There are two words which can describe this book - Monumental and Compulsive. This book is a thick one at 800 pages but when you start to read the book it actually feels only half that. A summary of the plot of the book is given below.
Charlie Trumper’s earliest memory is of hearing his grandfather’s sales patter from behind his barrow. He is the ’’Honest Trader- Since 1883’’. After his death, Charlie Trumper inherits this fruit and vegetable barrow (English term for wheelbarrow) from his grandfather whom he adored. He is an excellent salesman who used talked with his customers a lot and captured their attention. Charlie goes off to fight in WWI and quickly makes enemies of one Mr. Guy Trentham, a rich snob from London’s upper class, an enemy that goes beyond the war front and lasts a lifetime. Upon returning to England, Charlie dreams of selling his wares out of a store instead of a barrow. But his dreams don’t stop here, no, Charlie has bigger dreams, he wants to build the largest department store in all of London. Is he successful? You’ll have to read to find out.
In his endeavor he has the support of his lovely wife Becky, his son Daniel and major Hamilton. Also a thorn in the way to realizing his dream is Mrs. Trentham who is the mother of Guy Trentham. You will be marveled at the way the Author stars the story in 1900 and ends in the year 1971 lasting four generation.
Charlie’s progress from the teeming streets of Whitechapel to the elegance of the Chelsea Terrace is only a few miles as the crow flies. But in the authors expert hands it becomes an epic journey through the triumphs and disasters of the century, as Charlie treads a path of love, ambition and revenge to fulfill the dream that his grandpa had inspired.
If your looking action packed adventure, look elsewhere. This is a story of love; hate and dreams come true. At time you will be rolling with laughter, and others on the brink of tears. I have only read one other book by Mr. Archer, ’’The Eleventh Commandment’’. These two books are like night and day. Mr. Archer shows his ability at being a master of storytelling in his ability to go from ’’As the Crow Flies’’, to a political thriller in ’’The Eleventh Commandment’’. Since I have only read two of his books, it would be unfair of me to attempt any comparison of Mr. Archer to any other author. But there is no doubt that Mr. Archer is a master storyteller.
Archer has adopted a very innovative way of narration of the story. He has broken the story into 13 parts and each one of those parts have been narrated by different characters of the novel. For example when Becky buys a new shop at Chelsea Terrace, in the third part you have Becky’s view about the incident and then in the next chapter you have the views of Charlie. So the reader is treated to various viewpoints of one incident. I find this rather interesting.
I hate to tell the entire story in my reviews, so I’ll just say that I loved Charlie and Becky, the main characters, and enjoyed their life experiences with them. I felt the happiness, sadness, anger and frustration right along with them...Oh, that Mrs. Trentham! This book definitely lives up to the five stars I rated. So go ahead and read this book.
P.S - The Title of this review is used by Charlie Trumper when he is trying to sell fruits and vegetables to his customers.
[I could go on and on about the plot and the characters in the book, but that is not for what the review is. I want you to read this book and the book would hold your interest only if you don’t know what is coming ahead]
- Thanx to Amy Coffin for this small part. This is the best possible method to express the breakinf up of story line.
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