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The Short, the Long and the Tall: Short Stories
13 hrs 32 mins
New York Times number one bestselling author Jeffrey Archer is a master of the short-story form, creating classic tales beloved by his fans. Now the award-winning writer joins forces with renowned illustrator Paul Cox to re-imagine twenty of his most popular and fêted short stories alongside beautifully rendered watercolor illustrations in The Short, The Long and the Tall.
Find out what happens to the hapless young detective from Naples who travels to an Italian hillside town to solve a murder and ends up falling in love; and the pretentious schoolboy whose discovery of the origins of his father's wealth changes his life forever. Revel in the stories of the woman who dares to challenge the men at her Ivy League university during the 1930s, and another young woman who thumbs a lift and has an encounter she will never forget. Discover the haunting story about four men whose characters are tested to the point of death. Finally, a short parable about how pointless war is, and how decent people are caught up in the crossfire of their leaders' ambitions.
This will be a must-buy for dedicated fans of the work of both author and illustrator, and includes the following short stories:
"Never Stop on the Motorway"
"Cheap At Half the Price"
"Who Killed the Mayor?"
"It Can't Be October Already"
"Stuck on You"
"The Grass is Always Greener"
"The Queen's Birthday Telegram"
"Clean Sweep Ignatius"
"The First Miracle"
"Caste Off"
"A Wasted Hour"
"Just Good Friends"
"Christina Rosenthal"
"A Gentleman and a Scholar"
"The Road To Damascus"
"Old Love"
"A Good Toss To Lose"
"One Man's Meat"
"Endgame"
"Confession"
New York Times number one bestselling author Jeffrey Archer is a master of the short-story form, creating classic tales beloved by his fans. Now the award-winning writer joins forces with renowned illustrator Paul Cox to re-imagine twenty of his most popular and fêted short stories alongside beautifully rendered watercolor illustrations in The Short, The Long and the Tall.
Find out what happens to the hapless young detective from Naples who travels to an Italian hillside town to solve a murder and ends up falling in love; and the pretentious schoolboy whose discovery of the origins of his father's wealth changes his life forever. Revel in the stories of the woman who dares to challenge the men at her Ivy League university during the 1930s, and another young woman who thumbs a lift and has an encounter she will never forget. Discover the haunting story about four men whose characters are tested to the point of death. Finally, a short parable about how pointless war is, and how decent people are caught up in the crossfire of their leaders' ambitions.
This will be a must-buy for dedicated fans of the work of both author and illustrator, and includes the following short stories:
"Never Stop on the Motorway"
"Cheap At Half the Price"
"Who Killed the Mayor?"
"It Can't Be October Already"
"Stuck on You"
"The Grass is Always Greener"
"The Queen's Birthday Telegram"
"Clean Sweep Ignatius"
"The First Miracle"
"Caste Off"
"A Wasted Hour"
"Just Good Friends"
"Christina Rosenthal"
"A Gentleman and a Scholar"
"The Road To Damascus"
"Old Love"
"A Good Toss To Lose"
"One Man's Meat"
"Endgame"
"Confession"
Audiobook
First published November 17, 2020
207 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
659 books12.5k 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 90 reviews
October 26, 2021
What a refreshing break from my usual reads. I LOVE short stories and Archer is a master. They make you laugh and cry. Poignant all of them.
January 5, 2021
Book Review: The Short, the Long and the Tall: Short Stories by Jeffrey Archer
(Published by St. Martin's Press, November 17, 2020)
5.0 Stars.
Wickedly delicious!
Curated with water color illustrations by Paul Cox, Author Jeffrey Archer presents twenty of the best of the best and everyone's favorites of his short stories over the years, pulled from his various short story collections including Twelve Red Herrings (1994), Tell Tale (2017), Cat O'Nine Tales (2007), To Cut a Long Story Short (2000), A Twist in the Tale (1998) and A Quiver full of Arrows (1980)
-----
"Never Stop on the Motorway". Diana heeds her father's advice for good measure. And, as it turns out, for quite different reasons.
"Cheap At Half the Price". Socialite Consuela Rosenheim figures out a way to purchase the most exquisite jewelry - at half the price.
"Who Killed the Mayor?". A picturesque town in Naples does its collective "I, Spartacus.".
"It Can't Be October Already". Patrick O'Flynn shares his residence between public housing for misdemeanors - and his other preferred place.
"Stuck on You". Journeyman Jeremy meets heiress Arabella Warwick and can't believe his luck. Until he gets himself "stuck" in a visit to De Beers, London.
"The Grass is Always Greener". Comes the day when Sir William, bank chairman, rues his station and wishes he could trade places with a man he regularly meets outside the bank's ornate doors, Bill - an old tramp.
"The Queen's Birthday Telegram". Her Royal Majesty carries on with her tradition of sending a telegram to each of her royal subjects on their 100th birthday. Except, had Buckingham Palace inadvertently missed the one for Elizabeth Webber?
"Clean Sweep Ignatius". Ignatius Agarbi takes his job as Nigeria's Minister of Finance very seriously and promises to end rampant graft and corruption in his country. He carries his civic and family responsibilities to the fullest - and then some.
"The First Miracle". A Roman boy named Pontius is sent on an errand to buy food - and hands over his purchases to a poor couple with a newborn in a muddy, squalid stable - in Bethlehem. And then gets paid back for his deed, to his mother's great astonishment.
"Caste Off". Jamwal, son of the Maharaja wants to marry a young woman he'd met in a traffic light in Delhi. Nisha Chowdhury is the daughter of wealthy industrialist Shyam Chowdhury. But alas, she is not of the Rajput caste...
-----
"A Wasted Hour". (My favorite!) Stanford student Kelley hitchhikes her way back to school in Palo Alto, and gets into a lively discussion with the driver, who himself attended the same institution. In an exchange at one point, Kelley relates that her favorite book when she was twelve was "The Grapes of Wrath" which she considers to be one of the great novels of the twentieth century, - said she to the man behind the wheel, an elderly guy named John.
"Just Good Friends". First person narrative of one loving Roger the playboy, but plaintively wishing to be "just good friends" with him. Dispelling a common myth in the process.
"Christina Rosenthal". An old rabbi reads a letter from his estranged son, one he's ruefully read every day for the last ten years.
"A Gentleman and a Scholar". (Another favorite. Erudite and presently relevant!) Margaret Alice Burgage, professor at Yale, preaches the canon of the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon for the final time before retirement, and gets into a lively discussion one last time with a former student, Robert Lowell, the grandson of a former president of Yale, who'd been the leader of rebels and one of the proponents of widespread skepticism amongst Elis that a woman could ever succeed at that level of higher education.
. "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." (Or her.) - Jonathan Swift.
It was coup de grâce in their private battle of wits. In a rather genteel sort of manner.
"The Road To Damascus". Mark Bairstow, scion of Bairstow & Son, the biggest iron foundry in Yorkshire, elects to be a man of the cloth and forego succession in his family's business, after a school visit by the young Bairstow to the ruins of a wartime concentration camp in Germany.
"Old Love". 'The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng'. English literature scholars William Hatchard and Philippa Jameson hate each other from the moment they meet. Yet, legend has it that they were never apart for more than a few hours.
"A Good Toss To Lose". No Man's Land, 1916. Over the trenches, Captain Oliver Jackson of the Lancashire Fusiliers encounters a German soldier. Both are ready to fight, though hesitant, with cocked rifles and fixed bayonets. Then, Jackson recognizes the soldier as Herr Ernst Gruber, his old schoolmaster, and the old teacher in turn his former pupil. In a quandary of which of whom should peacefully surrender to the other, they toss a coin - and leave their fates to providence.
"One Man's Meat". Michael Whitaker sees an absolutely stunning woman enter London's Aldwych Theater and he decides on a whim that he simply has to be with her. He devices a plan to secure a late resale ticket at the booth and manages to join the young lady, Anna Townsend. Then it was time to say goodbye. At this point, the author gives the reader four different endings: Rare, Burnt, Overdone or À point. Or, All of the Above.
"Endgame". Wealthy entrepreneur and chess player Cornelius Barrington decides one day to put to the test how those around him, his potential inheritors, would behave if he were penniless. He divulges his plans to Frank Vincent, his oldest friend and lawyer over a game of chess. He'd declared himself bankrupt, live accordingly, and put all of his valuable worldly possessions on the auction block...
