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Uma Aljava Cheia de Setas
Ordinary Heros,
Extraordinary Deeds
The bestselling author of Kane & Abel, The Prodigal Daughter and Honor Among Theives once again astonishes, delights, and electrifies his legions of fans.
From London to China, and New York to Nigeria, Jeffrey Archer takes the reader on a tour of ancient heirlooms and modern romance, of cutthroat business and kindly strangers, of lives lived in the realms of power and lives freed from the gloom of oppression. Fortunes are made and squandered, honor betrayed and redeemed, and love lost and rediscovered.
Embracing the passions that drive men and women to love and to hate, the short stories in A Quiver Full of Arrows will captivate the hearts and souls of readers of everywhere.
Extraordinary Deeds
The bestselling author of Kane & Abel, The Prodigal Daughter and Honor Among Theives once again astonishes, delights, and electrifies his legions of fans.
From London to China, and New York to Nigeria, Jeffrey Archer takes the reader on a tour of ancient heirlooms and modern romance, of cutthroat business and kindly strangers, of lives lived in the realms of power and lives freed from the gloom of oppression. Fortunes are made and squandered, honor betrayed and redeemed, and love lost and rediscovered.
Embracing the passions that drive men and women to love and to hate, the short stories in A Quiver Full of Arrows will captivate the hearts and souls of readers of everywhere.
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
287 people are currently reading
2804 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
652 books12.4k followersJeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
December 12, 2014
Dear Jeffrey Archer,
Your long novels suck but your short stories are amazing.
Your long novels are boring but your short stories are interesting.
I always found the twists in your long novels intolerable but the ones in your short stories, you guessed it, were witty and fantabulous.
To conclude, please write more short stories. I've already read them all and there's no more anthologies to read. Do not bother writing any more long novels as that will waste time that could be spent on creating short stories of beauty.
Sincerely,
An apologetically honest fan
P.S If you didn't get that I liked your short stories but not your novels, please read through letter again and ruminate deeper.
P.P.S You can write anything that you want. Even long novels. I'm just cranky at how disappointed I am with your novels after reading through the creativity and finesse of your anthologies.
P.P.P.S You are absolutely brilliant Mr. Archer. Can I have an authentic autographed anthology of short stories from you, please?
P.P.P.P.SThat last story of yours? Old Love, I think it was? That was my favourite. So sweet and yet so sorrowful.
Your long novels suck but your short stories are amazing.
Your long novels are boring but your short stories are interesting.
I always found the twists in your long novels intolerable but the ones in your short stories, you guessed it, were witty and fantabulous.
To conclude, please write more short stories. I've already read them all and there's no more anthologies to read. Do not bother writing any more long novels as that will waste time that could be spent on creating short stories of beauty.
Sincerely,
An apologetically honest fan
P.S If you didn't get that I liked your short stories but not your novels, please read through letter again and ruminate deeper.
P.P.S You can write anything that you want. Even long novels. I'm just cranky at how disappointed I am with your novels after reading through the creativity and finesse of your anthologies.
P.P.P.S You are absolutely brilliant Mr. Archer. Can I have an authentic autographed anthology of short stories from you, please?
P.P.P.P.SThat last story of yours? Old Love, I think it was? That was my favourite. So sweet and yet so sorrowful.
June 10, 2017
Thank goodness Jeffrey Archer got a Baronetcy in 1992. The man has an unhealthy preoccupation with rank, status, and money (as this collection of short stories will attest).
Written in 1980, these are vignettes of a simpler time, before email and cellular phones and Twitter and Facebook cluttered up our lives. When wealth and luxury were marked by Rolls Royces, leather chairs and Cuban cigars rather than hybrid vehicles, recycled furniture and vegan meals.
There's something deeply comforting about an Archer story. They're full of wry surprises and parlour tricks. No shock and awe tactics are ever employed, just a soothing compendium of light surface description and blithe plot. Sex is obliquely referred to as "making love" with a breast here and there, but is terribly perfunctory - Archer never lasts more than a paragraph or two - and there's certainly no talk of emotions. Violence is always offscreen, a distant assassination, no direct hits.
The reader is flown graciously across continents in a show of cosmopolitan worldliness. Over a dozen tidy tales, we are taken on a global tour from China to London, New York to Nigeria. We meet captains of industry, bankers, military commanders, foreign diplomats, Empresses and Presidents. Lord Jeffrey makes sure to introduce you to people from all the right social circles, dah-ling.
