This book, the sequel to the incredible saga Kane and Abel, follows the life of Florentyna Rosnovski - daughter of self made multi-millionaire and entrepreneur Abel.
The book spans over 60 years, from her early school life then charting her marriage and career. We follow the clearly gifted Florentyna through her numerous academic achievements and her involvement with local politics. Following the death of her father, Florentyna becomes head of the Baron Group of hotels, steering it to achieve greater success year on year before returning to the political arena, something she is clearly destined to do. What is there left to do for the woman who has achieved such dizzying heights of achievement and success? Why, Leader of the Free World of course! In a world traditionally dominated by men, Florentyna faces a constant battle in this cut throat world. Can she survive and become America's first female president?
This is yet another page turner from the talented Mr Archer. Not quite as gripping as Kane and Abel, it still however keeps the reader entertained and provides fascinating insights into the world of American Politics, particularly the post Vietnam politics of the late 70s and early 80s. It also introduces the reader to the baffling electoral system and the process for selecting candidates.
Archer wrote The Prodigal Daughter at a time when Margaret Thatcher was in her first term as PM in the UK, so a woman governing a western superpower was not beyond the realms of possibility and therefore makes the book a little more feasible. Yet, as we know, this is yet to be realised in the States...we will have to wait until November to find out of fiction could become reality...
They say a week is a long time in politics...well, over 25 is a lifetime ago and it is interesting to see Archer's political predictions and how near or far from the mark they were. There is one particularly poignant speech which Senator Florentyna makes to the Defence Appropriations Committee about the need to build the States' defences to ensure that no more US lives are lost in pointless wars like Vietnam...
The Prodigal Daughter is a great compulsive read. Archer gets you involved with the characters and plot skilfully as ever; and he clearly writes with a great depth of knowledge, being "in the game" himself. My only criticism would be that it appears to be written for an American audience, and Archer's obvious admiration for the country becomes a little mawkish at times.
Despite this I would still not hesitate in recommending this book as an excellent sequel to a contemporary masterpiece.