The beauty of the book lies in its framework which traces a historical timeline based on the real events which were unfolding during the timeframe considered in the text. Both men are driven by a keen sense of sky-high aspirations and share a precocious attitude in their respective fields. Whereas Abel Rosnovoski works his way up from being an insignificant but astute waiter to the owner of hotels synonymous with the epitome of luxury and ubiquitously spread about the expanse of the globe.

William Kane comes from a renowned family of bankers and commands an undisputed authority and respect as the head of one of America’s largest financial institutions. A fine manifestation of the intertwined lives of a Boston Brahmin, William Lowell Kane (associated with not one, but three of the most prominent Brahmin families- Lowell, Cabot & Kane) and a Polish immigrant, heir to an erstwhile Baron, Abel Rosnovoski. After establishing the bitter dichotomy of global disparity, he goes on to suggest an eventual convergence even in the most pragmatic considerations. The plot is a passive associative representation of two parallel timelines originating at the beginning of the 20th century and covering a marvellously long span of 60 years. That is a long sentence! And this is exactly what the book represents, traversing beyond the ordinary foundations of storytelling whilst refraining to exit the mainstream clichéd narratives and leave the reader dumbfounded at the climax.Ĭain Slaying Abel by Peter Paul Rubens (c. If I had to define the book in a single sentence, I might say that it is a uniquely astute play on words and the most foundational ideas beginning right from the cover of the book implying extraordinary human instincts while adopting a most tortuous peregrination. Although, do not forget that these are the Kane (Cain) and Abel of the 20th century, with no inclination whatsoever compelling these ‘brothers’ in upholding the biblical ramifications. If the first thing which comes to your mind is, ‘first sons first brothers first victim first criminal unnecessary feud’, you are already on the route to begin reading this atypically unorthodox and to some extent idiosyncratic novel.

Publication Details: ISBN13: 9780312995058 | Pan Macmillan Books Genre: Dramatic Thriller, Historical Fiction

Cain abel jeffrey archer