We also meet a female fraudster of genius who impersonates an English property mogul Julia Kirkbridge
We also meet a female “fraudster of genius” who impersonates an English property mogul, Julia Kirkbridge. Archer’s names are of interest: this leading lady is two letters away from the Daily Telegraph journalist-turned-Tory MP, Julie Kirkbride. Two courtroom scenes climax in dazzling defence speeches that lead to the failure of malicious charges against noble, falsely indicted defendants. Most poignantly, the novel swarms with benign father-figures who bless the heroes and commend them for playing by the rules. In this fantasy of upper-crust Wasp life, the clean-cut good guys come first without any need for make-believe or subterfuge. Sons of Fortune is a dream of protective fathers  professional, more than biological  and of dutiful, guileless sons. It takes us nowhere near a credible America of law, politics and business.
But it does allow a privileged visit to that most exotic of locations: Jeffrey Archer’s mind.A TASTE OF ‘SONS OF FORTUNE’ …”Are you sure,” asked Nat quietly.”Yes, I am,” replied Rebecca.”Then why must we get married as soon as possible,” said Nat.”Why?” asked Rebecca. “We live in the Sixties, the age of the Beatles, pot, and free love so why shouldn’t I have an abortion?”"Is that what you want?” asked Nat in disbelief.”I don’t know what I want,” said Rebecca “I only found out this morning I need some more time to think about it.”Nat took her hand. “I’d marry you tomorrow if you’d have me.”"I know you would,” said Rebecca squeezing his hand, “but we have to face the fact that this decision will affect the rest of our lives. We shouldn’t rush into it.”"But I have a moral responsibility to you and our child.”"And I have my future to consider,” said Rebecca.”Perhaps we should tell our parents, and see how they react?”"That’s the last thing I want to do,” said Rebecca.
“Your mother will expect us to get married this afternoon, and my father will turn up on campus with a shotgun under his arm. No, I want you to promise you won’t mention that I’m pregnant to anyone, especially our parents.”. Another Serota looks set to make her mark on culture. Anya, daughter of Tate director Sir Nicholas, will relaunch the fiction list at the venerable John Murray, now part of Hodder Headline.