Tag: Jeffrey Archer

  • This was a Man

    Jeffrey Archer

    I wasn’t really very happy with “Cometh the Hour” because I felt the author was stretching the series. I was afraid whether that would mean that the series would end with a whimper. Thankfully it didn’t. This was a fitting finale to The Clifton Chronicles.

    I think it’s only when you see the series as a whole do you understand the kind of changes that have happened in the world through the lifetime of Harry Clifton. In that sense, it is a great lens to see the changing nature of society – its behavior, consumption, worldview and so on. While the author has done his best to show a changing order and system of the world, the bias to an old world charm is obvious. Perhaps an indication of how he’d have liked it to be. (more…)

  • Cometh the Hour

    Jeffrey Archer

    This is what I’d call a publisher’s book on at least a couple of counts. One, the slow movement of the different plots suggest that this could have been the book to finish the series, but we will have to wait for the next. Two, the ethnicity of the characters – while it could be argued that this is a reflection of the changing times (as per the plot’s timeframe, late 70s) it could also be an indication of the markets the publisher wants to specially address – the US, India and Turkey.

    While the first and the last were natural progressions from the previous books, the presence has been greatly enhanced. The second, I found to be an unnecessary detour that added nothing to the overall plots, unless that somehow happens in the next book. Add to that, the deceptive cover that almost implies there is a significant India play in the book, and we have my reasons to believe that the publisher dictated the proceedings. (more…)

  • Mightier than the Sword

    Jeffrey Archer
    I must admit to a bit of a grumbling before I started the book, the reason being that Archer was supposed to finish the series in five books, but has now stretched it to seven! And since I have read the others, I would have to finish this. Add to this that it’s been a while since I read Book 4, I had to do a bit of online reading to catch up on the various plot lines. But all of that, I realised, is similar to a friend who irritates you by being habitually late, but once you start talking, all is forgiven.
    The story of the Clifton extended family and enemies continues predictably with the existing narratives – Emma’s board room battles, Harry’s literary success, Giles’ politics, and Sebastian’s career progression. Arch enemies Virginia Fenwick and Alex Fisher also continue to be a thorns on collective sides. The narratives are furthered by the introduction of a new set of adversaries for Emma, Sebastian’s challenges on personal and professional fronts, and complications in Harry’s life largely owing to his support of a Russian author.
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  • Be Careful What you Wish For

    Jeffrey Archer

    The fourth volume of the Clifton Chronicles, and since Archer has made it a point to end each book at a very crucial juncture, the book dives straight in. One of the problems I faced was that I had to do some reading up on the web to remember the plot and the characters.

    As with the previous book, the original protagonist Harry Clifton has very little role to play. Most of the plot lines are centred around his wife Emma and son Sebastian. Both of them have to fend off various kinds of attacks from their enemy Don Pedro Martinez. Sebastian’s problems on this account seem relatively small compared to that of Emma’s, as Martinez tries every trick outside the book to bring down Barrington Shipping with the help of Major Alex Fisher and Lady Virginia Fenwick. We are also kept aware of Sir Giles’ political career even as he too becomes a target of Martinez. (more…)

  • Best Kept Secret

    Jeffrey Archer

    The third volume of the Clifton Chronicles, which picks up right at the point where the second one ended – the House of Lords deciding the beneficiary of the Barrington fortune.

    This one differs from the earlier volumes by almost ignoring the protagonist – Harry Clifton – altogether. There are plots around Giles, Emma and Sebastian, and they manage to take the story forward very well despite Harry remaining in the background most of the time. (more…)