[Off-topic] a.cid:
Hunh, spent the greater part of two days reading (and subsequently reviewing) Jeffrey Archer's First Among Equals for a college assignment...

IF you're interested to read the review (I tried my extreme best to avoid book spoilers), click the show button:

“First Among Equals”, written by Jeffrey Archer, is a work of fiction published in the year 1984. It mainly details the inter-twined lives of four men and their attempts at a political career, spanning from 1964 to 1991, all trying their best to achieve the office of Prime Minister of England. The plot of the book deals with the different political and social difficulties faced by the men, all of whom are raised in different backgrounds and circumstances, and how finally, only one of them manages to achieve his prime political ambition of holding Britain’s top government position.

The author of this book, Jeffrey Archer, has himself been a political figure, and his real-life experiences find themselves subtle mentions throughout the book and storyline. 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.

The books basic theme is the political setup of England, and the way politics forces people to behave in the way that they do. The preface to the book basically deals with the early lives of the main characters: Charles Seymour, the second son of the Earl of Bridgewater; Simon Kerslake, the only son of a small time family solicitor; Raymond Gould, the only son of a butcher in Leeds; and Andrew Fraser, the son of a local soccer hero turned politician.

The different backgrounds of the main characters, their way of thinking, their manipulation of people and politics into their advantage, and the different twists that the author forces them through in the form of “unforeseen circumstances”, all these make this book an absolute page-turner till the end. There are various references to influential characters like Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill, and these were inspired by the authors own experiences, infusing much life and soul into the book. The characters themselves are involved in rather murky and sleazy situations themselves, bringing this book to a reality closer to ours. At the end of the day, however, all of their actions and reactions feel justified, thanks to some clever writing skills and imagery employed by the author. The storyline is enrapturing, as minute details are brought back to the reader’s attention. It 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 manages to tell the story in third person view, all the while weaving political aspect into the personal life of the four. At the end of the book, this worked effectively for me as I could certainly feel a certain sense of connection to each of the men and their lives. The gradual change from one characters point-of-view to anothers was one of the reason the book managed to hold on to my attention till the end, despite me being ignorant with the intricacies of UK politics. The suspense and thrill in the concluding pages may come on as a shocker if one manages to be in touch with the storyline.

However, this book is certainly not for kids. Not in the sense that it contains a plethora of content for the adult eyes, but in the sense that it would require a great deal of understanding and ability to learn and comprehend on the reader’s part for a variety of reasons: to keep in touch with the numerous characters (and their designations and relations) which are introduced throughout the book; to be abreast with who has the political advantage in the particular situation and overall; to understand exactly HOW the political system of the United Kingdom works; and to “connect the dots” at various situations. Also, casual readers would need some motivation to read this book, since it goes on at a much slower pace than a lot of other novels by Jeffrey. The novel also has a lot of details, most on the political scenario, which does require some effort from people who aren’t used to the British parliamentary system.

Although the author refrains from overusing eloquent phrases or salient and profound messages, he still manages to capture the as-close-to-real portrayal of the rough tumble into the political arena. He 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 is. While this book may not be for everyone, it shows clearly Archer's ability to write a captivating tale. This is not just some boring book on politics, it is a complete package of emotions, drama, loyalties and politics.

The author has certainly put in effort, research and experience, and the book speaks volumes about it. If I had to rate the book, I would give it 9/10. The 1-point loss comes solely from the fact that I am not much of a reader of politics, and possess limited knowledge on the working of the government. However, exceptional kudos to Jeffrey Archer for still managing to keep me interested till the last page, inspite of such a heavy subject.

-End of review-

Teaser/Blurb (usually written at the back cover of the book):

“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 politician. Now it's his turn for heroics, whatever the cost.

From strangers to rivals, four men embark on a journey for the highest stakes of all -- the keys to No. 10 Downing Street. Unfolding over three decades, their honor will be tested, their loyalties betrayed, and their love of family and country challenged. But in a game where there is a first among equals, only one can triumph.”