"Confession". World War II, France. The municipal council members of a small French town play poker inside a POW camp where they are held captive by Germans: the town's banker, headmaster, doctor, and mayor, who is also a lawyer. Due to an ambush of German soldiers by partisans, three of the men are ordered to be shot with one of them to be spared. A priest comes in to hear their confessions. And thereby hangs a tale!
No doubt, a collector's item!
Review based on an ARC from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.
(Published by St. Martin's Press, November 17, 2020)
5.0 Stars.
Wickedly delicious!
Curated with water color illustrations by Paul Cox, Author Jeffrey Archer presents twenty of the best of the best and everyone's favorites of his short stories over the years, pulled from his various short story collections including Twelve Red Herrings (1994), Tell Tale (2017), Cat O'Nine Tales (2007), To Cut a Long Story Short (2000), A Twist in the Tale (1998) and A Quiver full of Arrows (1980)
-----
"Never Stop on the Motorway". Diana heeds her father's advice for good measure. And, as it turns out, for quite different reasons.
"Cheap At Half the Price". Socialite Consuela Rosenheim figures out a way to purchase the most exquisite jewelry - at half the price.
"Who Killed the Mayor?". A picturesque town in Naples does its collective "I, Spartacus.".
"It Can't Be October Already". Patrick O'Flynn shares his residence between public housing for misdemeanors - and his other preferred place.
"Stuck on You". Journeyman Jeremy meets heiress Arabella Warwick and can't believe his luck. Until he gets himself "stuck" in a visit to De Beers, London.
"The Grass is Always Greener". Comes the day when Sir William, bank chairman, rues his station and wishes he could trade places with a man he regularly meets outside the bank's ornate doors, Bill - an old tramp.
"The Queen's Birthday Telegram". Her Royal Majesty carries on with her tradition of sending a telegram to each of her royal subjects on their 100th birthday. Except, had Buckingham Palace inadvertently missed the one for Elizabeth Webber?
"Clean Sweep Ignatius". Ignatius Agarbi takes his job as Nigeria's Minister of Finance very seriously and promises to end rampant graft and corruption in his country. He carries his civic and family responsibilities to the fullest - and then some.
"The First Miracle". A Roman boy named Pontius is sent on an errand to buy food - and hands over his purchases to a poor couple with a newborn in a muddy, squalid stable - in Bethlehem. And then gets paid back for his deed, to his mother's great astonishment.
"Caste Off". Jamwal, son of the Maharaja wants to marry a young woman he'd met in a traffic light in Delhi. Nisha Chowdhury is the daughter of wealthy industrialist Shyam Chowdhury. But alas, she is not of the Rajput caste...
-----
"A Wasted Hour". (My favorite!) Stanford student Kelley hitchhikes her way back to school in Palo Alto, and gets into a lively discussion with the driver, who himself attended the same institution. In an exchange at one point, Kelley relates that her favorite book when she was twelve was "The Grapes of Wrath" which she considers to be one of the great novels of the twentieth century, - said she to the man behind the wheel, an elderly guy named John.
"Just Good Friends". First person narrative of one loving Roger the playboy, but plaintively wishing to be "just good friends" with him. Dispelling a common myth in the process.
"Christina Rosenthal". An old rabbi reads a letter from his estranged son, one he's ruefully read every day for the last ten years.
"A Gentleman and a Scholar". (Another favorite. Erudite and presently relevant!) Margaret Alice Burgage, professor at Yale, preaches the canon of the Bard of Stratford-upon-Avon for the final time before retirement, and gets into a lively discussion one last time with a former student, Robert Lowell, the grandson of a former president of Yale, who'd been the leader of rebels and one of the proponents of widespread skepticism amongst Elis that a woman could ever succeed at that level of higher education.
. "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." (Or her.) - Jonathan Swift.
It was coup de grâce in their private battle of wits. In a rather genteel sort of manner.
"The Road To Damascus". Mark Bairstow, scion of Bairstow & Son, the biggest iron foundry in Yorkshire, elects to be a man of the cloth and forego succession in his family's business, after a school visit by the young Bairstow to the ruins of a wartime concentration camp in Germany.
