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A Prisoner of Birth | 
| Author: Jeffrey Archer
Publisher: Pan Books
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £1.57
You Save: £5.42 (78%)
New (30) Used (10) from £0.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 652
Media: Paperback
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.4 x 1.7
ISBN: 033046406X
EAN: 9780330464062
ASIN: 033046406X
Publication Date: October 17, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
A Good Read January 4, 2009
Really enjoyed this book. Admittedly this was not a "complicated thriller" but a decent yarn.
 Entertaining but Improbable December 9, 2008
A Prisoner of Birth is a modern remake of Alexander Dumas's classic The Counte of Monte Cristo from the pen of Jeffrey Archer. In it, Danny Cartwright gets falsely convicted of murdering his best friend. Once imprisoned he sets about gaining revenge on the four well heeled and well connected men who are responsible for his plight.
In the first half of the book Archer takes us through the night of the murder, Cartwright's conviction and his time in prison until he escapes. Unfortunately, I found much of this implausible. I doubt very much a court would convict a man solely on the evidence presented. Even more improbable is Cartwright's escape from gaol which will require the reader to set aside all sense of reality in order to enjoy the rest of the story. Having previously read The Count of Monte I was also able to anticipate too often what would happen next. Elsewhere, Archer makes his intentions too obvious. For instance, I figured out to quickly how Danny Cartwright would become the first inmate ever to escape from Belmarsh Prison.
However, in the second half with Cartwright free and plotting exoneration and revenge the quality improves. Archer cleverly conjures up various machinations for the main character. These climax with a couple of brilliantly devised dramatic courtroom scenes. Despite the incredulity factor the book is a good read with all the usual epithets and cliches applying: 'riveting' 'hard to put down' 'gripping' 'fast paced' 'page turner' 'full of twists and turns' etc. Thorougly entertaining.
 Magnificent December 8, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Archer has created a masterpiece. Other reviewers have noted that the story is far from original but I am convinced that this does not make the book any less exciting. It is a true page-turner with characters that one likes and truly admires and an injustice that makes you want to scream Danny Cartwrights innocence from the rooftops. It is difficult not get caught up in the excitement of the book.
This review is being written at 3.40am...I have just finished reading it. I can't recommend this book highly enough. My only criticism is that I read it too quickly, I want to be further immersed!
One of Archer's best. November 22, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this latest effort from a former master storyteller. Jeffrey is back on fire. He obviously had plenty of time to think about this novel while in court and in prison and it shows. It is a well crafted and the plot races along. We get plenty of insight into British upper classes and law courts which are described better (and more realistically) than the East End characters. Not arty but very entertaining.
the Count of Monte Cristo in modern world... November 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I wouldn't call it "British John Grisham", as the story is more like the count of Monte Cristo in modern world. And Alexandre Duma had created this twist in story long time ago. Nevertheless, the book has it all suspense, conspiracy, Swiss banks, crime & love story. It was an enjoyable read especially after John Grisham's "Innocent man". Both of these books create scary thoughts of innocent men in jail and who is responsible for that or if ever will be punished.
I liked the title of the book "A prisoner of birth" - it proves that it is possible to achieve anything even though people have different upbringings in life. It might just take more time and determination.
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