Although the story starts out as an entertaining and sometimes compulsive read, progressing deeper into the book you get the feeling of a disjointed story line and an impression that the writer seems slightly bored with what he is writing.

DO NOT READ THE LAST PAGE OF THE BOOK IF YOU LIKE TO FLICK AHEAD TO SEE WHAT THE END LINE SAYS AS THIS WILL GIVE THE GAME AWAY!!

I have to be honest with you though and say that I am not a Jeffrey Archer fan. Archer novels are clearly English literature's answer to junk food,- a great read at the time, but afterwards you feel mentally the worse for wear, with the distinct feeling of having achieved nothing of serious substance in your own life. I know Im not wrong on my appraisal because so many of his books can be found languishing in Charity Shops whereas most book buyers I know tend to keep books they have read on their own book shelves. I rest my case!

On a slightly more positive note, my favourite of his stories is "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less" which they managed to turn into a pretty decent drama on TV. One to watch out for if they ever release it on DVD.

In fact, the office of the Prime Minister is a powerful position, one that drives many people to do strange and bizarre things in aid of attaining the office. Like the characters in the novel, Jeffrey Archer (now Lord Archer, most recently guest of Her Majesty's prison system) had Prime Ministerial ambitions, too. Unlike many of the characters in this novel, Archer 'settled' for less than the Premeirship earlier in his career, discovering writing as a lucrative and creative outlet, and one that allows him to work out his personal and professional angst in a very unique manner. Much in this novel reflects Archer's own struggles.

The novel is very accurate and true to form in the mechanics and atmosphere of the House of Commons and House of Lords. Having been a Member of Parliament, Archer knew the environment from the inside, and drew realistic scenarios and created realistic characters of such degree that I have required this novel as a text when I've taught British politics.

The major cast of characters -- Seymour, Kerslake, Fraser and Gould -- fit composites of many back-benchers I knew when I worked in Parliament. Unlike the majority of back-benchers, these are men of ambition and ability (alas, somewhat rare combinations in politics in any nation). Each has an eye on the brass ring of No. 10 Downing Street, and each has, at the outset of political careers, an equal chance at success.

A week can be a long time in politics, it has been said, so the span of several decades might as well be an eternity. We see the personal and professional ups and downs of these individuals against a backdrop of real political history from the 1960s forward; this book written in 1984, the 'future' was speculative, but not beyond reason, and still makes for a good read. The careers of the foursome are not linearly upward; true to form of many political careers (including Archer's own), there are near misses and great falls, from which some recover, and others do not.

The ending is an interesting one, again part of Archer's speculative history, hinging upon one event that perhaps he knew well would never in fact happen. However, it is still a believable political event, and given that actual politics is often unbelievable, this novel makes a generous alternative history.

Archer's gift of storytelling is strong, and perhaps best when he is dealing with situations he himself has survived. 'First Among Equals' is one such story.