The writing style is clean, masculine and unapologetic. Archer employs a unique image, usually a simile repeated for emphasis, as a hook that pulls you into each story. It's clever authorial sleight of hand. Look over here, at the woman I've described as the White Queen with cottage loaf hair. Don't worry about the looming punchline. Observe this fleet of black Mercedes that I've likened to a land-bound crocodile. Never mind what those macho Brazilian men are up to.
If you're a fan of Ocean's Eleven, or any story populated by scoundrels, thieves, gamblers and tricksters, Lord Jeffrey will delight you. He'll drop names and make too-casual mentions of fancy brands, institutions and corporations as a personal resume of aristocratic tastes and upper-crust associations, with heavy emphasis on Oxford and Eton.
These stories steer clear of heavy themes and social commentary, focusing rather on cognac and cricket: the male equivalent of chick-lit. In the end, you may not read a great work of literature, but you'll have passed a pleasant few hours on a plane or in a waiting room with a cozy sensation of nostalgia, wit and borrowed glamour.
"Old Love", the last story, was the one I liked best.
Written in 1980, these are vignettes of a simpler time, before email and cellular phones and Twitter and Facebook cluttered up our lives. When wealth and luxury were marked by Rolls Royces, leather chairs and Cuban cigars rather than hybrid vehicles, recycled furniture and vegan meals.
There's something deeply comforting about an Archer story. They're full of wry surprises and parlour tricks. No shock and awe tactics are ever employed, just a soothing compendium of light surface description and blithe plot. Sex is obliquely referred to as "making love" with a breast here and there, but is terribly perfunctory - Archer never lasts more than a paragraph or two - and there's certainly no talk of emotions. Violence is always offscreen, a distant assassination, no direct hits.
The reader is flown graciously across continents in a show of cosmopolitan worldliness. Over a dozen tidy tales, we are taken on a global tour from China to London, New York to Nigeria. We meet captains of industry, bankers, military commanders, foreign diplomats, Empresses and Presidents. Lord Jeffrey makes sure to introduce you to people from all the right social circles, dah-ling.
The writing style is clean, masculine and unapologetic. Archer employs a unique image, usually a simile repeated for emphasis, as a hook that pulls you into each story. It's clever authorial sleight of hand. Look over here, at the woman I've described as the White Queen with cottage loaf hair. Don't worry about the looming punchline. Observe this fleet of black Mercedes that I've likened to a land-bound crocodile. Never mind what those macho Brazilian men are up to.
If you're a fan of Ocean's Eleven, or any story populated by scoundrels, thieves, gamblers and tricksters, Lord Jeffrey will delight you. He'll drop names and make too-casual mentions of fancy brands, institutions and corporations as a personal resume of aristocratic tastes and upper-crust associations, with heavy emphasis on Oxford and Eton.
These stories steer clear of heavy themes and social commentary, focusing rather on cognac and cricket: the male equivalent of chick-lit. In the end, you may not read a great work of literature, but you'll have passed a pleasant few hours on a plane or in a waiting room with a cozy sensation of nostalgia, wit and borrowed glamour.
"Old Love", the last story, was the one I liked best.
March 22, 2021
Interesting collection of 11 short stories from around the world. My favourite story in the book was 'The Coup' which was based in Nigeria. Other stories I liked were The Chinese Statue, Old Love, Broken Routine, Henry's Hiccup, A Matter of Principle and The Hungarian Professor. Rest of the stories were fine.
December 17, 2015
Jeffrey Archer's storytelling at it's best.
March 25, 2020
review to follow
October 28, 2011
'A Quiver full of Arrows' is a wonderful book to make a beginning to your Jeffrey Archer Shelf. This is the first book, written by him that I have read and I seriously loved it. It's completely worth all the time you spend on it, even if it means ignoring the teacher in class and reading in secret.
All his short stories, begin by making the reader curious and end....well endings are so unexpected that I promise you will never fail to smile.
Each story has a strange twist that makes it different and more unique when compared to the others in the same book. Except one, (he doesn't mention which one) all the tales in his book are based on true life incidents, which make them even more delicious to read.
For those who want make a simple beginning, a small book but with some very memorable anecdotes, its the perfect choice.
:)
Read it yourself and be surprised.
All his short stories, begin by making the reader curious and end....well endings are so unexpected that I promise you will never fail to smile.
Each story has a strange twist that makes it different and more unique when compared to the others in the same book. Except one, (he doesn't mention which one) all the tales in his book are based on true life incidents, which make them even more delicious to read.
For those who want make a simple beginning, a small book but with some very memorable anecdotes, its the perfect choice.
:)
Read it yourself and be surprised.
