Genres
Publication
Macmillan Children's Books (2012)
Description
Newspaper moguls Richard Armstrong and Keith Townsend, one in Europe and the other Australia, find themselves on the verge of ruin when their ambitions collide and their profits fall.
User reviews
LibraryThing member nakmeister
The Fourth Estate follows the fortunes of two men who are both trying to build up the biggest newspaper empire in the world. One of them is a Jewish East European immigrant who comes to live in Britain, the other is the son of a rich Australian newspaper proprietor. In the course of their business
I hadn’t read all of a novel in quite some time, constantly starting books and not finishing them, something I don’t like doing, so I decided to read a Jeffrey Archer novel, as I always have found his books gripping page turners, something I needed. While I have read it all, and it may have started me back on the habit of reading, I have to admit I was very disappointed with this book. In many ways it is very similar to his earlier book ‘Kane and Abel’ but it is a poor copy indeed. Both feature two men, one an immigrant, one a man of rich, upper class upbringing, who become bitter enemies through the course of their business dealings. However I find The Fourth Estate is very limited by just sticking to newspaper businesses. Too often the characters seemed to get their own way by threatening to reveal important people’s secrets in national newspapers, very much a cliché and overused in the extreme. Also, the characters in this book are a lot more wooden, they have no personal motivations, no personal reasons for being bitter enemies. It all seems a bit wooden and shallow. Not highly recommended.
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dealings they become bitter enemies…I hadn’t read all of a novel in quite some time, constantly starting books and not finishing them, something I don’t like doing, so I decided to read a Jeffrey Archer novel, as I always have found his books gripping page turners, something I needed. While I have read it all, and it may have started me back on the habit of reading, I have to admit I was very disappointed with this book. In many ways it is very similar to his earlier book ‘Kane and Abel’ but it is a poor copy indeed. Both feature two men, one an immigrant, one a man of rich, upper class upbringing, who become bitter enemies through the course of their business dealings. However I find The Fourth Estate is very limited by just sticking to newspaper businesses. Too often the characters seemed to get their own way by threatening to reveal important people’s secrets in national newspapers, very much a cliché and overused in the extreme. Also, the characters in this book are a lot more wooden, they have no personal motivations, no personal reasons for being bitter enemies. It all seems a bit wooden and shallow. Not highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member bakersfieldbarbara
Two protagonists are pitted against each other as they strive to become the first to create a global media empire and to become the most powerful man on earth. Great reading, and good descriptions of ambitions gone bad. Both men are prepared to risk everything to beat the other and they both lose.
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
I read this with an increasing sense of disbelief. This is a thinly veiled (if indeed it's veiled at all) account of the lives of newspaper tycoons Rupert Murdoch and Robert Maxwell. Anyone with a vague grip of current affairs and recent history will know how the novel ends. Lazy writing.
LibraryThing member Balthazar-Lawson
This book is a fictionalised story, not even thinly disguised, about the real media moguls, Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch. In the book they are Richard Armstrong and Keith Townsend. You therefore wonder if this should be considered fiction or a biography. Either way it's not too bad a read but
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is a big story, though not a very deep story as it does seem to skim through some events and characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jiraiya
It's been a long time in coming, but at last I've got my first 5/5 book of the year. Jeffrey Archer's books, unlike most authors', had always been available to me when I was growing up in the mid 90's. I remember those times. Curiously, though I had been aware of some of his writings (Kane and
I queerly don't regret the time I let elapse to discover Archer's works. I am now in a position to fully savor Archer's storytelling prowess. The Fourth Estate, throughout its length duped us into thinking that the struggle between two press magnates would end up in a draw - in the end, if not during their blow by blow account. The end was stunning. The wordsmith that is Archer has had me hooked these past few days when I was engrossed in reading this book. But it's not a universally acclaimed novel.
