The Fourth Estate is a 1996 novel by Jeffrey Archer. It chronicles the lives of two media barons, Richard Armstrong and Keith Townsend, from their starkly contrasting childhoods to their ultimate battle to build the world's biggest media empire. The book is based on two real life media barons – Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch,[1] who fought to control the newspaper market in Britain. (Murdoch had bought The Sun and News of the World and later Times Newspapers Ltd and Maxwell bought the Daily Mirror and the other newspapers in its group.).
The concept of the fourth estate is in essence the press as a watchdog on other powerful institutions or "estates", the original three estates in England and later the United Kingdom being the Lords Spiritual (of the Church of England), the Lords Temporal, and the commons. The fourth estate is charged with keeping an honest watch on activities of the other states and itself. These duties would help democratic societies function properly, openly, and honestly. Debate still flourishes as to whether or not this ever operated (or operates) as it was intended.
It also shows a battle between two strong characters from differing backgrounds, who are willing to take endless risks.
Lubji Hoch, the son of an illiterate Czech Jewish peasant, escapes the Nazis, changes his name to Richard Armstrong, and becomes a decorated British Army officer. After the war he is posted to Berlin as head of press relations in the British sector. He appropriates a floundering newspaper, his entrée to the business of publishing. On his return to the UK, he builds a publishing empire.
On the other side of the world, in Australia, Keith Townsend, son of a millionaire newspaper owner, is groomed to follow in his father's footsteps. Private schools, an Oxford degree, and a position at a London newspaper prepare him to take over the family business. He quickly becomes the leading newspaper publisher in Australia.
As Armstrong and Townsend battle to seize control of existing publishers on the world stage, they become fierce competitors. Hubris and overreach finally lead to financial disaster and tragic consequences.
Responsesedit
Sarah Lyall, in The New York Times, thought the work contained "leaden dialogue", but despite the "tantalizing echoes" of Armstrong and Townsend's real life models, the two men "seem about as vivid as bureaucrats in a wire-service story".[2] Hugo Barnacle found evidence of a "dry sense of humour", but asserted that "Archer doesn't do insight or atmosphere, and gives the imagination very few cues."[1]
Analogiesedit
Many of the things in The Fourth Estate are based on real things. The following are some of the notable examples.
People
Fourth Estate
Real life
Richard Armstrong
Robert Maxwell
> Born with surname Hoch
Same
> Briefly named himself after a brand of cigarette
Named himself John Player after a brand of cigarette
Established to Australia's answer to the London Times
Referencesedit
^ abHugo Barnacle "Maxwell vs Murdoch – the untold story", The Independent, 11 May 1996
^Sarah Lyall The Fourth Estate, New York Times, 7 July 1996
External linksedit
Jeffrey Archer's official website
January 01, 1970
fourth, estate, novel, fourth, estate, 1996, novel, jeffrey, archer, chronicles, lives, media, barons, richard, armstrong, keith, townsend, from, their, starkly, contrasting, childhoods, their, ultimate, battle, build, world, biggest, media, empire, book, base. The Fourth Estate is a 1996 novel by Jeffrey Archer It chronicles the lives of two media barons Richard Armstrong and Keith Townsend from their starkly contrasting childhoods to their ultimate battle to build the world s biggest media empire The book is based on two real life media barons Robert Maxwell and Rupert Murdoch 1 who fought to control the newspaper market in Britain Murdoch had bought The Sun and News of the World and later Times Newspapers Ltd and Maxwell bought the Daily Mirror and the other newspapers in its group The Fourth EstateFirst edition UK AuthorJeffrey ArcherCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishPublisherHarperCollinsPublication dateMay 1996Pages549ISBN0 00 225318 6OCLC34704972Dewey Decimal823 914 20LC ClassPR6051 R285 F68 1996 The concept of the fourth estate is in essence the press as a watchdog on other powerful institutions or estates the original three estates in England and later the United Kingdom being the Lords Spiritual of the Church of England the Lords Temporal and the commons The fourth estate is charged with keeping an honest watch on activities of the other states and itself These duties would help democratic societies function properly openly and honestly Debate still flourishes as to whether or not this ever operated or operates as it was intended It also shows a battle between two strong characters from differing backgrounds who are willing to take endless risks Contents 1 Plot 2 Responses 3 Analogies 4 References 5 External linksPlot editLubji Hoch the son of an illiterate Czech Jewish peasant escapes the Nazis changes his name to Richard Armstrong and becomes a decorated British Army officer After the war he is posted to Berlin as head of press relations in the British sector He appropriates a floundering newspaper his entree to the business of publishing On his return to the UK he builds a publishing empire On the other side of the world in Australia Keith Townsend son of a millionaire newspaper owner is groomed to follow in his father s footsteps Private schools an Oxford degree and a position at a London newspaper prepare him to take over the family business He quickly becomes the leading newspaper publisher in Australia As Armstrong and Townsend battle to seize control of existing publishers on the world stage they become fierce competitors Hubris and overreach finally lead to financial disaster and tragic consequences Responses editSarah Lyall in The New York Times thought the work contained leaden dialogue but despite the tantalizing echoes of Armstrong and Townsend s real life models the two men seem about as vivid as bureaucrats in a wire service story 2 Hugo Barnacle found evidence of a dry sense of humour but asserted that Archer doesn t do insight or atmosphere and gives the imagination very few cues 1 Analogies editMany of the things in The Fourth Estate are based on real things The following are some of the notable examples People Fourth Estate Real life Richard Armstrong Robert Maxwell gt Born with surname Hoch Same gt Briefly named himself after a brand of cigarette Named himself John Player after a brand of cigarette Keith Townsend Keith Rupert Murdoch gt Relationship with flight attendant Married flight attendant Patricia Booker gt Married cub reporter Kate Married reporter Anna Maria Torv Publications Fourth Estate Real life Role the Globe News of the World Battle for ownership the Continent The Australian Established to Australia s answer to the London TimesReferences edit a b Hugo Barnacle Maxwell vs Murdoch the untold story The Independent 11 May 1996 Sarah Lyall The Fourth Estate New York Times 7 July 1996External links editJeffrey Archer s official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Fourth Estate novel amp oldid 1209132251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
