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This Was a Man

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About this listen

Suspenseful and mesmerizing, This Was a Man is the seventh and final novel in international bestseller Jeffrey Archer’s the Clifton Chronicles – an epic and poignant conclusion. Harry Clifton is set to write his magnum opus, and as he reflects on his days, the lives of his family continue to unfold, unravel and intertwine in ways no one could have imagined.

Harry’s wife Emma completes her ten years as Chairman of the Bristol Royal Infirmary when she receives a surprise call from Margaret Thatcher.

In Whitehall, Giles Barrington discovers the truth about his wife, but is she a pawn in a larger game? Sebastian Clifton finds himself in a new role after an unexpected resignation and his talented daughter, Jessica, goes to art school but gets into trouble. Can her aunt help?

Lady Virginia is about to flee the country to avoid her creditors when the death of a duchess gives her another opportunity to clear her debts and finally trump the two families.

The epic saga that has charted the lives, loves and adventures of the Clifton and Barrington families reaches its stunning conclusion in this, the final heart-stopping volume from the master storyteller, Jeffrey Archer.

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Marriage Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

Archer puts his entire formidable bag of storytelling tricks into this last in the series
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I’ve listened to the previous six books in the Clifton Chronicles and this finale is one of the best. Snobbishly I think that Jeffrey Archer isn’t Graham Greene but by golly he can tell a story that keeps one on tenterhooks eager to find out what happens next. He has created some memorable characters not least Lady Veronica the Machavelli of the series: utterly over-the-top in her exploits but hugely entertaining as she seems to succeed in her plots only to be thwarted. It’s great stuff and I’m sorry that the series has ended in the 1990s as the next generation of Cliftons and Barringtons are developing into interesting characters. Maybe the next series will be the Barrington Chronicles? I hope so as it’s great fun to listen to good old fashioned story-telling in which good is pitted against evil and good eventually wins for a change. I also enjoy the inclusion of historical events and real people which adds colour and interest to the narrative. The author's inside knowledge of parliament and prison life lends veracity to many events in the book.

Alex Jennings is one of the best narrators around and makes the series even more enjoyable.

I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series and following the books chronologically as getting to know the characters, and following the progression of their lives, adds to the pleasure.

Highly entertaining rollicking melodrama

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Brilliant story & wonderfully narrated! A well written and engrossing story. A highly recommended read!

A grand conclusion to the Clifton Chronicles.

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I've just finished the last of this series and I thought they were brilliant. As another commenter has mentioned, "it's not Tolstoy", but if a book makes you want to listen more and you care about the characters, that, to me, is a good book. I felt a bit like I had lost some dear friends at the end.

Fantastic series

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Whilst it goes against the grain slightly to have spent so much time reading something by a disgraced Tory peer, I have loved the Chronicles. The characterisation has made me feel that I have lived alongside them their whole lives. What an ending to the Chronicles. I am bereft!

Beautiful ending

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An excellent conclusion to a great series of books! The Clifton Chronicles has been a joy to listen to and this final addition is no exception. Thank you Jeffrey Archer!

An emotional rollercoaster comes to an end!

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