It's a novel that was maybe meant for people who appreciate raw, page turning fun. I appreciated the small cares gone into the book...such as giving some lines to describing Townsend's and Hoch's first sexual experiences, then ditching the lurid details as they grew up in maturity and sophistication. I liked how Archer made two unlikable characters be heroes of this book. I was not even once against these chaps and their actions. For me that happens very rarely. I enjoyed the chapters switching alternatively between Armstrong and Townsend, then merging these two arcs so that I had to pay attention as to what was happening. Most of all I liked the style of the book. I had once been physically sick while reading a book. Well, with the Fourth Estate, aesthetically, it was like having ice cream for every meal. Archer is fast gaining to become my favorite writer. Baldacci better beware. I need to ration these books so they don't get read too fast. Truly the 90's were a treasured decade for authors. Simply because the generation that saw out WW2, could have the conclusion of their lives based in that special decade. Can't wait to read more of Jeffrey Archer's books.
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Abel), I naively thought that writers like him were common in the world. How wrong was I. So, instead of saving up my money to buy his books, I bought instead French and Belgian comics. Stuff like Gaston Lagaffe and Lucky Luke and Asterix.I queerly don't regret the time I let elapse to discover Archer's works. I am now in a position to fully savor Archer's storytelling prowess. The Fourth Estate, throughout its length duped us into thinking that the struggle between two press magnates would end up in a draw - in the end, if not during their blow by blow account. The end was stunning. The wordsmith that is Archer has had me hooked these past few days when I was engrossed in reading this book. But it's not a universally acclaimed novel.
It's a novel that was maybe meant for people who appreciate raw, page turning fun. I appreciated the small cares gone into the book...such as giving some lines to describing Townsend's and Hoch's first sexual experiences, then ditching the lurid details as they grew up in maturity and sophistication. I liked how Archer made two unlikable characters be heroes of this book. I was not even once against these chaps and their actions. For me that happens very rarely. I enjoyed the chapters switching alternatively between Armstrong and Townsend, then merging these two arcs so that I had to pay attention as to what was happening. Most of all I liked the style of the book. I had once been physically sick while reading a book. Well, with the Fourth Estate, aesthetically, it was like having ice cream for every meal. Archer is fast gaining to become my favorite writer. Baldacci better beware. I need to ration these books so they don't get read too fast. Truly the 90's were a treasured decade for authors. Simply because the generation that saw out WW2, could have the conclusion of their lives based in that special decade. Can't wait to read more of Jeffrey Archer's books.
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LibraryThing member Tony2704
Another classic from Archer, Brilliant the way he brings an element of non-fiction into his literature. Thoroughly enjoyable
LibraryThing member HenriMoreaux
If you enjoy Paul Erdman, Michael Ridpath & Arthur Hailey's books on business, you will likely enjoy The Fourth Estate.
It's a fictionalised account of the lives of Robert Maxwell (Richard Armstrong in the book) and Rupert Murdoch (Keith Townsend in the book). Whilst being a fictionalised account
Robert Maxwell for those unaware is the father of Ghislaine Maxwell who got herself tangled up with Jeffrey Epstein - I shall let the reader decide for themselves if the lack of ethical behaviour recounted in the book reflects on the daughter of the man in any way.
At any rate, it's a good tale that illustrates the bitterness between the two men and their rather ruthless, at times unethical, business practices, as well as highlighting the illegal behaviour on the behalf of Robert Maxwell/Richard Armstrong.
Would recommend if you enjoy business novels.
It's a fictionalised account of the lives of Robert Maxwell (Richard Armstrong in the book) and Rupert Murdoch (Keith Townsend in the book). Whilst being a fictionalised account
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some events are skimmed over, other dramatised, et cetera, it nonetheless is a compelling read that paints both men in a not particularly favourable light.Robert Maxwell for those unaware is the father of Ghislaine Maxwell who got herself tangled up with Jeffrey Epstein - I shall let the reader decide for themselves if the lack of ethical behaviour recounted in the book reflects on the daughter of the man in any way.
At any rate, it's a good tale that illustrates the bitterness between the two men and their rather ruthless, at times unethical, business practices, as well as highlighting the illegal behaviour on the behalf of Robert Maxwell/Richard Armstrong.
Would recommend if you enjoy business novels.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996
ISBN
1447226747 / 9781447226741
Other editions
The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer (Paperback)
The Fourth Estate by Archer Jeffrey (Paperback)
The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer (Ebook)
The Fourth Estate by Jeffrey Archer (Ebook)