August 19, 2012
Rather dull, and evidence that without his political connections, Jeffrey Archer would be about as interesting as a student in a beginners' fiction-writing workshop. Every story features some feeble attempt at irony that makes it seem amateurish, like the yawner about two middle-aged men who bet about which will be first to bed a beautiful girl, only to find out she'd been taking bets on them. (Oh, SNAP!) Save your money.
October 26, 2025
A Quiver Full of Arrows is a collection of twelve short stories by Jeffrey Archer. I think he is a fantastic author and I have enjoyed several of his novels. This collection however I found very hit and miss. It seemed all of the stories were to end in some sort of witty twist, but mostly they just fell flat. A couple of the stories I did enjoy I will make special mention (Broken Routine and Old Love). The other ten stories were a little ho hum.
October 19, 2013
Most people will like reading this collection of gripping short stories, each ending with a twist. Written with wit and candor by the master story teller Jeffrey Archer in his classic British style, this book is worth a read. As with most short-stories books, few stories are bound to disappoint you - in this case by being monotonous in theme perhaps, while others will blow you away. 'Old Love' was the best story.
August 29, 2013
I loved the book. It is a collection of twelve short fabulous stories. I liked most 'The Coup' and 'Old Love'. Both are like mini novels. I would love both of them as full fledged novels. The author is surely a seasoned short story writer.
May 30, 2020
When it comes to the art of consummate storytelling, Jeffrey Archer is second only to Roald Dahl. To read Archer’s short stories is to be thoroughly entertained. However, this particular collection fell short of my expectations. Not quite as quick, witty or as smart as I was hoping it would be.
November 22, 2019
Mr. Archer had my heart at the last short story - Old Love.
Other stories I enjoyed (the order as in the index) -
The Chinese Statue
The Coup
Broken Routine
A Matter Of Principle
Other stories I enjoyed (the order as in the index) -
The Chinese Statue
The Coup
Broken Routine
A Matter Of Principle
December 21, 2017
Its a wonderful collection of short stories that captures your imagination and makes you ponder over the little nuances! The broken routine an old love were my personal favourites! Must read if you love short stories!
November 9, 2019
Average: 3.33 stars
Archer's A Twist in the Tale most certainly has a better collection of stories than this book. :)
Archer's A Twist in the Tale most certainly has a better collection of stories than this book. :)
June 22, 2020
Me fascinó este libro. Hace años lo leí y aún hoy recuerdo sus historias. Súper entretenido 💖💖
February 5, 2024
4.5 stars
⏳ [Re-read project #3 of 2024, 1st proper review, rating maintained]
The tagline on the book cover refers to JA as the best storyteller alive, and I agree, heartily so. That author's style of spinning out his short stories is a true delight, ranging through a gamut of angles: witty, wickedly hilarious, engrossing, smart, atmospheric, humane, emotional... British humour at its best!
I have decided to re-visit all his short story collections, by chronological order, starting with A Quiver Full of Arrows. This collection contains 12 short stories:
🏹 The Chinese Statue
🏹 The Luncheon
🏹 The Coup
🏹 Old Love
🏹 The Perfect Gentleman
🏹 Broken Routine
🏹 One-Night Stand
🏹 Henry's Hiccup
🏹 A Matter of Principle
🏹 The Hungarian Professor
🏹 The First Miracle
🏹 The Century
My favourite is without doubt Old Love. It was tightly well written and oh so emotional. I had tears in my eyes by the end, just like the first time I read it.
💯 recommended if you like short stories, Brit humour and want to enjoy a good book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2019
Amusing, entertaining and witty. Jeffrey Archer is aptly talented in writing shorties. Each of the story has a different dynamic and it kept engaging my attention.
My top 3 picks:
1) The Luncheon - An reminiscent of an established author triggered in a New York party when he met his earlier days biggest fan.
2) The Hungarian Professor
A memory transposition of an Englishman toward an enigmatic Hungarian Professor that he met during athletic championship.
3)The Chinese Statue
A proudly displayed heirloom being auctioned off to pay his present owner's debts. The history of how this statue came to the family's possession is as interesting as the truth known after the authenticity check and value appraisal. It is a good choice to place this as the 1st chapter.
Ps. I agree with some reviewers that Archer should concentrate his effort more to short story writing.
My top 3 picks:
1) The Luncheon - An reminiscent of an established author triggered in a New York party when he met his earlier days biggest fan.
2) The Hungarian Professor
A memory transposition of an Englishman toward an enigmatic Hungarian Professor that he met during athletic championship.
