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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780312997113
ISBN number: 0312997116
Label: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 800
Printing Date: May 16, 2004
Publishing house: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Release Date: May 04, 2004
Sale Popularity Level: 80175
Studio: St. Martin's Paperbacks
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Growing up in the slums of East End London, Charlie Trumper dreams of someday running his grandfather's fruit and vegetable barrow. That day comes suddenly when his grandfather dies leaving him the floundering business. With the help of Becky Salmon, an enterprising young woman, Charlie sets out to make a name for himself as 'The Honest Trader'. But the brutal onset of World War I takes Charlie far from home and into the path of a dangerous enemy whose legacy of evil follows Charlie and his family for generations.
Encompassing three continents and spanning over sixty years, As the Crow Flies brings to life a magnificent tale of one man's rise from rags to riches set against the backdrop of a changing century.
Amazon.com Review:
When Charlie Trumper inherits his grandfather's fruit and vegetable barrow, he inherits as well his enterprising spirit, which quickly lifts him out of poverty in London's East End. Success, however, does not come easily or quickly, particularly when World War I sends Charlie into combat and into an ongoing struggle with a vengeful enemy who will not rest until Charlie is destroyed. Charlie Trumper's epic journey carries him across three continents and through the triumphs and disasters of the twentieth century, all leading toward the fulfillment of his greatest dream.
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Rated by buyers 
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I'm not even sure how to express how much I enjoyed this book. I have read a couple books by Archer previously -- Kane and Abel and the Prodigal Daughter as well as Honor Among Thieves. They were good (I love historical fiction and politics anyway), and I recognized that he was an excellent writer.
But none of those books grabbed me the way that this one did. The characters were just outstandingly developed. The story was compelling and interesting. The timeframe -- across WWI and II in England, was as fascinating as one would expect. The story was not neat and tidy -- the relationships were messy -- good guys suffer and bad guys sometimes win...but it was so alive and real that way. I was truly sad to be approaching the end of the book and saying goodbye to characters I'd really grown to love.
I will be getting this book as a gift for many this holiday season, and would highly recommend it.
Rated by buyers 
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As the Crow Flies, by Jeffery Archer, takes the reader on a historical journey from 1900 to 1970 in a warm and wonderful story about Charlie Trumper who follows in his grandfather's footsteps as a street vendor, eventually becoming the owner of the largest department store in the world. A continuing battle with an old enemy threatens his empire and keeps Charlie busy in battle against losing all he has worked for his entire life.
Although the book is rather long, it definitely was a masterfully told story and an interesting read, offering great characters and a strong enough plot to keep the suspense ripe and inviting. The ending was absolutely wonderful. It was the kind of occurrence one might ask, "Who would of thought of it?"
Rated by buyers 
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I did not like the book, but it took me 250 pages to realize it.
When I started the novel I was pleasantly suprised at the pacing and introduction of Charlie Trumper. In the very first section, I liked Charlie's Grandpa, and admired the kid's spunk. Then I thought he was stupid for fighting in the war, but I could see how he made the decision.
After the very first section, I waded through the 'Becky' section, was annoyed by the flighty 'Daphne' section, and did enjoy the Colonel's section. Then when Charlie hits the spotlight again, I didn't recognize his character anymore. The motivated scamp who got me into the story was gone, and instead Mr. Archer spends several chapters telling (not showing) the exploits of charlie Thumper, budding entreprenuer. This not only turned me off to the story, it bored me. I didn't make it through the second charlie section, and stopped reading at page 249.
If you like tame television soap operas and historical fiction, you'll enjoy the book, but I got tired of no resolution with little personality in the characters. Amazon's four and five star reviews state how implausible the ending was, and that really pushed me into putting the book down. I can't stand average novels that jump the shark with their endings.
The one thing that bugged me is the painting Charlie loved so much, I coudln't figure out why it was in the novel. I think Becky with her arts degree should have demystified it early in the book. Just struck me as dissonant, out of place.
Rated by buyers -
Jeffrey archer despite years of marked life changes(from peer to prisoner) remains remarkably consistent as a story teller par excellent and certainly a writer of literary merit. This novel is one of his best.
Rated by buyers -
Charlie Trumper learned his Granpa's pitch before he could talk. Little Charlie grew up listening to his Granpa's cockney accent as he sold fruit and vegetables from a barrow in Whitechapel Road. And according to locals the old man was the finest trader in the East End of London.
Charlie learned from his Granpa and eventually bargained for and bought his own barrow. But before he had time to show it off to the old man, Granpa Trumper was dead.
Charlie took over the stand and after an early struggle, he learned and began to function as his Granpa had and became known as Charlie Trumper the honest trader.
With the idea of expanding the business, the young man began making home deliveries.
A tragic death in the Salmon family gave Charlie his very first business outside his barrow and pitch. The surviving daughter, Rebecca Salmon, had noticed Charlie's reputation and asked young Trumper to come in as a partner and operate the Salmon family bakery. Charlie knew nothing about the bakery business, but within a few weeks he learned the basics and took charge.
World War I came along and feeling it was his duty Charlie joined up and spent some harrowing months on the battlefield.
When the war was over Charlie had no idea what to expect when he got back to Whitechapel, whether his partner had saved a place for him or not. But he soon learned that Rebecca Salmon had indeed saved his place, but moved from Whitechapel to Chelsea and exchanged the bakery for a grocery store.
Charlie Trumpers integrity and hard work never let him down and the business flourished. Charlie and Rebecca eventually married and the two of them worked toward a common goal building on the foundation they had already established.
They kept an eye on local business affairs and as stores and shops became available along their block they bought them up one by one until they owned every business on the block.
Charlie's reputation as an honest trader pulled him through some hard times even as the business continued to grow. However, before his grand dream could see the light of day Charlie had to convince banks, finance companies and investors to take a stake in his plan to build the "biggest barrow" in the world.
Charlie and Rebecca's plans grow far beyond early expectations and even as they are invited to wine and dine with top business leaders and royalty they never lose sight of their humble beginnings and understand that the distance between Whitechapel and Chelsea is only a couple of miles - as the crow flies.
Archer is a great storyteller and this is one of his best.
Tom Barnes author of `The Goring Collection,' `Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone,' `The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.'
www.tombarnes39.com
The Goring Collection
The Hurricane Hunters And Lost in the Bermuda Triangle
Doc Holliday's Road to Tombstone: The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday
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