Customer Reviews
Not exactly top of the range English literature! - By: A reviewer called, 24 Feb 2006 
Four young men start out on their long climb up the greasy pole of politics. This book follows their progress as they join different parties & their progression into the ultimate corridors of power with one of them destined to become Prime Minister.
Although the story starts out as an entertaining & sometimes compulsive read, progressing deeper into the book you get the feeling of a disjointed story line & an impression that the writer seems slightly bored with what he is writing.
DO NOT READ THE LAST PAGE OF THE BOOK IF YOU LIKE TO FLICK AHEAD TO SEE WHAT THE END LINE SAYS AS THIS WILL GIVE THE GAME AWAY!!
I have to be honest with you though & say that I am not a Jeffrey Archer fan. Archer novels are clearly English literature's answer to junk food,- a great read at the time, but afterwards you feel mentally the worse for wear, with the distinct feeling of having achieved nothing of serious substancein your own life. I know Im not wrong on my appraisal because so many of his books can be found languishingin Charity Shops whereas most book buyers I know tend to keep books they have read on their own book shelves. I rest my case!
On a slightly more positive note, my favourite of his stories is "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less" which they managed to turn into a pretty decent drama on TV. One to watch out for if they ever release it on DVD.
The Best - By: , 09 May 2005 
I read the book last year & it is ever so nice. I read it over & over & over again. It is brilliant & so exciting. I could not take my eyes of it. It is fascinating & with every line I read I was eager to read it even more. The characters are very nice people & every chapter has its own story to tell. Throughout the book, the reader follows the lives of the character. It makes it so interesting & so real at the same time. I like it. Being a foreigner, I did not quite understand how things work but this book gave me an inside view & I understand things much better now. I would recommend reading the book to everyone. I am sure noone will regret it. I give it my best comments. Thanks.
A Feel Good Book - By: chandra_sekhar, 22 Oct 2004 This story by Jefferey Archer is typical of his style.The main characters are all highly driven,ambitious & hardworking.The tale revolves around four MP's who are elected into the british parliament,in the 60's.Each of them is a stereotype;an academic,a scotsman,a viscount's son & another lawyer.Its thoroughly balanced,interms of what the characters deserve;Jefferey Archer establishes an intricate web of give & take with exact equivalence.So this is definitely not a classic.After reading the book one doesnt feel more experienced.However,this book has some strong points.The description of the British political system is credible(though three of the four characters are hardly political),and the pace of the story ensures that you keep turning the pages.The major political stepping stones of the characters are well distributed (but too smooth).On the whole,its a good one-time read.
A great political tale... - By: Kurt Messick, 27 Dec 2003 There is the theoretical ideain Westminster Parliamentary systems that all Cabinet ministers are equals, & that the Prime Minister is simply First among Equals, rather than the nearly all-powerful figure most have become (similarly, the Pope as Bishop of Rome is theoretically merely the first among equals of bishops -- see how that works?).
In fact, the office of the Prime Minister is a powerful position, one that drives many people to do strange & bizarre thingsin aid of attaining the office. Like the charactersin the novel, Jeffrey Archer (now Lord Archer, most recently guest of Her Majesty's prison system) had Prime Ministerial ambitions, too. Unlike many of the charactersin this novel, Archer 'settled' for less than the Premeirship earlierin his career, discovering writing as a lucrative & creative outlet, & one that allows him to work out his personal & professional angstin a very unique manner. Muchin this novel reflects Archer's own struggles.
The novel is very accurate & true to formin the mechanics & atmosphere of the House of Commons & House of Lords. Having been a Member of Parliament, Archer knew the environment from the inside, & drew realistic scenarios & created realistic characters of such degree that I have required this novel as a text when I've taught British politics.
The major cast of characters -- Seymour, Kerslake, Fraser & Gould -- fit composites of many back-benchers I knew when I workedin Parliament. Unlike the majority of back-benchers, these are men of ambition & ability (alas, somewhat rare combinationsin politicsin any nation). Each has an eye on the brass ring of No. 10 Downing Street, & each has, at the outset of political careers, an equal chance at success.
A week can be a long timein politics, it has been said, so the span of several decades might as well be an eternity. We see the personal & professional ups & downs of these individuals against a backdrop of real political history from the 1960s forward; this book writtenin 1984, the 'future' was speculative, but not beyond reason, & still makes for a good read. The careers of the foursome are not linearly upward; true to form of many political careers (including Archer's own), there are near misses & great falls, from which some recover, & others do not.
The ending is an interesting one, again part of Archer's speculative history, hinging upon one event that perhaps he knew well would neverin fact happen. However, it is still a believable political event, & given that actual politics is often unbelievable, this novel makes a generous alternative history.
Archer's gift of storytelling is strong, & perhaps best when he is dealing with situations he himself has survived. 'First Among Equals' is one such story.
Brilliant Political Biography - By: , 14 Mar 2003 This is one of Archer's finest novels. It plots the lives of four young men & their pursuit of the top jobin British politics. As an ex-MP himself, Archer gives a great insight into the British political system. This is a roller coaster ride for all for four men with a brilliant twist to finish.