3)The Chinese Statue
A proudly displayed heirloom being auctioned off to pay his present owner's debts. The history of how this statue came to the family's possession is as interesting as the truth known after the authenticity check and value appraisal. It is a good choice to place this as the 1st chapter.
Ps. I agree with some reviewers that Archer should concentrate his effort more to short story writing.
February 13, 2016
Lazy review: I'm giving this 4 stars because it started with some boring stories but ended so excellently (I found myself smiling alone upon reaching the last page). This is a book that I borrowed from the library and I swear I want to rip off the pages of The Hungarian Professor and Old Love and keep them in my own collection because I enjoyed those stories so much. I'm still feeling that weird bittersweet feeling as I'm typing this.
May 31, 2014
A Quiver full of Arrows
I liked all the stories esp 'Old love' (they r each otherz strength n courage) & 'The perfect gentleman' (ppl like Edward r few in the entire world).
They r al very well-written & interesting. What i esp loved was that none had a weird or a very predictabl ending.
And ofcourse i wud recommended it 2 all.
I liked all the stories esp 'Old love' (they r each otherz strength n courage) & 'The perfect gentleman' (ppl like Edward r few in the entire world).
They r al very well-written & interesting. What i esp loved was that none had a weird or a very predictabl ending.
And ofcourse i wud recommended it 2 all.
May 17, 2021
Honestly, the only reason I’ll always remember this book is because of THAT last story.
The others stories were good and fun, but “Old Love” is now officially one of my favorite short stories of all times. (Totally didn’t make me tear up)
The others stories were good and fun, but “Old Love” is now officially one of my favorite short stories of all times. (Totally didn’t make me tear up)
August 9, 2014
The ending of 'Old Love' made me cry my eyes out.
February 21, 2021
I have read the Marathi translation by Leena Sohoni. Marathi book contains 11 stories. In original book, there are 12 stories. Story Century, loosely based on the life of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Tiger Pataudi) is not there in this translated version published by Mehta Publishing House.
These stories are multi genres. Most of the stories are based on human emotions. One story is from Author‘s imagination while ten other stories are inspired by actual events.
1. Chinese Statue : Its story of Chinese statue which was brought by Sir Alexander from China to London and its journey within his decedents. It has surprising end. (4 stars)
2. The Luncheon : This is the only story which is completely fiction and not inspired by any real event but Archer inspired from the work of Somerset Maugham to write this story which is of a writer who had non forgotten lunch with famous film producer’s ex wife. (4 stars)
3.The coup : This is about two rival businessmen from Brazil who stuck in hotel in Nigeria during revolution and eventually how they become friends. (4 stars)
4. Old love : Love story of two students who initially hates each other but later fell in love. It’s story of their bond, deep love, arguments and tragedy at the end. (3 stars)
5. Perfect Gentleman: Story of backgammon ace player who intentionally lost club final match to give his opponent hope and did not care about any recognition in this matter. (3 stars)
6. Broken routine : Story of a man who has pretty common routine daily. He encountered slight unexpected change one day in his life. It has no surprising but funny end. (2 stars)
7. One night stand : Story of two close friends from London who liked same girl in New York and their attempt to spend a night with her. It has also funny and little surprising end. (3 stars)
8. Henry’s hiccup : Millionaire son of grand pasha of Egypt who loved to live in London but does not have knowledge of making arrangements during travel. It’s funny story of his journey from London to Paris on the occasion of his honeymoon and fiasco. (4 stars)
9. A matter of principle : Uncompromising Scottish businessman who has been trying to get Mexican contract. His encounter with an agent and one of the minister of Mexico is the story. (2 stars)
10. The Hungarian professor : It’s story of English professor from Budapest and his conversation with English athlete. (2 stars)
11. The First miracle : Story of one day from the childhood life of Pontius Pilate. (2 stars)
This book is collection of short stories written in 1980s. I enjoyed most of them. I didn’t like few though. But it’s well written short stories book.
These stories are multi genres. Most of the stories are based on human emotions. One story is from Author‘s imagination while ten other stories are inspired by actual events.
