16th out of 29 books
—
125 voters
First Among Equals
Charles Seymour, second-born son, will never be the earl like his father, but he did inherit his mother's strength-and the will to realize his destiny...Simon Kerslake's father sacrificed everything to make sure his son's dreams come true. Now it is Simon's chance to rise as high as those dreams allow...Ray Gould was born to the back streets but raised with pride-a quality...more
Paperback, 496 pages
Published
May 16th 2004
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
(first published 1984)
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It happened for a first time indeed that I read a book again that I had left half way through in my tumultuous teens.
‘First Among Equals’ by Jeffrey Archer is not an easy book to read, at least for me. Revolving solely around British politics, I found it a wee bit hard to comprehend and know the exact difference between the Conservative (They are also known as Tories, they sometimes can act like snobs!!) and the Labour party (They are the socialists and support the trade unionists!!), though of...more
‘First Among Equals’ by Jeffrey Archer is not an easy book to read, at least for me. Revolving solely around British politics, I found it a wee bit hard to comprehend and know the exact difference between the Conservative (They are also known as Tories, they sometimes can act like snobs!!) and the Labour party (They are the socialists and support the trade unionists!!), though of...more
This was nice long novel (as, I think, most of Archer's novels are) and I learned a great deal about the British Parliamentary system. If we think the USA's congressional system is comvoluted, I must say we don't hold a candle to the Houses of Commons and Lords--the frequency of formations of governments and calls for elections, the age-old rituals, etc. (I am not disparaging the system, I am just saying it's extremely convoluted--but it works, of course.) The four "heroes" aren't always heroic-...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Fortunately I love politics, as I worked in the Australian Federal and State political scene for a number of years, so this book grabbed me by the throat.
It is a great story and reveals how earlier actions by people in public life, no matter how covert, can rebound and have major consequences down the track – even 20 years later.
Archer also captures the fickleness of human nature, how ambition can undermine integrity and how personal jealousies can knock a good man down – no matter how good he i...more
It is a great story and reveals how earlier actions by people in public life, no matter how covert, can rebound and have major consequences down the track – even 20 years later.
Archer also captures the fickleness of human nature, how ambition can undermine integrity and how personal jealousies can knock a good man down – no matter how good he i...more
يعجبني أسلوب جيفري آرشر وسلاسته في الرواية. ولذا تجد رواياته ممتعة وسهلة القراءة حتى لا تكاد تستطيع تركه قبل أن تنهيه
وهذه الرواية تحكي أحداثاً تتعلق بسباق الرئاسة البريطانية. ولا شك عندي أنك إذا قرأت لجيفري آرشر بأنك ستستفيد علماً ودراية بما يجري عادة وراء الكواليس السياسية ، فهو نفسه كان عضواً في البرلمان البريطاني
وهي رواية ممتعة وذات أحداث متتابعة ترى فيها روح التحدي في هذا السباق ، ولكنها لا ترقَ إلى مستوى أعماله الأخرى
وهذه الرواية تحكي أحداثاً تتعلق بسباق الرئاسة البريطانية. ولا شك عندي أنك إذا قرأت لجيفري آرشر بأنك ستستفيد علماً ودراية بما يجري عادة وراء الكواليس السياسية ، فهو نفسه كان عضواً في البرلمان البريطاني
وهي رواية ممتعة وذات أحداث متتابعة ترى فيها روح التحدي في هذا السباق ، ولكنها لا ترقَ إلى مستوى أعماله الأخرى
Warning: Do not read this unless you are actually interested in politics!
First Among Equals is an epic saga which follows the lives (including scandals, wives and lies) of four British MP's. The book spans more than 20 years and would be nowhere near as good were it not for Archer's superb writing style.
Charles Seymoure is the ruthless second son of a wealthy Earl and will literally stop at nothing to make No.10 his home. Simon Kerslake is an ambitious "career Conservative" with a loving wife wh...more
First Among Equals is an epic saga which follows the lives (including scandals, wives and lies) of four British MP's. The book spans more than 20 years and would be nowhere near as good were it not for Archer's superb writing style.
