Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
14th out of 29 books
—
127 voters
The Fourth Estate
Lubji Hoch survived World War II on luck, guts, and ruthlessness. At the war's end, renamed Richard Armstrong, he buys a floundering newspaper in Berlin and deviously puts his competitors out of business. But it isn't enough. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Keith Townsend, the Oxford-educated son of a millionaire newspaper owner, takes over his family's business...more
Mass Market Paperback, 742 pages
Published
July 1st 1997
by HarperPaperbacks
(first published June 1st 1985)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
The Fourth Estate follows the fortunes of two men who are both trying to build up the biggest newspaper empire in the world. One of them is a Jewish East European immigrant who comes to live in Britain, the other is the son of a rich Australian newspaper proprietor. In the course of their business dealings they become bitter enemies& [return][return]I hadn� t read all of a novel in quite some time, constantly starting books and not finishing them, something I don� t like doing, so I decided...more
One of the best novels I've read in a long time. It's quite a fat read (just under 600 pages) but I managed to whizz through it in half of a week-long holiday in Mykonos. A gripping tale and it doesn't take too much imagination to pinpoint who the hero and anti-hero are based on! Or maybe antagonist and protagonist would be more accurate terms for describing the two newspaper barons depicted in The Fourth Estate. If you want a real insight into how the media operates and how the news is created...more
Well, I read it all the way through. some one recently tweeted that my Beach Tales reminded him of Jeffrey Archer. I found that very weird. The Archer 1 or 2 books I read in the distant past are vague memories -- more of lumbering, laborious prose. I usually tend to go straight for the jugular, metaphorically speaking of course, when writing a story. Or at least that's what I think.
anyway, this book left me feeling pretty much the same. This is the fictional story of based on the real life press...more
anyway, this book left me feeling pretty much the same. This is the fictional story of based on the real life press...more
Jeffrey Archer is a master of the short story with a twist. This novel seems to be a number of short stories connected together in the guise of a full-length novel. And thus it loses the elements that could have made it a classic. In addition, it seems that most people who have negative comments on this book, are comparing it to "Kane and Able." I'll have to agree. This entry is a good read but Mr. Archer misses the mark when he fails to keep the reader rooting for the main characters. As the no...more
i just finished reading the book yesterday. like in his first three books that i have read, the fourth estate revolves around lawyers, money and the loopholes in laws created by human.
when i read the first and second chapter, i dont have any ideas where the story is going to take me. when i move on, then i know the chapters are actually the ending of the story. this is the first time i ever read a book with two main characters that are put separately, and the characters didnt even meet face to f...more
when i read the first and second chapter, i dont have any ideas where the story is going to take me. when i move on, then i know the chapters are actually the ending of the story. this is the first time i ever read a book with two main characters that are put separately, and the characters didnt even meet face to f...more
This book was absolutely riveting. It is a long book, and I read in just three or four evenings. Every night I would come home from work, and simply start reading, ignoring everything else. I had a very hard time putting the book down. When I finished reading the book, I had to take 10 minutes to rest... and could not begin another book that evening. If only all books made me feel like that!
The book is written in Jeffrey Archer's clear style, with lots of dry humor. The plot advances quickly. It...more
The book is written in Jeffrey Archer's clear style, with lots of dry humor. The plot advances quickly. It...more
A truly fine story told by JA about how 2 men from humble backgrounds but with great ambitions make it to the top in the publishing and media world by sheer perseverance but do not know how or when to stop.
One is a jew who escapes from Nazi capture, works his way up the Newspaper publishing world but must eventually take his own life by jumping off his own yacht in the middle of the sea as he is unaware of the statutory requirements and will not listen to advice from professionals under his payr...more
One is a jew who escapes from Nazi capture, works his way up the Newspaper publishing world but must eventually take his own life by jumping off his own yacht in the middle of the sea as he is unaware of the statutory requirements and will not listen to advice from professionals under his payr...more
Dec 12, 2010
Carolyn Delair
is currently reading it
So far so good. I did not realize the characters were based on real life people. I am currently 1/3 of the way through this book and am amazed at the real life stories of these people who are the definition of courageous and entrepreneurship. Did I spell that right?! It takes place during and post world war II told by a Jewish man from a destitute background and an Australian who had all the opportunities of the upper crust of the Australian colonies from Britain. Eventually as is described in t...more
I find myself giving this book three stars primarily because of the "How on earth did Archer get away with this" factor. I don't think anybody holds Jeffrey Archer up as a great writer, but he is an excellent story-teller, and therefore a provider of some very good entertainment.
"The Fourth Estate" tracks the lives - successes, failures, treachery - of two media barons, Richard Armstrong and Keith Townsend. The parallels with Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch are uncanny in the extreme, to the p...more
"The Fourth Estate" tracks the lives - successes, failures, treachery - of two media barons, Richard Armstrong and Keith Townsend. The parallels with Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch are uncanny in the extreme, to the p...more
It was an amazing book tracing the life of Rupert Murdoch...i loved the ease and exquisiteness with which Archer had written the book...it was a master at work ,definitely.And for someone like me who aspires to be a journalist(LIke me:)) this book was all the fodder i needed....Two thumbs up!!!
Despite his somewhat dubious personal integrity and a lack of any literary gravitas to his novels,I've always found Jeffrey Archer to be a consummate storyteller and weaver of gripping tales ... until now that is.
The Fourth Estate traces the lives and fortunes of its two protagonists, who are destined to become rival newspaper barons. Predictably, one is born with the proverbial silver spoon firmly ensconced in his mouth, while the other begins life in abject poverty. Their changing fortunes thr...more
The Fourth Estate traces the lives and fortunes of its two protagonists, who are destined to become rival newspaper barons. Predictably, one is born with the proverbial silver spoon firmly ensconced in his mouth, while the other begins life in abject poverty. Their changing fortunes thr...more
All hail Archer !! Truly a master of story telling.
My views can be contrasting to many of readers here because this is first Jeffrey Archer book I’ve read. At the beginning, story starts from the end and goes into the flashback, and totally drives you crazy as you don’t know what’s going on? But suddenly all things started to make sense. And at the last of the chapter you find yourself at a position where it is difficult to put the book down because of some clue of change in the story.
This book...more
My views can be contrasting to many of readers here because this is first Jeffrey Archer book I’ve read. At the beginning, story starts from the end and goes into the flashback, and totally drives you crazy as you don’t know what’s going on? But suddenly all things started to make sense. And at the last of the chapter you find yourself at a position where it is difficult to put the book down because of some clue of change in the story.
This book...more
Two men, one starting as a poor Jew in eastern Europe, the other the son of a newspaper publisher in Australia, become worldwide media moguls, through a combination of drive, dirty play, and brilliant business skills. Inevitably, they increasingly come into direct conflict, contending for the same media properties.
Archer does his usual great job of painting likable characters, and moving the narrative along at a breakneck pace. He resists the easy out of making one of the men into a "good guy" b...more
Archer does his usual great job of painting likable characters, and moving the narrative along at a breakneck pace. He resists the easy out of making one of the men into a "good guy" b...more
My second Archer novel and the longest among my books till today.
I read it like a text book with the intention of completing it as soon as possible. The plot it good but after a while I felt bored, busy( like the people in the book) and exhausted. But I didn't keep it aside . I read it cover to cover and given it to my colleague who has given it to me.
The story about the two media tycoons Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch. In the book they are named as Dick Armstrong and Keith Townsend respectiv...more
I read it like a text book with the intention of completing it as soon as possible. The plot it good but after a while I felt bored, busy( like the people in the book) and exhausted. But I didn't keep it aside . I read it cover to cover and given it to my colleague who has given it to me.
The story about the two media tycoons Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch. In the book they are named as Dick Armstrong and Keith Townsend respectiv...more
One word: "LONG". It took me, what, about two months?! It was full of details that thoroughly washed my brain. I liked the story, yeah, but I didn't expected that one scenario would take about 5 pages to move on to the next.
