A Prisoner of Birth, Jeffrey Archer
A Prisoner of Birth, Jeffrey Archer
35 Rating(s)
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A Prisoner of Birth
A Novel

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Narrator: Roger Allam

Unabridged: 16 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/04/2008

Synopsis

International bestseller and master storyteller Jeffrey Archer returns with a tale of fate and fortune, redemption and revenge with A Prisoner of Birth.

Danny Cartwright and Spencer Craig never should have met. One evening, Danny, an East End cockney who works as a garage mechanic, takes his fianceé up to the West End to celebrate their engagement. He crosses the path of Spencer Craig, a West End barrister posed to be the youngest Queen's Counsel of his generation.

A few hours later Danny is arrested for murder and later is sentenced to twenty-two years in prison, thanks to irrefutable testimony from Spencer, the prosecution's main witness.

Danny spends the next few years in a high-security prison while Spencer Craig's career as a lawyer goes straight up. All the while Danny plans to escape and wreak his revenge.

Thus begins Jeffrey Archer's poignant novel of deception, hatred and vengeance, in which only one of them can finally triumph while the other will spend the rest of his days in jail. But which one will triumph? This suspenseful novel takes the listener through so many twists and turns that no one will guess the ending, even the most ardent of Archer's many, many fans.

About Jeffrey Archer

There are many who say that author Jeffrey Archer's life would make the subject of an excellent book. London born Archer, grew up in Somerset, whose father was a printer by trade, was educated in Wellington School and at Brasenose College, Oxford. He was a very accomplished athlete, becoming President of the University Athletics Club. That was the beginning of his elected positions in various political positions. After a bad investment left him on the verge of bankruptcy, he decided to try writing a novel to repay his debts to creditors.

For his first writing attempt, Archer had great success with "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less". The book sold to 17 countries and became a successful serial for BBC Radio 4, then televised in 1990. His second novel, "Shall We Tell the President", was a thriller about a plot to assassinate Edward Kennedy as though he became President. Several novels followed, each more successful than the others. He also mixed in some non-fiction and collections of short stories as well.

Archer is also a playwright with his first play being run at the Queen's Theatre in London's West End in 1987 for over 600 performances. He had a few plays that were quite successful, having played an acting role in one of the last to be performed.

In November of 1999, Archer was charged with perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, for which he served two years of a four-year sentence. He used that time to write a volume of documentaries about his experiences in the prison system. They were entitled.......Prison Diary: Volume I, Hell.......Volume II, Purgatory.........and, Volume III, Heaven. Archer is now published in 97 countries and more than 37 languages.......he is firmly established as an author of note. He has been married for 49 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE, and they have two sons and two grandsons. Their time is divided among their three homes in London, Cambridge, and Mallorca.

Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Alexander on 2009-01-12 12:24:10

Great narration, great story.

AudiobooksNow review by Jack on 2009-07-18 22:20:16

I read a lot of books and enjoy all kinds of fiction. A Prisoner Of Birth has to be one of the best I've ever read. Archer make the characters come alive for the reader. I couldn't put it down for the last fourth of the book because I needed to find out how it ended. Don't hesitate to get this book and read it, there is no doubt in my mind that anyone who reads it will enjoy it.

AudiobooksNow review by Deborah on 2009-10-10 21:24:37

I tried this book as something different. This turned out to be a book I could not put down. It's got a great story, great writing, and a great ending. It's a book you don't want to miss. Best I've read in a long time.

Goodreads review by Carol Ann on March 08, 2008

Wow! I felt like a 13 year old reading the final installment of Harry Potter. Other than bathroom breaks and a quick dinner, I did not put this book down. Jeffrey Archer is a master with characters, twists and storys within storys. I am going to write a novel like this as soon as I can!......more

Goodreads review by ☘Misericordia☘ on January 01, 2023

Aren't we all? Q: “- My lord, if a man cannot express his honestly held views in the Central Criminal Court, perhaps you can advise me where else he is free to state that which he believes to be the truth?” (c) Truly beatiful language, empowering scenery and ending. I especially loved that the plot was......more

Goodreads review by Caro on June 02, 2019

This is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo set in contemporary times. I was engaged by the story and the plot moved at a quick pace.  I haven't read the original so I can't tell how faithful it is, but I knew it was about a wrongfully-accused man that is sent to prison and manages to get out an......more

Goodreads review by Namratha on September 29, 2008

As a friend very rightly put it…’A Prisoner of Birth’ has all the makings of a Bollywood Masala Movie. Danny Cartwright, a humble East-End mechanic has just proposed to his childhood sweet heart Beth. He decides to celebrate by treating his fiancée and best-friend Bernie Wilson (who also happens to b......more

Goodreads review by TheBookWarren on December 06, 2024

4.25 ⭐️ (round ⬇️) — Archer might be a somewhat controversial & to some, pompous author. However, here he has written a certifiable career best work that simply has to be recognised. A prisoner of birth is a wonderfully engaging, satisfying novel. His time in prison undoubtedly strengthens the authe......more

Quotes

“Narrator Roger Allam pumps this story up considerably by enhancing each character with engrossing vocal interpretations. He does a terrific job subtly morphing Danny's East-End accent into an upper-crust West-End one.... Every character in the story draws you in but there's a old Scottish lawyer and a venerable British defense barrister that'll have you cheering.” —Tom Alderman, The Huffington Post

“...Roger Allam gives an award-worthy performance in this crisply paced production.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“There's no better person to narrate this 21st-century adventure than Roger Allam…Allam narrates the multiple layers and numerous characters of this complex plot with alacrity. His reading, together with the story's ending, will leave listeners fulfilled.” —AudioFile

Awards

  • Audie Award Finalist
  • Publishers Weekly Listen Up Awards: Best in Category
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