Charles Seymoure is the ruthless second son of a wealthy Earl and will literally stop at nothing to make No.10 his home. Simon Kerslake is an ambitious "career Conservative" with a loving wife wh...more
It took me almost four months to finish this book. FOUR MONTHS! Even then, I skipped a couple of chapters near the end to finally finish it. Don't get me wrong. This book is actually pretty good. But politics? NOT my thing. So it was a mistake just to pick it up. Besides that, Archer's storytelling is top-notch, but the slow pace of this entire-career-of-four-different-men-documenting novel really grated on my nerves. I was skipping lots of pages at times, more interested in the personal lives o...more
At beginning the book isn't easy to read, four characters, their family and education background, their respective parties all easily confused readers like me who are not familiar with UK politics.
To be frank, I almost gave up when I finished first two chapters. Two weeks later, I picked up the story from beginning again an started to make notes to help streamline.
The magical part is that once used to the characters in the book, it proves equally hard to resist the book. Archer's classical plo...more
To be frank, I almost gave up when I finished first two chapters. Two weeks later, I picked up the story from beginning again an started to make notes to help streamline.
The magical part is that once used to the characters in the book, it proves equally hard to resist the book. Archer's classical plo...more
Feb 10, 2012
Lisa (Harmonybites)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Political Junkies of an Anglophile Tilt
I found this a completely absorbing read from the beginning. I'm not sure what a British reader would make of it, but as an American and admitted anglophile, I found it fascinating to get a look inside Britain's parliamentary system and politics by following four characters who aspire to be the "first among equals"--the Prime Minister. Archer himself was a member of parliament, so there's an authority and sympathy to his depiction of the wheeling and dealing and temptations of the office. The pr...more
Sistem pemerintahan parlementer di Inggris menjadi sedikit lebih jelas dibandingkan dalam studi komparatif ketatanegaraan. Karena Archer menjelaskannya secara terperinci, bagaimana seorang anggota Parlemen terpilih, bagaimana seorang pemimpin partai terpilih, apa yang disebut dengan "bangku belakang", pemerintahan yang jatuh-bangun bahkan hanya dalam beberapa bulan, sistem dua partai besar, dan lainnya.
Tentunya akan sedikit kebingungan untuk mengikuti cerita dari Archer. Meski tidak menggunakan...more
Tentunya akan sedikit kebingungan untuk mengikuti cerita dari Archer. Meski tidak menggunakan...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
An interesting book to read... Mr. Archer made me hate and love all the 4 lead characters at some point or the other. When i picked up this book i thought it might be just another boring book on politics. But this book was not just politics but a complete package of emotions, drama, loyalties and politics. The author never let my interest level drop.
I have to admit i was surprised by Charles's decision. Even though i hated him in the beginning, and did feel he deserved what he got but eventuall...more
I have to admit i was surprised by Charles's decision. Even though i hated him in the beginning, and did feel he deserved what he got but eventuall...more
This was one of the greatest insights into the British Parliamentary system that I have read. Archer manages to weave the lives of four individuals together as they travel through politics with a skill that does not crassly portray simplistic good or bad characters, but fleshes them out as fully fledged characters. Archer’s experience evidently aided in constructing this novel, and his respectful insights into the work of parliamentarians should be made compulsory understanding to those who mock...more
Con su habitual estilo de historias que se entremezclan y se solapan en el tiempo, Archer construye una trepidante competencia entre tres diputados británicos, desde la juventud hasta que uno de ellos llega al Número 10 de Downing Street. Traiciones, amenazas, intrigas, luchas a muerte por el poder, un toque femenino de fondo... Todo cabe en este gran best-seller, muy en la línea de "El cuarto poder". Prometo leerme todo Archer.