What mostly amuses me was the philosophy of money of it. The various situations that was related to prosperity, like the fact that the two main characters had lived in two different worlds: the 1st and 3rd world country. Reaching its plot was much more interesting, when the c...more
What mostly amuses me was the philosophy of money of it. The various situations that was related to prosperity, like the fact that the two main characters had lived in two different worlds: the 1st and 3rd world country. Reaching its plot was much more interesting, when the c...more
It has all the markings of vintage Archer. Two men : one rich and one poor start building global empires and come face to face against each other. Long winded story line of greed, money and the race for power. The makings are very similar to Kane and Abel but here the business empire is narrowed to only the media. Pretty fast read and beyond entertaining you for a few hours, there ins't much to it.
Now that we are on the topic, it is also the tale of two first class, solid gold, shining as bright...more
Now that we are on the topic, it is also the tale of two first class, solid gold, shining as bright...more
I am a big fan of Jeffery Archer, but this one sadly was a big let down.
A story set after World War II of Lubji Hoch,who renames himself as Richard Armstrong,taking advantage of his position in the Army and becoming the most successful media baron using deceptive means.
His rival is Keith Townsend,the son of a millionare newspaper owner in Australia, who turns his family business around after his father's death.
Their ambition to out-do each other brings them to confrontation many times in their c...more
A story set after World War II of Lubji Hoch,who renames himself as Richard Armstrong,taking advantage of his position in the Army and becoming the most successful media baron using deceptive means.
His rival is Keith Townsend,the son of a millionare newspaper owner in Australia, who turns his family business around after his father's death.
Their ambition to out-do each other brings them to confrontation many times in their c...more
Right, I've read most of Jeffrey Archer's books over the years - and enjoyed the intrigue and twists in the story. Which makes this book more disappointing. The basic problem is that the 2 main characters are horrible - greedy, manipulative and dishonest, doing anything to make their next deal, at whatever cost. And after a few pages that makes for unpleasant reading. My question, having reached the end, is "why, oh why did I persevere through all 500 pages?" My only answer is that I was hoping...more
I gave up on this half way through.... how many times can you rewrite Kane & Able?
4 likes · like · see review
I read this book some 2 yrs ago, thereafter i read this book 2 times more. Why?...coz the the book is so well written and the plotting is so nice that you just want to keep on reading. the characters of
both media moghuls are so nicely presented that you just cant figure out who is best. i would surely recommend this book to whosoever wants to be die-hard business tycoon in their life. coz this book will tell you wht all traits you need to reach there.
Ruzzel Walsh
Arizona Estate Liquidator
both media moghuls are so nicely presented that you just cant figure out who is best. i would surely recommend this book to whosoever wants to be die-hard business tycoon in their life. coz this book will tell you wht all traits you need to reach there.
Ruzzel Walsh
Arizona Estate Liquidator
The first two chapters of the book will keep you like "WHAT THE!" and then the flashback. The Master of Storytelling, yet again, span a yarn, so fine, that it will make you wanting it to never end!
Richard Armstrong from Czech and Keith Townsend from Australia.
One born poor and the other born with a silver spoon.
One wants to learn and the other wants to quit.
One faces the war the other isn't slightly troubled by it.
One thing about this book is, you can never predict what will happen next.
Verdic...more
Richard Armstrong from Czech and Keith Townsend from Australia.
One born poor and the other born with a silver spoon.
One wants to learn and the other wants to quit.
One faces the war the other isn't slightly troubled by it.
One thing about this book is, you can never predict what will happen next.
Verdic...more
1 like · like · see review
Lubji Hoch survived World War II on luck, guts, and ruthlessness. At the war's end, renamed Richard Armstrong, he buys a floundering newspaper in Berlin and deviously puts his competitors out of business. But it isn't enough. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Keith Townsend, the Oxford-educated son of a millionaire newspaper owner, takes over his family's business. His energy and brilliant strategic thinking quickly make him the leading newspaper publisher in Australia. Still, he longs...more
The book was good. I cant say great because I found some parts boring. When Archer tells the life-story of the two rivals, it is boring. But, when he comes to the main part, it starts to get interesting. In the end, though, he repeats the first part. Te story says about two newspaper barons, who are rivals. Both of them want to be the richest person in the world, but both of them come in the same amount of debt from the same bank. One has someone to guide him, the other doesnt know what to do. O...more
It doesn't help the review that half-way through reading this, I lost interest and the book got lost. And though I did like how the plot unfolded, I'm simply too much of a bum and the book didn't really leave enough of an impression on me for moi to be able to write a decent review.
