Aug 02, 2003 01:31 PM
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(Updated Aug 02, 2003 02:33 PM)
Jeffrey Archer is one of my favorite short story writers, along with Frederick Forsyth. ''A Twist in the Tale'' was written in 1998, and is a collection of 12 short stories, of which 10 are based on known incidents, and only two are a result of Archer’s imagination. Very much in the news these days for the wrong reasons, it is ironic that Lord Archer’s life tale is undergoing another twist ... will he retain his title is uncertain, but to me, he is the Master of the Short Story, served with a twist of lime.
What struck me as I read this book for the umpteenth time was Archer’s deft handling of his characters and situations - almost all the tales have the backdrop of one or the other of the seven deadly Sins to which the characters fall prey to. So here goes ...
PRIDE: An over high opinion of oneself; exaggerated self-esteem; conceit, arrogance, vanity, self-satisfaction.
The Steal : A delightful tale of how a conceited man gets his just rewards - the sad part is that he does not realize it. This story alone makes this book a steal at the Rs. 150 that I paid for it.
Colonel Bullfrog : If the previous story was all about conceit and vanity, this one is about humility. With a war – postwar scenario, it is a simple tale of humanitarian consideration for the other man, even though he is your enemy. And what comes of it ...
Honor Among Thieves : One more story of justice being served, with an arrogant opinionated man getting his comeuppance, again without his realizing it. So while the reader is aware that honor has been rightfully restored ...
GREED: Excessive desire for acquiring or having; desire for more than one needs or deserves.
Clean Sweep Ignatius : Set against a backdrop of a Finance Minister who vows to clean up the corruption that is rampant in his country (haven’t we heard this one before ?), this tale innovatively explores the ''as safe as a Swiss bank vault'' statement. And sweeps you off your feet with its simple storyline ...
The Loophole : A loophole that is exploited, seemingly without anyone being the wiser ... but can the two men in this story really pull the wool over everyone’s eyes ?
LUST: To feel an intense desire, especially sexual desire; to long: after or for.
Just Good Friends : I am just carrying Archer’s deception a little further by putting this story under this category. But you will have to read the book and this story in it to find out what I am talking about …what was that about man’s best friend ?
Checkmate : A beautiful lady and a Chess Club Captain play the game for high stakes … Who checkmates whom ?
ANGER: A strong feeling excited by a real or supposed injury; often accompanied by a desire to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party; resentment; wrath.
The Perfect Murder : A tale of a philandering husband who kills his mistress in a fit of rage because she is cheating on him (how ironical !) and then goes all out to lay the blame at someone else’s door, this one has a twist right at the very end that will leave you drop-dead surprised ...
A Chapter of Accidents : Isn’t Revenge a separate Sin by itself ? Well, this tale is about a carefully plotted revenge, with a twisted ankle .. sorry, ending.
GLUTTONY: One who eats too much. One with a great capacity for something; as, a glutton for work.
A La Carte : Why am I including this positively inclined story under this Sin category ? Firstly, as the title of the story itself indicates, this is about food. Second, I think “One with a great capacity for something, as a glutton for work” very aptly describes the main protagonist of this tale ... This one is a good appetizer for youngsters who are just setting out on their career journeys !
ENVY: To resent another for excellence or superiority in any way, and to be desirous of acquiring it.
Not the Real Thing : An interesting tale that twists and turns its way to the end, this one explores the deadly sin of Envy and the consequences ... imagined and real ...
Christina Rosenthal : The only one of the twelve stories that I cannot classify under any of the above Sins - this one is a moving tale of selfless behavior, with religious undertones.
SLOTH: Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; habitual indolence; laziness, idleness; slowness; delay.
What has kept me from writing this review, because I purchased the book two years ago, and have read it several times over ...
