PRISONER OF BIRTH by Jeffrey Archer

Finished Sa 2/12/11

In this highly entertaining novel by Jeffrey Archer he reworks the themes and plot of Alexandre Dumas's, The Count of Monte Cristo. Both stories concern a man who has been falsely accused, suffers a gross miscarriage of justice, and concocts an elaborate and complex method of exacting his revenge. Also, Archer's novel highlights the inequalities of the British class system. Danny Cartwright, a poor working-class man from London's East End, is accused of a murder which he did not commit by four members of the upper class. And, while in prison, Danny is able to learn the ways of the aristocracy by his tutor and cell-mate, Nick Montcrieff. In a sense, PRISONER OF BIRTH is a 'coming of age tale', and might be the most interesting aspect of the book. Nick learns that a true gentleman is formed by behavior which develops and strengthens character, and is not something which is granted at birth. However, the elaborate financial machinations in which Nick becomes a very wealthy man, and the manner in which Nick is exonerated in the final courtroom scene are just flat-out riveting. Also, it is interesting to note that Jeffrey Archer was a member of both The House of Commons, and The House of Lords, and served time for perjury and perverting the course of justice in the same prison where much of the novel is set. I enjoyed the novel, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves an exciting tale.