1. Chinese Statue : Its story of Chinese statue which was brought by Sir Alexander from China to London and its journey within his decedents. It has surprising end. (4 stars)
2. The Luncheon : This is the only story which is completely fiction and not inspired by any real event but Archer inspired from the work of Somerset Maugham to write this story which is of a writer who had non forgotten lunch with famous film producer’s ex wife. (4 stars)
3.The coup : This is about two rival businessmen from Brazil who stuck in hotel in Nigeria during revolution and eventually how they become friends. (4 stars)
4. Old love : Love story of two students who initially hates each other but later fell in love. It’s story of their bond, deep love, arguments and tragedy at the end. (3 stars)
5. Perfect Gentleman: Story of backgammon ace player who intentionally lost club final match to give his opponent hope and did not care about any recognition in this matter. (3 stars)
6. Broken routine : Story of a man who has pretty common routine daily. He encountered slight unexpected change one day in his life. It has no surprising but funny end. (2 stars)
7. One night stand : Story of two close friends from London who liked same girl in New York and their attempt to spend a night with her. It has also funny and little surprising end. (3 stars)
8. Henry’s hiccup : Millionaire son of grand pasha of Egypt who loved to live in London but does not have knowledge of making arrangements during travel. It’s funny story of his journey from London to Paris on the occasion of his honeymoon and fiasco. (4 stars)
9. A matter of principle : Uncompromising Scottish businessman who has been trying to get Mexican contract. His encounter with an agent and one of the minister of Mexico is the story. (2 stars)
10. The Hungarian professor : It’s story of English professor from Budapest and his conversation with English athlete. (2 stars)
11. The First miracle : Story of one day from the childhood life of Pontius Pilate. (2 stars)
This book is collection of short stories written in 1980s. I enjoyed most of them. I didn’t like few though. But it’s well written short stories book.
December 17, 2023
Absolutely the best book I have read in a while. Archer is a master story teller, and to me these twelve stories are some of the finest work ever done in literature.
To rank the stories, I found Broken Routine to be the absolute best in this book closely followed by The Luncheon, The Chinese Statue, Henry's Hiccup, and The Hungarian Professor - in that order. The Coup, The Perfect Gentleman, The Century, A Matter of Principle and The First Miracle are all great stories worthy of attention. The other stories including One Night Stand and Old Love are romantic in nature, but Archer did really well here as well.
Thank you Whitehorse Mannigham Library for making it available. I wish to re-read this one sometime in the future.
To rank the stories, I found Broken Routine to be the absolute best in this book closely followed by The Luncheon, The Chinese Statue, Henry's Hiccup, and The Hungarian Professor - in that order. The Coup, The Perfect Gentleman, The Century, A Matter of Principle and The First Miracle are all great stories worthy of attention. The other stories including One Night Stand and Old Love are romantic in nature, but Archer did really well here as well.
Thank you Whitehorse Mannigham Library for making it available. I wish to re-read this one sometime in the future.
July 24, 2023
Jeffrey Archer has a clean, elegant prose that is absolutely perfect for short stories, as I again realised after reading this collection. It contains twelve stories which could have become hollow vignettes due to brevity, but attained a different level, thanks to neat storytelling on part of the author.
My favourites were~
1. The Coup;
2. The First Miracle;
3. Broken Routine;
4. Old Love;
5. The Hungarian Professor.
These stories, sometimes with their twists and at times with the unpleasant aftertastes they generate, would stay with you.
Recommended.
My favourites were~
1. The Coup;
2. The First Miracle;
3. Broken Routine;
4. Old Love;
5. The Hungarian Professor.
These stories, sometimes with their twists and at times with the unpleasant aftertastes they generate, would stay with you.
Recommended.
June 4, 2017
I don't usually read short stories but someone gave me this ages ago and I needed something to read while waiting for my dog to be groomed so thought I'd give it a go. I really enjoyed it. The stories were varied and some better than others - Broken Routine was my favourite but I would recommend it. I am going to try some more short story collections (just ordered Bazaar Of Bad Dreams by Stephen King) and maybe a Jeffrey Archer novel too.
June 2, 2018
Eleven short stories with a twist at the end to hammer it home. These are fun, and the humor is rather English, so it's pretty damn delightful. As for writing style, it's clipped without lacking, and each story feels like something you might hear told over a whisky in a club with deep leather chairs.
I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. And that's saying something.
I think "Old Love" might have been my favorite.
A good introduction to Jeffrey Archer. I'll be picking more of his work up in the future.
I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. And that's saying something.
I think "Old Love" might have been my favorite.
A good introduction to Jeffrey Archer. I'll be picking more of his work up in the future.
October 29, 2020
A beautiful collection of short stories
January 2, 2022
Among the well written short stories, Old Love stands out the most for me. Of wit & love intertwined this is the one story which was a page turner for me.
March 17, 2022
Un libro compuesto por minicuentos que irradian cero interés, al menos para mí. Me parecen historias vacías y aburridas. Es un libro decente y entiendo que les pueda gustar a otras personas pero no es para mí.
August 25, 2025
Except for couple of stories, all other stories were very good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews