• A Prisoner of Birth

  • By: Jeffrey Archer
  • Narrated by: Roger Allam
  • Length: 16 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (136 ratings)

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A Prisoner of Birth  By  cover art

A Prisoner of Birth

By: Jeffrey Archer
Narrated by: Roger Allam
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Publisher's summary

Danny Cartwright and Spencer Craig were born on different sides of the track.

Danny, an East End Cockney, leaves Clement Attlee Comprehensive School at the age of 15 to take up a job at a local garage. He falls in love with Beth, the boss's daughter, and asks her to marry him.

Spencer Craig resides in the West End. A graduate of an English public school and Cambridge University, he becomes a criminal barrister and is soon tipped to be the youngest Queen's Counsel of his generation.

Danny and Beth travel up to the West End to celebrate their engagement. They end the evening in a wine bar where Spencer Craig is also celebrating - his 30th birthday, along with a select group of university chums.

Their lives will never be the same again. For, an hour later, one of them is arrested for murder, while the other ends up as the prosecution's chief witness in an Old Bailey trial.

©2008 Jeffrey Archer (P)2008 Macmillan Digital Audio

Critic reviews

"Bestseller Archer...pays homage to Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo in this delicious updating of the adventure classic." ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about A Prisoner of Birth

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brilliant

masterfully crafted, grilling from start to finish, I loved this book. find the time, you won't regret it

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One of Jeffrey’s best

Great story, blatant plagiarism based on the Count of Monte Christo done brilliantly with English flair.
Jeffrey doesn’t disappoint. Much from his own experience in prison- itself a travesty of justice.
Thoroughly enjoyable with more twists that a packet of pretzels.

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The Book I Wished For

What could I say? I loved it. The book had everything I hoped for in a plot. Great characters, great twists, legal battles, smart negotiations, background histories, a love story and a sweet revenge. I am a Dumas fan and I agree with the author that it was a challenge to write his own Count of Montecristo. But I believe Archer made a wonderful job for the modern reader. If I could say one negative thing about the book was the fact that it took me a while to warm up to Beth. I admired her loyalty, but couldn’t feel all that the author was trying to convey about her.

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This book really got me in!

A thoroughly absorbing tale. Some delightfully humorous Courtroom scenes. A well constructed story that I had difficulty putting down!

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Another fantastic Archer book

A great story of one losing a friend and getting accused by his murderer and then finding a way to get even.
The story is most gripping.
Well performed with excellent change of accents.

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Amazing!

Every time I read or listen to this book I enjoy it. One of my favourites.

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A fantastic story

I loved this book. The Best Jeffrey Archer ever. Could hardly breathe as I listened to the last chapters.
And 10 out of 10 to Roger Allam.

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Worth six stars

Cling to your earphones or car stereo! This book will keep you listening. What a story and what a narrator. While listening I gave up trying to anticipate what will happen next - I was wrong every time. Well done JA

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