Jeffrey Archer : Novel : Kane & Abel

Kane and Abel is a story of two men and their desire to be the best in their field. Until fate crosses their paths.
William Kane is sone of Richard Kane, a second generation banker and the CEO of Kane and Cabot Bank. Richard is excellent at his job and is running the bank with atmost efficiency when a freek accident to the world biggest ship takes his life.
William grows up without his father and only stories of his fathers achievements. He has set a goal that he shall be atleast as successful as his father.
William grows up with his best friend, a Lester. They share a great bonding. William joins the investment banking division of Kane and Cabot with the desire to be at the helm of the Bank.
Wladak, born to unknown parentage, is picked up by a polish family which works for the baron of that area.
Wladak has the ability to pick up things very fast and starts to outsmart boys in his school. Baron who has lost his wife and has a son who needs some compition, picks up wladak and makes him stay with his son. Wladak asks his sister floryetina to come along.
Wladak grows up as an intelligent kid with lots of ambitions. Until Poland is invaded by Russians and they are held captive for 3 years. Then follows a series of mishaps for wladak.

What happens to wladak and what turns does William's life take is the rest of the novel.

Me thinks
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This is a typical Jeffrey Archer Novel. The story takes you through the lives of the main characters of the novel right from their birth.
I am impressed with the story telling ability of Archer. Great Novel. You cannot put it down till you have turned the last page.
No wonder that Kane and Abel is treated as great piece of work.

But there were couple of things that I was not happy about..
(1) The war episode was totally unnecessary. William and Abel's connection with the war during the later part was totally out of place. The author wanted to make a point but it was very feeble.
(2) Richard and Floryentina's story is a stereotype story and hinging on it to conclude your book is not what i expected.
I was impressed with the initial and middle section of the book. I did not expect Kane and Abel to behave the way they did. Is it just me or Polish people really behave the way it was portrayed or it was just Able who was the way he was...


I would give it a 7 out of 10. Great book but the ending without Richard and Floryentina whould have been a much better one. Story was about Kane and Abel and it should have ended with Kane and Abel.