Kane & Abel [Mass Market Paperback]

Jeffrey Archer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1993

On April 15, 1906, two baby boys entered the world. One was born to a life of prosperity and ease, the other to a world of hardship and struggle. On different sides of the globe, they grew up -- one shaped by a luxurious upbringing, fine schools, and a history he read; the other well tempered by war, slavery, and the history he was part of.

William Lowell Kane, scion of a Boston banking family, and Abel Rosnovski, penniless Polish immigrant -- one is gold, the other steel. Rosnovski is Kane's ultimate adversary, while Kane Kane embodies everything that Rosnovski stands against. In their relentless battle, both men know that there can be only one victor -- and one vanquished.

Across three generations and around a rapidly changing world, their war rages unchecked, for the love of a dream, the loss of an empire, and the lure of a fortune.

Editorial Reviews

Review

 “The ultimate novel of sibling rivalry.”—Dan Brown

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

Jeffrey Archer’s mastery of characterization and “white-knuckle” suspense, combined with a gift for the ingenious plot twist, demonstrate why he is one of Britain’s best-selling authors. In this collection of audiobooks, a fine cast offers readings of some of the master storyteller’s most spellbinding work. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (August 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061007129
• ISBN-13: 978-0061007125
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (203 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #164,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain's House of Commons, fourteen years in the House of Lords and two in Her majesty's prisons, which spawned three volumes of highly acclaimed Prison Diaries. All of his novels and short story collections--including Kane and Abel, Sons of Fortune, and False Impression--have been international bestsellers. Archer is married with two children and lives in London and Cambridge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing Multi-Generational Saga Entertains Completely, March 17, 2004

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kane & Abel (Mass Market Paperback)

I am so glad to have discovered this "oldie" originally published in 1979 because it is one of the best books I have ever read. It has drama, suspense, romance, and enough plot twists to keep the most savvy reader breathlessly reading until the heart-wrenching conclusion.

William Kane and Abel Rosnovski both enter the world in 1906. One is born to a wealthy, socially prominent Boston family. The other is born in poverty in Poland to an unwed woman who dies during childbirth. They each have a remarkable life story that makes for spellbinding reading until the finale in 1963.

Abel is rescued from the woods beside the body of his dead mother by a hunter and taken into a peasant family. The Russian occupation of Poland, his fearful and solitary escape to Turkey and later America, will have you cheering this tough young boy.

Meanwhile, young William Kane is growing up in the lap of luxury, attending the finest schools, and winning every honor his father before him achieved.

You will be fascinated by Archer's storytelling and the vivid characters he portrays. You will root for Abel and take him to your heart. You will be fascinated with William and wish only the best for him. Unfortunately, when the two characters cross paths as young men, a fierce hatred erupts and they become life-long enemies, as Abel swears to destroy William Kane.

The author has made each of his main characters so endearing that the reader is torn and loyalties falter. Do you root for Abel? Do you root for William? Dare you hope they will work this out? Whatever you are thinking, you will be surprised. This is not one of those novels where you will see the ending coming, but you will be stunned, sad, and uplifted as a gamut of emotions play with your mind and heart.

I finished this late last night and have been thinking about Abel and William all day. I can hardly wait to start on the sequel, "The Prodigal Daughter."

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my all time favorites, July 31, 2005

By 

Pam from Texas - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Kane and Abel (Mass Market Paperback)

The main reason I am writing this is to warn you against reading Matt Hetling's review because he gives away the whole secret/climax of the book. I can't believe it got past Amazon. Don't reviewers know not to give away the ending and secrets? Sometimes I'm afraid to read reviews for that very reason.

I won't give a description of the book since so many others have, but I will say it's one of my all time favorites. I thought it was outstanding.

Pam

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars light, entertaining read, March 12, 2002

By 

"aaron7484" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kane & Abel (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book by Archer that I have read, which I read after it was recommended by a friend. I found the story to be too much like a soap opera, without enough description of what was going on, with too much forshadowing, and sometimes too cliche. However, I cannot deny that the novel moved fast and that I kept reading, and enjoying what I read. It's about 550 pages but it is a light, easy read. His characters were well drawn, one of the reasons it was not a pain to continue reading. I enjoyed the book, and I think most will also, as long as they can get by those flaws above. This is no literature masterpiece, but it is entertaining.