Sons Of Fortune

Sons Of Fortune is a novel written by Jeffrey Archer. As always the case with Archer novels, this one is also quite good. Archer manages to engage the attention of the reader till the very end. The subtle twists and turns makes the story interesting. As it so often happens in Archer's stories, the pivotal character(s) have a bosom friend to help him. And Archer is at his very best when the story runs into legal battles. The way Archer constructs the arguments and counter arguments is riveting.

It follows the life of two twins Nathaniel Cartwright and Fletcher Davenport who are separated on the same day of their birth. Nat grows up in his parents home and is sent up to Taft for his education where he meets up with Tom. Nat and Tom become bosom pals and continue their friendship throughout their lives. Nat also meets up with Ralph Elliott at Taft who becomes his adversary. Their rivalry continues in adulthood as well. Fletcher grows up in the house of Ruth and Davenport who have a rich family history. He is sent up to Hotchkiss for his education where he meets up with Jimmy, who becomes his best mate.

The story then pans out into their adolescene years when both Nat and Fletcher distinguish themselves in academics. Both of them even fall in love with the same girl during a school game. After finishing schooing, Nat enrolls himself at the University of Connecticut whereas Fletcher signs up at Yale. In the middle of his college years, Nat enlists himself at the army and is sent up to serve at Vietnam. He is then awarded with the Medal Of Honor for his deeds in the war. He then returns to college and meets up with Su Ling who becomes his wife. He then goes to Harvard Business School and becomes a banker. He then starts working in Wall Street. Fletcher meanwhile becomes a lawyer and joins a prestigious law firm in New York.

But after a crash in which the bank loses half a million dollars, Nat is forced to resign from his job. He then joins Tom and starts working in Tom's family bank The Rusell's. Fletcher's career path also changes when Ralph Elliot joins the same law firm in which Fletcher is working. Fletcher then resigns from the firm and takes up politics. He soon becomes the senator. Ralph Elliott also quits the law firm over a scandal and returns to Connecticut.

Fletcher then runs for the Governer from democartic party. His rival from the republican side is destined to be Ralph Elliott, when Nat suddenly jumps into the republican fray with the sole aim of defeating Elliott. Nat seems destined to win his party's nomination when Ralph Elloitt restores to dirty tricks to win his bid. When one his moves results in the death of Nat's son, he vows to take his revenge on him. On the very next day Nat is charged with the murder of Ralph Elliott. Nat enlists Fletcher's help in clearing his name. After clearing hs name, Nat helps in saving Fletcher's life by donating his blood. In the hospital both of them come to know that they are twins. Yet they both decide to face off in the upcoming election. Who will win? No one knows as the result is too close to call. Ultimately the winner is decided by the toss of a coin.

You can also sample the plot of Archer's latest book "A Prisoner Of Birth" by clicking on the title. To read about the plot of his best selling "Kane And Abel" click on the title.