"Old Love". 'The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng'. English literature scholars William Hatchard and Philippa Jameson hate each other from the moment they meet. Yet, legend has it that they were never apart for more than a few hours.
"A Good Toss To Lose". No Man's Land, 1916. Over the trenches, Captain Oliver Jackson of the Lancashire Fusiliers encounters a German soldier. Both are ready to fight, though hesitant, with cocked rifles and fixed bayonets. Then, Jackson recognizes the soldier as Herr Ernst Gruber, his old schoolmaster, and the old teacher in turn his former pupil. In a quandary of which of whom should peacefully surrender to the other, they toss a coin - and leave their fates to providence.
"One Man's Meat". Michael Whitaker sees an absolutely stunning woman enter London's Aldwych Theater and he decides on a whim that he simply has to be with her. He devices a plan to secure a late resale ticket at the booth and manages to join the young lady, Anna Townsend. Then it was time to say goodbye. At this point, the author gives the reader four different endings: Rare, Burnt, Overdone or À point. Or, All of the Above.
"Endgame". Wealthy entrepreneur and chess player Cornelius Barrington decides one day to put to the test how those around him, his potential inheritors, would behave if he were penniless. He divulges his plans to Frank Vincent, his oldest friend and lawyer over a game of chess. He'd declared himself bankrupt, live accordingly, and put all of his valuable worldly possessions on the auction block...
"Confession". World War II, France. The municipal council members of a small French town play poker inside a POW camp where they are held captive by Germans: the town's banker, headmaster, doctor, and mayor, who is also a lawyer. Due to an ambush of German soldiers by partisans, three of the men are ordered to be shot with one of them to be spared. A priest comes in to hear their confessions. And thereby hangs a tale!
No doubt, a collector's item!
Review based on an ARC from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.
July 26, 2021
My very first Jeffrey Archer book. Wonderful collection of 20 short stories. Some are funny and heartwarming. Some are quite sad. A few are a little old-fashioned and dated. The illustrations are delightful.
December 14, 2020
This compilation of previously published (and in my case, mostly previously read) stories has served as a reminder of just how entertaining Jeffrey Archer is. The man is a born story teller!
I'm a big fan of his novels, but his short stories are just as good. And I can't think of another author's work that can best him for sheer cleverness. Many of these stories end with something akin to a comic punchline, or a twist that M. Night Shamalan would envy.
Strung together like this, these stories highlight the diversity of his characters and subject matter. Let's face it, being a straight, white, cis, Christian, old, rich, British man, Mr. Archer has won the demographic lottery. Yet, in this collection he writes characters of different genders, races, sexualities, religions, etc. And he writes with empathy. He also displays a talent for believable romance that many a romance writer could learn from. (The story about the bickering academics was one of my favorites.).
I've been enjoying Mr. Archer's work for about 40 years now. This collection again proves how well his work holds up. It may be time to revisit more of his classic work. Highly recommended!
I'm a big fan of his novels, but his short stories are just as good. And I can't think of another author's work that can best him for sheer cleverness. Many of these stories end with something akin to a comic punchline, or a twist that M. Night Shamalan would envy.
Strung together like this, these stories highlight the diversity of his characters and subject matter. Let's face it, being a straight, white, cis, Christian, old, rich, British man, Mr. Archer has won the demographic lottery. Yet, in this collection he writes characters of different genders, races, sexualities, religions, etc. And he writes with empathy. He also displays a talent for believable romance that many a romance writer could learn from. (The story about the bickering academics was one of my favorites.).
I've been enjoying Mr. Archer's work for about 40 years now. This collection again proves how well his work holds up. It may be time to revisit more of his classic work. Highly recommended!
December 13, 2020
3.5 I rounded down. These stories have been published before and the illustrations are actually a hinderance and simplistic at best. Nothing like reading a page and turning it where an illustration shows you the outcome before you read it!
November 23, 2020
Jeffrey Archer pens a collection of short stories filled with twists and turns. Things are not what they seem and by the end of each tale, readers are in for a shocking surprise. Archer is a master of short stories and keeps readers on the edge of their seats before free falling by the final page.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange of an honest review. Most of the tales kept me eagerly paging through to discover the truth. That being said, there were a few stories that in my opinion were a bit long winded. I appreciated the abbreviated versions as those were short, sweet and to the point but packed a powerful punch.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange of an honest review. Most of the tales kept me eagerly paging through to discover the truth. That being said, there were a few stories that in my opinion were a bit long winded. I appreciated the abbreviated versions as those were short, sweet and to the point but packed a powerful punch.
July 29, 2021
3.5★
Jeffrey Archer's short stories are always amusing. They have generally satisfying endings (the lack of which is normally my main complaint with short stories). These are a collection of his best, and some of them I remember, but others aren't at all familiar, even though I thought I'd read all of his short story collections!
Jeffrey Archer's short stories are always amusing. They have generally satisfying endings (the lack of which is normally my main complaint with short stories). These are a collection of his best, and some of them I remember, but others aren't at all familiar, even though I thought I'd read all of his short story collections!
November 6, 2020
This is a collection of short stories. Some I thought were really good, some had a bit of a twist in them and some were just a little boring or maybe a bit too long.
I think the author’s fans will enjoy them
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
I think the author’s fans will enjoy them
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
January 21, 2021
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. Each one was totally different so the variety was great and the illustrations are beautiful!
March 29, 2021
My apologies to readers who love short stories and/or Jeffrey Archer. I am not a fan of short stories and had never heard of Jeffrey Archer but this latest book looked so compelling on the library shelf. Mr. Archer is a fine writer but every single story had the surprise "ah ha" moment at the end, some that you could see coming a mile away. I could imagine my 8th grade English teacher loving this anthology but the students getting bored quickly as each story is quite similar with a beguiling beginning, lots of mid-story detail, and a surprise ending be it a hitch hiker's ride with John Steinbeck , a flogging of a young Pontius Pilate, or an ingenious woman who uses sex to get both her husband and lover to each pay for half her desired birthday diamond necklace. Perhaps spreading the reading of the stories over several months would have served them better. Reading one after another was like imbibing on too much fine wine. The first two glasses go down smoothly but after that it's just grape juice gone sour.
November 24, 2020
This collection of short stories is masterful - the stories are brilliant and gave me all the feels - even shed a few tears at one of the stories. Jeffrey Archer is a wonderful storyteller and each individual story was perfection. If you are after a few short stories which will intrigue and capture you, this is what you need in your life.
January 3, 2021
The wonderful stories told by a master are a 4.5, bumped up by the delightful illustrations. Archer can really tale a tale, and these are the cream of the crop. I have read most of them, but several years have passed and they seemed fresh to me. The foibles of human nature are the source, and they all end in a very satisfactory, if surprising, way.
April 19, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. 20 amazing stories, each unique and diverse, every plot interesting and engrossing with really unexpected twists and powerful endings. Still amazed at the marvellous setting and the character depth he constructed in such few pages. Besides, the water colour illustrations are beautifully done.
May 10, 2021
I tend not to like stuffy English authors but Jeffrey Archer had me since A Matter of Honor, Twelve Red Herrings and, of course, The Clifton Chronicles. I devoured the stories of The Short, the Long and the Tall.
The physical book was unexpected in it's size and loveliness, so reminiscent of early fairy tale books. The Short, the Long and the Tall is full of tales, sweet, sad and funny.
I particularly liked The Grass is Always Greener which is cautionary tale; The First Miracle and The Road to Damascus are both compelling, especially in their conclusions; Caste Off, Christina Rosenthal and Old Love are all beautiful, sad and about enduring love; A Wasted Hour illustrates the phrase 'You just never know'; Just Good Friends made me laugh out loud, The Queen's Birthday Telegram left me smiling and A Good Toss to Lose left me weeping.
A review of The Short, the Long and the Tall cannot be complete without mentioning the stunning illustrations. Of course, illustrations in an adult book of short stories are unexpected, but these are unexpected and lovely watercolors that are very old-fashioned and somehow remind me of era's portrayed in books such as Cheaper by the Dozen.
The entirety of The Short, the Long and the Tall is a treasure.
Jeffrey Archer, rather quite a rogue in his past, always leaves me stunned at how good a writer he is. The next book on my list is Hidden in Plain Sight, the second in his William Warwick series.
5 Stars
The physical book was unexpected in it's size and loveliness, so reminiscent of early fairy tale books. The Short, the Long and the Tall is full of tales, sweet, sad and funny.
I particularly liked The Grass is Always Greener which is cautionary tale; The First Miracle and The Road to Damascus are both compelling, especially in their conclusions; Caste Off, Christina Rosenthal and Old Love are all beautiful, sad and about enduring love; A Wasted Hour illustrates the phrase 'You just never know'; Just Good Friends made me laugh out loud, The Queen's Birthday Telegram left me smiling and A Good Toss to Lose left me weeping.
A review of The Short, the Long and the Tall cannot be complete without mentioning the stunning illustrations. Of course, illustrations in an adult book of short stories are unexpected, but these are unexpected and lovely watercolors that are very old-fashioned and somehow remind me of era's portrayed in books such as Cheaper by the Dozen.
The entirety of The Short, the Long and the Tall is a treasure.
Jeffrey Archer, rather quite a rogue in his past, always leaves me stunned at how good a writer he is. The next book on my list is Hidden in Plain Sight, the second in his William Warwick series.
5 Stars
September 25, 2022
I can give this collection of short stories no higher praise than to say I was constantly wondering what would happen next. These stories just might make me a fan of the genre.
I both read and listened to these, and it made no difference to my enjoyment level - most of the stories were excellent and I enjoyed them either way.
NOTE: I'll also say that I appreciated Paul Cox's illustrations. They were a delightful surprise, as illustrations are so rarely included these days.
Audiobook
Several different narrators, all of whom were excellent
Anton Lesser - Narrator
Ben Onwukwe - Narrator
Gerard Doyle - Narrator
Imogen Church - Narrator
Richard Armitage - Narrator
Robert Bathurst - Narrator
Duration: 13:25:21
Stories
Never Stop on the Motorway
Cheap at Half the Price
Who Killed the Mayor?
It Can't be October Already
Stuck on You
The Grass is Always Greener
The Queen's Birthday Telegram
Clean Sweep Ignatius
The First Miracle
Caste Off
A Wasted Hour
Just Good Friends
Christina Rosenthal
A Gentleman and a Scholar
The Road to Damascus
Old Love
A Good Toss to Lose
One Man's Meat
Endgame
Confession
I both read and listened to these, and it made no difference to my enjoyment level - most of the stories were excellent and I enjoyed them either way.
NOTE: I'll also say that I appreciated Paul Cox's illustrations. They were a delightful surprise, as illustrations are so rarely included these days.
Audiobook
Several different narrators, all of whom were excellent
Anton Lesser - Narrator
Ben Onwukwe - Narrator
Gerard Doyle - Narrator
Imogen Church - Narrator
Richard Armitage - Narrator
Robert Bathurst - Narrator
Duration: 13:25:21
Stories
Never Stop on the Motorway
Cheap at Half the Price
Who Killed the Mayor?
It Can't be October Already
Stuck on You
The Grass is Always Greener
The Queen's Birthday Telegram
Clean Sweep Ignatius
The First Miracle
Caste Off
A Wasted Hour
Just Good Friends
Christina Rosenthal
A Gentleman and a Scholar
The Road to Damascus
Old Love
A Good Toss to Lose
One Man's Meat
Endgame
Confession
November 14, 2020
There can be no question that Jeffrey Archer is a wonderful writer and that his talent transcends style and form. I believe that I have read everything that he has written, or at least everything I could get my hands on. That includes the epic Clifton Chronicles, his captivating novels and his short story collections.
This latest collection of 20 shorts is especially interesting because it includes some of his best work, meaning that you will smile, laugh, cry, and to steal a fine line, find yourself bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Live it up with the rich, the famous and the infamous and imagine yourself in some of the finest settings in the Continent.
Even if you've read these stories before, which I have, you will once again laugh and cry as you again meet these unforgettable characters in stories that leave you wanting even more.
This latest collection of 20 shorts is especially interesting because it includes some of his best work, meaning that you will smile, laugh, cry, and to steal a fine line, find yourself bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Live it up with the rich, the famous and the infamous and imagine yourself in some of the finest settings in the Continent.