Sooo... I'll sum up with Jeffrey Archer basically stole the life stories of the two media barons, Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch. Like Robert Maxwell, who became a Jewish refugee at a young age after his country wa...more
Sooo... I'll sum up with Jeffrey Archer basically stole the life stories of the two media barons, Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch. Like Robert Maxwell, who became a Jewish refugee at a young age after his country wa...more
The story of rivals and publishing moguls Richard Armstrong and Keith
Townsend.
An excellent read of greed and power that spans decades. The book starts at the end (1991) and then details the path of these two men in their quest and rise to control the world’s media. Dick and Keith will go to great lengths and expense to out do each other and others while building up their empire.
Read Cain and Abel about 9 years ago and this was similar, but still engaging and intense.
Townsend.
An excellent read of greed and power that spans decades. The book starts at the end (1991) and then details the path of these two men in their quest and rise to control the world’s media. Dick and Keith will go to great lengths and expense to out do each other and others while building up their empire.
Read Cain and Abel about 9 years ago and this was similar, but still engaging and intense.
The entire surrounding of corporate warfare betwen Armstrong and Townsend is well captured. The ratings presume archer to have a nobel in story telling, however I feel the ending should have a better one.
A disrupt end to Armstrong and no mention of the future of his liabilities does decrease the level the book sets on the reader throughout.
However Archer continues to puzzle his readers whether there shall be a continuation of this Novel too.
A disrupt end to Armstrong and no mention of the future of his liabilities does decrease the level the book sets on the reader throughout.
However Archer continues to puzzle his readers whether there shall be a continuation of this Novel too.
Something like rehashing the epic story Kane and Abel- Archer's eternal best. But this story lacks the right motive and has some irrecoverable lows but manages to switch to the right track. Very enlightening about the media department and starts with the usual intriguing background to central characters. Protagonists are both not very likable but Archer supersedes that flaw. Ending is spectacular and cheeky and just what you hope for.
If anyone is considering reading this, save yourself the time and just read (or re-read) Kane and Abel instead. The Fourth Estate has the same premise, only without any charm.
The characters are unlikable. The plot is boring and repetitive. I have read several of Jeffrey Archer's novels and this is the first one to disappoint me.
If you start to read it and force yourself to continue just because you hope it gets better, believe me, it doesn't!
The characters are unlikable. The plot is boring and repetitive. I have read several of Jeffrey Archer's novels and this is the first one to disappoint me.
If you start to read it and force yourself to continue just because you hope it gets better, believe me, it doesn't!
Another enjoyable book from Archer about revenge and investing and hard work. Townsend makes himself something out of nothing after escaping WWII. In his efforts to become the top newspaper owner in not only Australia, but the world, Richard Armstrong stands in his way at every turn and as the stakes continue to grow, so do the moves by both men to outdo the other. I enjoy the themes in Archer's book.
Fantastic book, the best I've read from Jeffrey Archer so far. I couldn't put it down until the last page and I really admire this aspect of the novel, as well as the great plot, the characters, the atmosphere, the whole feeling! Also, everything was so realsitic, like you're reading their
biobiographies, but more interesting than that. There is no good or bad, no angels or demons, just two media giants fighting to control the world, because as the title says it, the Fourth Estate is the press a...more
biobiographies, but more interesting than that. There is no good or bad, no angels or demons, just two media giants fighting to control the world, because as the title says it, the Fourth Estate is the press a...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born 15 April 1940) is an English author and former politician.
He was a Member of Parliament and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, and became a life peer in 1992. His political career, having suffered several controversies, ended after a conviction for perverting the course of justice and his subsequent imprisonment. He is married...more
More about Jeffrey Archer...
He was a Member of Parliament and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, and became a life peer in 1992. His political career, having suffered several controversies, ended after a conviction for perverting the course of justice and his subsequent imprisonment. He is married...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
Oct 08, 2012 12:06pm