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Kane and Abel (1979)

by Jeffrey Archer

Series: Kane & Abel (1)

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3,707703,643 (3.94)70
Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:

The mega-bestselling novel that made Jeffrey Archer a star, Kane and Abel, "a sprawling blockbuster!"—Publishers Weekly
TWO STRANGERS BORN WORLDS APART. ONE DESTINY THAT WOULD DEFINE THEM BOTH...
William Lowell Kane and Abel Rosnovski, one the son of a Boston millionaire, the other a penniless Polish immigrant—born on the same day near the turn of the century on opposite sides of the world—are brought together by fate and the quest of a dream.
Two men—ambitious, powerful, ruthless—are locked in a relentless struggle to build an empire, fueled by their all-consuming hatred. Over sixty years and three generations, through war, marriage, fortune, and disaster, Kane and Abel battle for the success and triumph that only one man can have.
"Archer is a master entertainer."—Time

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English (58)  Spanish (5)  Portuguese (Brazil) (4)  French (1)  Portuguese (1)  Korean (1)  All languages (70)
Showing 1-5 of 58 (next | show all)
Looking at an old book with modern lenses isn't easy. I have read this classic at least 4-5 times but more than fifteen years ago. This reread (which will probably be a final reread) took me down nostalgia lane.

In many ways, I have grown as a reader so I could see all the flaws of the book standing out glaringly - the umpteen coincidences, the "Bollywood potboiler" kind of drama, the lack of attention to the daughters,... These elements haven't stood the test of time. At the same time, nothing can deny the magnitude of the historical, social and political coverage of the book. Nor can one ignore how wonderfully the story is built up in parallel between the two main characters, each of them getting the spotlight for an almost equal time. That ending is also perfect. I would have been disappointed if it had gone the more clichéd way.

Kane and Abel are both grey characters in many ways. Regardless of their disparate start in life, they have so much in common, especially in their determination, drive and demands. I don't love the characters but I love their intricate character sketching. Only Jeffrey Archer can make you root for such complicated characters.

If I view this book through my 2022 perspective, I might rate it a 4. But considering the era it was written in, and keeping in mind the almost perfect blend of fact and fiction, I will go with 4.5. The fact that I could complete this 550 pager within two days shows how much I have loved this classic. It's still going to be one of my favourite Archer works, despite the myriad flaws. ( )
  RoshReviews | Jul 30, 2024 |
A rather light, breezy read, nicely divided between scion of privilege and a recent immigrant as they make their way through the world and how hatred of each other forms their actions and reactions. I was enjoying it most of the time, until it slightly off the rails during a Romeo & Juliet-esque chapter or two and then never really recovered. The more I think about it, the less satisfied I am with the book. You'll know the ultimate ending about halfway through the book, but for some reason the character involved never figures it out (though there is no reason why he shouldn't have. I guess it can be argued by how obsessed he was by revenge that he was blinded to the bleeding obvious).
Reading up on the author, it does seem a little striking that one of the minor characters seems to share a certain moral laxity with him. ( )
  hhornblower | Nov 23, 2023 |
(4.5, rounded down to 4)
'Kane and Abel' is a very clear cut novel - follows the life journeys of two people, Abel Rosnovski and William Kane, born on the same date - whose circumstances cause them to grow up drastically different, but later they clash with each other heavily - causing them to disregard everything around them for revenge.
This is a marvellous piece of fiction, but as much as I want to sing this novel's praises, it lets you down at several points - for example, the character motivations of Kane and Abel, the titular characters.
Even though the book describes the odysseys of Kane and Abel in excruciating detail, I still got the feeling that both could be further developed. This complaint was repeated with several characters, all of whom are described (and developed) in zero detail. The plot also slows down heavily in the last quarter of the book - the part where ideally, I should have been the most excited.
Barring that, the first two parts of the novel, and the ending - are one of the best in modern dramatized fiction I've encountered so far. Will definitely be returning to Jeffrey Archer in the future. ( )
  SidKhanooja | Sep 1, 2023 |
Although I like the audiobook reader, the women in the book are treated contemptuously. ( )
  drmom62 | Apr 21, 2023 |
Although I like the audiobook reader, the women in the book are treated contemptuously. ( )
  drmom62 | Apr 21, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 58 (next | show all)
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To Michael and Jane
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April 18, 1906
Slonim, Poland

She only stopped screaming when she died.
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ISBN 1851522603 is for Kane and Abel; The Prodigal Daughter; and Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.
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Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:

The mega-bestselling novel that made Jeffrey Archer a star, Kane and Abel, "a sprawling blockbuster!"—Publishers Weekly
TWO STRANGERS BORN WORLDS APART. ONE DESTINY THAT WOULD DEFINE THEM BOTH...
William Lowell Kane and Abel Rosnovski, one the son of a Boston millionaire, the other a penniless Polish immigrant—born on the same day near the turn of the century on opposite sides of the world—are brought together by fate and the quest of a dream.
Two men—ambitious, powerful, ruthless—are locked in a relentless struggle to build an empire, fueled by their all-consuming hatred. Over sixty years and three generations, through war, marriage, fortune, and disaster, Kane and Abel battle for the success and triumph that only one man can have.
"Archer is a master entertainer."—Time

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