite fun to see who will win out in the end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good standard Archer

Would you consider the audio edition of First Among Equals to be better than the print version?

Nope the two mediums are completely different

Who was your favorite character and why?

Fraser or Seymour I found Kerslake full of his own self importance and Gould was smug

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

Yes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful