Quiver Full of Arrows [Paperback]

Jeffrey Archer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 4, 2003

Two friends fall under the spell of a New York beauty - with quite unexpected results. An offhand remark is taken seriously by a Chinese sculptor, and a British diplomat becomes the owner of a priceless work of art. An insurance claims advisor has a most surprising encounter on the train home to Sevenoaks. These are the openings to three of this marvellous collection of stories that ends with a hauntingly-written, atmospheric account of two undergraduates at Oxford in the thirties, a tale of bitter rivalry that ends in a memorable love story. 'Stylish, witty and constantly entertaining ...Jeffrey Archer has a natural aptitude for short stories' - "The Times."

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Stylish, witty and constantly entertaining... Jeffrey Archer has a natural aptitude for short stories' THE TIMES

From the Back Cover

THE MOST ORDINARY LIVES...
In the auction room at Sotheby's a bidder unlocks the astonishing secrets carved in the ivory of an ancient Chinese statue. A young couple well-versed in the romance of literature resists the cliché of "love at first sight" only to find an unanticipated bond that follows them through life and death. A lavish New York party reacquaints a successful novelist with an enthusiastic female fan and a forgotten, long-ago rendezvous. A stunning beauty fulfills the disparate fantasies of two different men and satisfies an unexpected need of her own...

CAN YIELD THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SURPRISES...
In this expert collection, "master entertainer" (Time) and bestselling author Jeffrey Archer takes the reader from the backrooms of a curious little shop in Ha Li Chuan to the lavish hotel suites of Manhattan to the ravaged landscape of Budapest to explore the chance encounters and turns of fate that become us all. Here are stories of kind strangers and old friends, of grandiose success and devastating loss, of honor betrayed and redeemed, and of love lost and found-each punctuated with a twist as sharp, as true, and as unexpected as life itself.

"Somerset Maugham never penned anything so swift or urbanely witty as this."
-Publishers Weekly

"Amusing...poignant."-The New York Times

"Exciting...Archer offers versatility, laughter, inventive plotting and a gift for characterization."-Baltimore Sun

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan (July 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0330419013
• ISBN-13: 978-0330419017
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,749,515 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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Archer at his best, February 13, 2004

By 

john (Taipei) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Quiver Full of Arrows (Mass Market Paperback)

Jeffrey Archer has impressively compiled together `A Quiver Full of Arrows'. These arrows are anything but blunt and leave a meaningful impact on their readers. Known for his "natural aptitude for short stories" according to The Times, Archer has once again produced an absorbing book full of memorable stories.

The settings of the twelve tales in this book are wonderfully presented, whether it be lost in Ancient Bethlehem or stranded in a Brazilian hotel. It is evident that prior to writing, Jeffrey Archer researched the various setting locations and time periods. Unlike renowned John Grisham, Archer's writings reflect over a variety of topics including love, politics, and humor. Therefore, it is more likely that this book will appeal to you, unless you find reading about 50-year old lawyers fascinating.

You can't talk about Jeffrey Archer without referring to his expertise in writing endings. Unlike most other stories, which end in typical, lovey-dovey fashion, Archer's endings always have unexpected twists, and the ones in `A Quiver Full of Arrows' are not exceptions. After reading the book's first story, `The Chinese Statue', I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread it. The ending of this short, yet meaningful story adds a whole new perspective. This can be said about the other 11 entries. To truly understand a piece in this book, you must read it again and again; it astounds me how much depth Jeffrey Archer puts into his writing.

All in all, `A Quiver Full of Arrows' is a top-class read for everyone; I have yet to find a collection of short stories that is more appealing. It is a noteworthy two hour read that is sure to change your perspective on life. You'll have a hard time peeling your eyes off this one.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars UNLIKE ARCHER, April 11, 2005

By 

MANZAR BOZDAR "MONU SING" (HYDERABAD , PAKISTAN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Quiver Full of Arrows (Mass Market Paperback)

ALTHOUGH I AM A DIE HARD FAN OF JEFFERY AND HAVENT MISSED A SINGLE OF HIS WRITINGS ,BUT THIS CONTRIBUTION OF HIS TO THE WORLD OF LITERATURE IS NOT UPTO HIS STANDARDS. MOST OF THE STORIES ARE VERY ORDINARY , EXCEPT TWO , ONE ABOUT A CRICKET MATCH IN WHICH THE CAPTAINS SHOW THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN THE SPORTS, AND THE OTHER STORY WHICH I LIKED WAS A LOVE STORY , THE LAST STORY IN THE BOOK , ONE OF THE BEST LOVE STORIES I HAVE EVER READ ABOUT A COUPLE WHO ARE ARCH RIVALS IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION YET SPEND THE WHOLE LIFE TOGETHER AND EVEN SHARE THE DEATH BED.REST OF THE STORIES ARE DISAPPOINTING.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Archer at his best, February 13, 2004

By 

john (Taipei) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Quiver Full of Arrows (Mass Market Paperback)

Jeffrey Archer has impressively compiled together `A Quiver Full of Arrows'. These arrows are anything but blunt and leave a meaningful impact on their readers. Known for his "natural aptitude for short stories" according to The Times, Archer has once again produced an absorbing book full of memorable stories.

The settings of the twelve tales in this book are wonderfully presented, whether it be lost in Ancient Bethlehem or stranded in a Brazilian hotel. It is evident that prior to writing, Jeffrey Archer researched the various setting locations and time periods. Unlike renowned John Grisham, Archer's writings reflect over a variety of topics including love, politics, and humor. Therefore, it is more likely that this book will appeal to you, unless you find reading about 50-year old lawyers fascinating.

You can't talk about Jeffrey Archer without referring to his expertise in writing endings. Unlike most other stories, which end in typical, lovey-dovey fashion, Archer's endings always have unexpected twists, and the ones in `A Quiver Full of Arrows' are not exceptions. After reading the book's first story, `The Chinese Statue', I found myself flipping back through the pages to reread it. The ending of this short, yet meaningful story adds a whole new perspective. This can be said about the other 11 entries. To truly understand a piece in this book, you must read it again and again; it astounds me how much depth Jeffrey Archer puts into his writing.

All in all, `A Quiver Full of Arrows' is a top-class read for everyone; I have yet to find a collection of short stories that is more appealing. It is a noteworthy two hour read that is sure to change your perspective on life. You'll have a hard time peeling your eyes off this one.