First Among Equals

379 Pages·1994·2.7 MB·English

by  Archer Jeffrey

FIRST AMONG EQUALS
Jeffrey Archer, whose novels and short stories include Not a Penny More, Not a
Penny Less, Kane & Abel and A Twist in the Tale, has topped the bestseller lists
around the world, with sales of over 120 million copies.
The author has served five years in the House of Commons, fourteen years in
the House of Lords and two in Her Majesty’s prisons, which spawned three
highly acclaimed Prison Diaries.
False Impression, his most recent novel and an international Number One
bestseller, remained in the top ten of the UK paperback charts for nearly ten
weeks.
In Cat O’ Nine Tales, his latest collection of short stories, published by
Macmillan in 2006, the author has woven sad, witty and unforgettable yarns
enhanced by witty and hilarious illustrations by Ronald Searle.
The author is married with two children, and lives in London and Cambridge.
www.jeffreyarcher.co.uk
ALSO BY JEFFREY ARCHER
NOVELS
Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less
Shall We Tell the President?
Kane & Abel
The Prodigal Daughter
A Matter of Honour
As the Crow Flies
Honour Among Thieves
The Fourth Estate
The Eleventh Commandment
Sons of Fortune
False Impression
SHORT STORIES
A Quiver Full of Arrows
A Twist in the Tale
Twelve Red Herrings
The Collected Short Stories
To Cut a Long Story Short
Cat O’ Nine Tales
PLAYS
Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Exclusive
The Accused
PRISON DIARIES
Volume One – Belmarsh: Hell
Volume Two – Wayland: Purgatory
Volume Three – North Sea Camp: Heaven

First published 1984 by Hodder and Stoughton Ltd
First published in this edition 2003 by Pan Books
This electronic edition published 2008 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan Ltd
Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Basingstoke and Oxford
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-0-330-46190-0 in Adobe Reader format
ISBN 978-0-330-46189-4 in Adobe Digital Editions format
ISBN 978-0-330-46191-7 in Mobipocket format
Copyright © Jeffrey Archer 1984
The right of Jeffrey Archer to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in
accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or
any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any
unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for
damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Visit www.panmacmillan.com to read more about all our books and to buy them. You will also find
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To Alan and Eddie

Contents
Prologue
Book One
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Book Two
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Book Three
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Book Four
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Book Five
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Book Six
Chapter 35
Chapter 36