Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This rags-to-riches saga of a London East Ender who learns economics at a humble vegetable stand and later founds a huge department store spent 19 weeks on PW 's bestseller list. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
YA-- A coming-of-age story set in London's East End at the turn of the century. Charlie Trumper idolizes his grandfather, who sells fruits and vegetables from a barrow. He hopes to follow in the man's footsteps and eventually own a big, grand shop. However, World War I interrupts his plans. He learns the value of friendship during the war, but also makes an enemy of Guy Trentham who, with his mother, spends his life seeking revenge and trying to destroy Charlie's dreams. Family intrigue, corporate mergers, romance, villains, and heroes all intertwine to make a fast-moving tale, punctuated with history, mystery, and a refreshing ending in which the good guy wins. --Katherine Fitch, Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech, Fairfax County, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Mega-selling Archer herein produces exactly the sort of sprawling family saga that he does so well: the rags-to-riches story of Charlie Trumpet, who learns his trade selling vegetables from his grandfather's pushcart and who rises to become the wealthy and powerful founder of London's most elegant department store against great odds and vicious opposition. Charlie inherits not only a natural ability as a salesman but, from his grandfather, larger dreams than the old man would have dreamed possible, and yet what really changes his life is WW I, an event wherein he both grows up and makes a lifelong enemy in Guy Trentham, a wealthy fop who may well have murdered Charlie's best friend on the battlefield. After the war, in one of those marvelous coincidences for which Archer is famous, Guy then manages to impregnate the lovely Rebecca Salmon--a childhood friend of Charlie's, his erstwhile business partner, and the woman he has come to love--an event not calculated to bring the two men closer together. When Guy skips out, Charlie marries Rebecca, adopts her illegitimate son, and together they build a business empire. Meanwhile, Guy conveniently goes off to Australia and dies, and it is his mother, the malevolent and devious Mrs. Ethel Trentham, who proves to be the real nemesis of Charlie and Becky's fortunes. While the Trumpers prevail more often than not over the decades, Ethel's machinations (and another improbable coincidence involving Guy) do lead to a tragic liaison and unexpected death before an ultimate board-room battle and requisite happily-ever-after conclusion. Great fun, the sort of fast-moving novel of which you believe not a word and enjoy every minute. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
