A Prisoner of Birth

A GREAT BOOK!!

This is the first book I ever read by Jeffrey Archer and it was great. A real page turner and hard to put down. I would highly recommend reading this. I plan on reading all his books.

8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

entertaining modernization of the Dumas classic

Danny Cartwright proposes to his beloved Beth Wilson who accepts. The pair and her brother Bernie, who is also his best friend, celebrate. Four drunks (Spencer Craig, Lawrence Davenport, Gerald Payne, and Toby Mortimer), who call themselves the Musketeers insult the trio. A fight occurs and one of the quartet stabs Bernie killing him. The four Musketeers swear they witnessed Danny kill the man though he claims otherwise. Since they are elite Cambridge University graduates and successful professionals who speak and dress like aristocratic gentlemen while he is an illiterate slum scum, he is charged with the homicide as ¿clothing¿ makes the man. His attorney the best one he can obtain with little money is slaughtered by the prosecutor. Danny is convicted to serve twenty-two years at maximum-security Belmarsh Prison. --- In prison Danny shares a cell with Nicholas Moncrieff, who teaches him to read Dumas. When someone kills Moncrieff, Danny pretends to be Nicholas and escapes his incarceration. His goals are to destroy the Musketeers and prove his innocence. --- The fun in this crime thriller is finding the numerous references to The Count of Monte Cristo as Jeffrey Archer pays homage to Alexander Dumas. The story line is fast-paced from the moment of the first confrontation and never slows down as Danny works his revenge. Although the key players including the hero are never fully developed beyond their link to the original novel, readers will enjoy this entertaining modernization of the Dumas classic. --- Harriet Klausner

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

A very good read

Despite of the fact that you have the idea that how it is going to end, this is a real page turner....I just could not put it down.....i loved it, and one of those books which i never wanted to end...

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Prisoner of Birth

Jeffrey Archer's latest novel is essentially a modern remake of Alexandre Dumas' The Count Of Monte Cristo. While the latter's tale was set in 18th-century France at the time when a certain Napoleon Bonaparte was in exile, Prisoner Of Birth takes place in modernday London. Apart from the difference of some 200 years, the plots of the two novels barely differ. In this book, a young man by the name of Danny Cartwright, who was about to marry his childhood sweetheart, suddenly finds himself accused of a crime he did not commit. He is then put behind bars where he receives some education from a cellmate. Danny finds a way to escape. He then amasses a huge fortune, and a title to boot, and plots revenge against those who brought about his earlier downfall. The fast-moving plot and simple language make the novel a definite pageturner. But despite Archer's attempts to adapt his story to modern times, some parts of the plot might seem rather far-etched and unbelievable, especially the prison escape. Archer manages to inject some originality only towards the later part of the story, choosing to digress from Dumas' tragic end for the Count of Monte Cristo. Those who have not read the original classic may appreciate this. But fans of the original may find that this copycat modern version is just not up to par.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

welcome back

We've been awaiting Archer's true return for a long, long time! Grisham creates characters which lock you in within the first 10 pages, but Archer did it way before Grisham. Great characterization and a good storyline are the makings of a truly good read. You won't be able to put this work down. Read and enjoy and then pass it along to a friend.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great Book!!!

This was a great book. Flowed really well

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

Typical of Jeffrey Archer, keeps you trying to out guess him. Nice twists and turns in the plot.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Lots of interesting views

Not Since Cane and Able have I read such a style. If you enjoyed Cane and Able you must read A Prisoner of Birth. With the story line much similar to that of The Count of Monte Cristo with the switching of identity and such, you find yourself looking forward to Danny's just revenge. This is a fast page turner.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Don't hesitate, read this book.

I had read the overview of this book online several times and put off purchasing. Glad I finally bought it on Nook! A truly original and engrossing tale.

Highly recommended

I stopped reading Jeffery Archer many years ago on principle, but having run out of my favourite authors recently I went back to him and realised what I have been missing. A prisoner of birth was excellent like always you never know the plot and so you keep on reading until the book is finished.
without his Bellmarsh experience I am sure it would not have been as good. Looking forward to his next book.

Read it!

Excellent story,excellent writing,read it!

Fantastic

Such a unique story. I couldnt put it down.

Good read

I enjoyed reading this book. This is the first book by Jeffrey Archer that I have read, and I must say it was a wonderful ride. This book seems to be a retelling of Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo", but with a modern edge and much easier to digest. I will be picking up more of Mr. Archer's books and hope that all of them are as well written and enjoyable as this one was.

very great book!

This was the first book I ever read by Jeffrey Archer, and needless to say, it was not the last. Gripping, thrilling, compelling story, and very well written. What more could you ask for?

Highly recommend. Great Read

Love all the twists and turns in a Jeffrey Archer book!

5 Star for sure

Wonderful story.

Excellent - recommend

Awesome writer. Definitely will read more of his book. This book kept me on the edge through the entire book. Surprises and couldn't figure out exactly who did what and absolutely loved all of it.

Highly Recommended

This is Jeffrey Archer at some of his best. Kept my attention and I couldn't put it down.

Very good story

Not knowing much about the English courts and laws, I found this book to be very insightful. At times the pace is a little slow-however the story moves along. I really enjoyed it. I have read Mr Archer's other works and have never been disappointed.

Loved It!

If you're a Jeffrey Archer fan, as I am, you will love this book. A really good read.