Kane and Abel [Paperback]

Jeffrey Archer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 4, 2003

They had only one thing in common ...William Lowell Kane and Abel Rosnovski, one of the son of a Boston millionaire, the other a penniless Polish immigrant - two men born on the same day on opposite sides of the world, their paths destined to cross in the ruthless struggle to build a fortune. The marvellous story, spanning sixty years, of two powerful men linked by an all-consuming hatred, brought together by fate to save ...and finally destroy ...each other. 'Archer has a gift for plot that can only be described as genius' - "Daily Telegraph". 'Probably the greatest storyteller of our age' - "Mail on Sunday."

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Archer has a gift for plot that can only be described as genius' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Probably the greatest storyteller of our age' MAIL ON SUNDAY

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

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan (July 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 033041898X
• ISBN-13: 978-0330418980
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (203 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,465,104 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

92 of 95 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."

57 of 60 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

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kane & Abel - Polish nobleman versus American banker, April 28, 2000

By 

Jozef A. Wawrzak - See all my reviews

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

This book is realy woderfull. I could not put this book away while reading. Jeffrey Archer put the action in the real world with a knowledge of the reality of Poland before the second war and the post war era. This is what I like about it. Since I am Polish I can say that the fact from the begining of Abel's life are set in the reality of those time. The Russian soldiers were shown in the actual reality what I know from the facts that my father was telling me about them. Anyway the characters of Abel and Kane are drawn nicely to shaw thedrive to success. Kane is driven by the financial purpooses to get rich by all means, while Abel's success is driven by his stubborness to destroy Kane who was gilty of dead of Abel's former boss. The action of this book is swift, and is very characteriscal to all books of Jeffrey Archer. Second part of this book "The Prodigal Daugther" is in the same style. I highly recomend to everyone this book, and of course when you read "Kane & Abel" do not forget to read "The prodigal daughter" to have the full picture of Kane's family.