Even if you've read these stories before, which I have, you will once again laugh and cry as you again meet these unforgettable characters in stories that leave you wanting even more.
January 8, 2022
The Short, the Long and the Tall
Jeffrey Archer
This is a compilation of some of Jeffrey Archer's best stories, and they're good!!! I'm so happy I got to check these out. I've never read Jeffrey Archer before, but I will moving forward. I really like his writing style. Easy to read, relatable (Tolkien this is not!), with lots of fun references to things/landmarks/companies/personalities we all know and love or hate today.
What really makes him great however are all the twists and turns that pop up at the end! Sometimes they're expected, but other times, it's like an AHA moment. So so good.
Of the 20 stories featured, my favorites were: The Grass is Always Greener, The First Miracle, The Road to Damascus, Confession, and Old Love
Highly highly recommend! Can't wait to check out his other novels/stories ❤️
#JeffreyArcher #AuthorRecommendation #GoldieLovesLearning #GoldieGoesGlobal
Jeffrey Archer
This is a compilation of some of Jeffrey Archer's best stories, and they're good!!! I'm so happy I got to check these out. I've never read Jeffrey Archer before, but I will moving forward. I really like his writing style. Easy to read, relatable (Tolkien this is not!), with lots of fun references to things/landmarks/companies/personalities we all know and love or hate today.
What really makes him great however are all the twists and turns that pop up at the end! Sometimes they're expected, but other times, it's like an AHA moment. So so good.
Of the 20 stories featured, my favorites were: The Grass is Always Greener, The First Miracle, The Road to Damascus, Confession, and Old Love
Highly highly recommend! Can't wait to check out his other novels/stories ❤️
#JeffreyArcher #AuthorRecommendation #GoldieLovesLearning #GoldieGoesGlobal
November 16, 2020
The Short, the Long, and the Tall by Jeffrey Archer is a compilation of short stories: humorous and whimsical, all with simple illustrations by Paul Cox. There were many technical problems wit this book, which required persistence in reading it. This will be rectified by the final release, certainly. Usually an advance readers' copy has minor errors. This one had many.
The stories were entertaining and thoughtful. All had interesting points of view and a message to readers to large. Having never read Jeffrey Archer before, I was prepared to be entertained. I was. I recommend it.
I was invited to read The Short, the Long, and the Tall by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theshortthelongandthetall
The stories were entertaining and thoughtful. All had interesting points of view and a message to readers to large. Having never read Jeffrey Archer before, I was prepared to be entertained. I was. I recommend it.
I was invited to read The Short, the Long, and the Tall by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theshortthelongandthetall
October 31, 2020
The short story format is meant to give readers a full reading experience in just a few pages. The author must have the skills to jump straight into the "meat" of a story and take the readers with him. Jeffrey Archer has proven many times over that he has those skills.
20 stories, none new, none long but all excellent tales of people whose actions have unexpected consequences. The illustrations add dimension to the stories, bringing them to life as we read. A good read for everyone in my reading circle, I'd recommend to anyone looking for something a little different or a book that does not require a major time commitment.
20 stories, none new, none long but all excellent tales of people whose actions have unexpected consequences. The illustrations add dimension to the stories, bringing them to life as we read. A good read for everyone in my reading circle, I'd recommend to anyone looking for something a little different or a book that does not require a major time commitment.
March 30, 2021
Jeffrey Archer is one of a very few authors whose short stories I not only read but look forward to. This was, I thought (without careful reading of the "blurb") new work, but it is, in fact, a collection of reader and author favorites. I remembered some of them, some not, so it was a mixed bag for me, but enjoyable nonetheless. I did find it cumbersome to read, as it is a coffee table size book which is just too large and too heavy to be enjoyable. And I'm lukewarm to compilations of previously published materials. However, this was elevated and more by the wonderful illustrations that so captured the stories. I found myself browsing the illustrations even after I had read the text.
November 24, 2020
The Short, The Long and The Tall by Jeffrey Archer
I Loved this book!
I have always enjoyed reading Jeffrey Archers short stories. They are always entertaining and some even have a clever twist in the end.
