The British Empire is in decline, the political world is in disarray, and a young woman takes the throne... a new era is dawning. Queen Elizabeth II is a 25-year-old newlywed faced with the daunting prospect of leading the world's most famous monarchy while forging a relationship with legendary Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

At the end of the 70s, Charles is still unmarried and England's first female Prime Minister locks horns with the Queen, causing some unrest among the entire country. As Margaret Thatcher leads England into the Falklands war and a prince courts a "commoner", the Lady Diana Spencer, the country may unite under a fairytale ending but the royal family's division grows wider.

In Jeffrey Archer's First Among Equals, Charles Seymour, second-born son, will never be the earl like his father, but he did inherit his mother's strength-and the will to realize his destiny... Simon Kerslake's father sacrificed everything to make sure his son's dreams come true. Now it is Simon's chance to rise as high as those dreams allow... Ray Gould was born to the back streets but raised with pride-a quality matched by a sharp intellect and...