Spanning over 60 years, this book tells the tale of two men, neigh two families in over three generations and their journeys through war, marriage, fortune and failure. From their first to last breathes, the tale of these two great men has many a twists and turns that leaves the reader thirsting for more. Their paths intertwine many times, with thunderous results.

Their stories to rise to the top of their profession forms the rest of the book. But both the boys show extraordinary strength and resilience. Abel, stuck in Poland is a witness to the unrest in Poland and Europe and is subject to the barbaric tortures of Hitler’s regime. Both are brilliant, but luck favours only some. It follows their sorrows and joys hardships and successes. The story carries on following the lives of each protagonist individually, alternatively. They have but one thing in common – their greed to be successful.

It follows the story of two men- William Kane and Abel Rosnovski who are born on the exact same day, but poles apart – William, to a rich, industrious family in America and Abel to a poor, penniless trapper family. The book, in a way is a modern adaptation of this play. When Abel’s offering is received with better grace, Cain in a fit of jealousy, kills Abel. Cain, a farmer and Abel, a shepherd, make offerings to the Lord in the form of land produce and flocks respectively. The book follows a similar premise as the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel taken from the book of Genesis. I read this book when five years ago and even today, when I go back to it I feel the same joy as when I first read it. Published in 1979, Jeffrey Archer‘s ‘ Kane and Abel‘ still remains one of the finest books ever written.

Kane and abel jeffrey archer summary