It did not even bother me that I have read some of these stories before as they are always good to read again
I’m so glad Jeffrey Archer released this book to commemorate his 80th birthday
I would like to thank Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I Loved this book!
I have always enjoyed reading Jeffrey Archers short stories. They are always entertaining and some even have a clever twist in the end.
It did not even bother me that I have read some of these stories before as they are always good to read again
I’m so glad Jeffrey Archer released this book to commemorate his 80th birthday
I would like to thank Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
November 20, 2020
Jeffrey Archer is a true master at writing short stories. I've been a fan of his for years - both for his short stories and his novels.
This is a great collection of previously published short stories that have proved to be favorites through the years. Anyone not familiar with Archer's work is in for a treat; and those of us who are long-time fans will totally enjoy re-visiting these stories.
This is a great collection of previously published short stories that have proved to be favorites through the years. Anyone not familiar with Archer's work is in for a treat; and those of us who are long-time fans will totally enjoy re-visiting these stories.
November 24, 2020
The Short, The Long and The Tall by Jeffrey Archer
I Loved this book!
I have always enjoyed reading Jeffrey Archers short stories. They are always entertaining and some even have a clever twist in the end.
It did not even bother me that I have read some of these stories before as they are always good to read again
I’m so glad Jeffrey Archer released this book to commemorate his 80th birthday
I would like to thank Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I Loved this book!
I have always enjoyed reading Jeffrey Archers short stories. They are always entertaining and some even have a clever twist in the end.
It did not even bother me that I have read some of these stories before as they are always good to read again
I’m so glad Jeffrey Archer released this book to commemorate his 80th birthday
I would like to thank Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
January 13, 2021
Loved it. His quirky endings are the best. A couple were a bit too detailed for me, but over all I enjoyed this book. I was a Jeffrey Archer fan of the Clifton Chronicles which while predictable were enjoyable. Sometime a reader just need to read for enjoyment. This volume provided that. Loved the illustrations ! My only negative comment is the size of the book. A bit unwieldy for bedtime reading..👎🏼
January 17, 2022
I picked up this book from the library on a whim because I liked the premise. The author asked his long standing readers to pick their favorite stories and 16 of them were almost unanimous and the last 3 were all mentioned, so he picked a total of 20 to publish in a volume.
He is a new author for me and I like this book a lot. As with all short story collections, some were much better than others but all had their good points. An enjoyable read!
He is a new author for me and I like this book a lot. As with all short story collections, some were much better than others but all had their good points. An enjoyable read!
March 8, 2022
I don't usually read short stories, but I made an exception for this book, as it is a compilation of stories Jeffrey Archer has written. I have read his Clifton Chronicles series and enjoyed it very much, so when a friend recommended this assortment of his shorter tales, I decided to give the book a try. Very glad I did! Archer writes well and tells many touching, ironic, and thought-provoking stories here. Well worth my time!
February 16, 2023
As with all collections of short stories, some stories are better than others, but as a whole, I was quite pleased and entertained by Archer's selections. The variety of settings and characters was refreshing, even the one placed in New Testament times.
I found myself listening to this audiobook knowing that a twist was coming, trying to figure it out, and then being surprised despite my efforts.
I found myself listening to this audiobook knowing that a twist was coming, trying to figure it out, and then being surprised despite my efforts.
May 22, 2024
This is a compilation of previously published short stories. There is humor, sadness and twists. A few are a little dated, but still worth reading. There are great illustrations that assist in making this a nice read. I prefer Archer's books rather than these short stories, which have a particular style that becomes repetitive after a few stories but they are worth a read as Archer is a natural story teller.
June 26, 2021
Great reading, especially when only short periods of time to read. Short stories, easy to finish one and move to another when time. Not only was it worth reading, the illustrations were amazing. This is a large, heavy book but the pleasure reading it was worth having to prop it up on cushion to do so. I have enjoyed Archer's books for decades and have never been bored or let down.
July 27, 2021
Nice selection of varied short stories with sweet, old fashioned watercolors to accompany them. Several of the stories were especially poignant, others funny. The book was oversized so was a physical challenge to read but the watercolors underscored the old fashioned feel of many of the stories - sort of a Jeeves & Bertie time period feel.
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