If you love politics, you must read this book. Jeffrey Archer is the type of author who always includes politics in his works one way or another, more or less based solely on his knowledge and experiences. I read Sons of Fortune first, then First Among Equals and I got totally into politics at that time. His writing style is simple, but the topics and plots are interesting enough to make you turn the pages till the end.
I read this when it was serialised in the Mail on Sunday, then later bought the paperback. The prose is simplistic, the plot nothing dynamic, but its saving grace is the welter of detail about how Parliament works without any party bias (Archer was a Tory MP). I think Archer wsa in no-win situation with the ending, however. It didn't matter which weay he ended the tale, he would have been accused of bias or cowardice.
Entertaining story though it rushed a bit towards the end, and initially remembering which character had which background/political alliance was harder than it should have been.
(This would have been a better holiday read for ebook had there not been so many typographical mistakes which interrupted the flow of reading. I resent having spent money on something that pan macmillan couldn't be bothered to check properly.)
(This would have been a better holiday read for ebook had there not been so many typographical mistakes which interrupted the flow of reading. I resent having spent money on something that pan macmillan couldn't be bothered to check properly.)
Charles Seymour, second-born son, will never be the earl like his father, but he did inherit his mother's strength-and the will to realize his destiny...Simon Kerslake's father sacrificed everything to make sure his son's dreams come true. Now it is Simon's chance to rise as high as those dreams allow...Ray Gould was born to the back streets but raised with pride-a quality matched by a sharp intellect and the desire to attain the impossible...Andrew Fraser was raised by a soccer hero turned poli...more
Its a story of 3 men who chose politics as a career way back in early 60s and how their careers progress till early90s when one of them becomes the Prime Minister of England. The pace of the narrative is leisurely. I was impressed most by the fact that corruption of illegal accumulation of wealth was never a part of the agenda of the 3 main characters. Truly impressive.
Aug 06, 2011
Mya
added it
Kudos to the author for keeping me interested enough in the characters to plow through the British politics and finish the book. This book would have received a far higher rating had I (a) had any interest in politics whatsoever and (b) had some inkling of how the British political system worked. Looking forward to reading more of Jeffrey Archer's stuff though.
My favorite writer...guess this novel when it first came out... 1984.... but since I have it in my library... amazing and just fixated with it.... tells about this 4 guys from a young age... ambitious and politically connected one way or another.... the conniving and the industrious are all in it... make a great read as to the British political scene
A brilliant insider's account of British politics, thinly disguised as fiction. Briskly written, in the manner of potboilers, but the detail is fascinating. Almost as informative as it is entertaining. Archer is scum on two legs, but that very sleaziness is what has gained him the access to publish this firsthand account of political skullduggery.
I rather liked this slightly soapy tale of political life. Because Archer has been there and done it, the story has a certain authenticity, though I'm sure it has been greatly simplified. I thought the characters were well drawn, avoiding too much stereotyping. The only thing I didn't particularly like was the ending, and the convenient personality transplant of one of the main characters
First Among Equals is a really interesting read, it follows the lives of three individuals whose life ambition is to become Prime Minister of England. If you do not know much about British politics a lot may be lost on you or you'll find it particular boring and cumbersome. I however loved every minute of it, not a big fan of politics but Archer gave me something else- suspense, mystery, ambition and characters I couldn't help but love and cheer for.
If you'd like to learn what the British Parliament system of government is like while reading about 3 very different men and their rise to power in said system, this book is for you. When I started it, I thought it would be dry and drab, but Archer hasn't disappointed me yet. I was up into the wee hours many a night because I simply couldn't put the book down.
Its just amazing how Jeffrey Archer weaves the whole novel around the four central characters, while never letting loose his hold on any of the character. Each character is etched very well, and the ending is top notch.
The details of the English Parliament is very insightful and I wondered the amount of research given to it by Jeffrey Archer.
Definitely looking forward to read his other works.
The details of the English Parliament is very insightful and I wondered the amount of research given to it by Jeffrey Archer.
Definitely looking forward to read his other works.
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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
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