As the Crow Flies

As the Crow Flies is a novel by Jeffrey Archer. The novel was originally published in hardback by HarperCollins in May 1991. HarperCollins and Random House both published paperback version of this book in 1992. Plot The story tells the tale of the Trumper retail empire, through the often overlapping points of view of several of the main characters. The story begins with Charlie, grandson of a barrow costermonger. When his father is killed in World War I, Charlie enlists to take his place, leaving instructions to Rebecca to sell everything and keep his share secure for when he returns. After the troops are demobilized, Charlie returns to London. He makes enquiries and is led to a shop in Chelsea. He is astonished to see a greengrocer shop bearing the words "Trumper, The Honest Trader, Established 1823." Charlie goes about the business of costermonger, rearranging the shop and doing great business. He marries Rebecca Salmon, who leaves her fiance Guy Trentham for Charlie. The Trumpers' friend Daphne suggests they find a "front man" to help them run the financial end of the business – a man with the right background who will open doors for them with his connections and class. Colonel Hamilton nicely fits the bill, even though he is not Daphne's first choice. Colonel Hamilton was the commanding officer of Charlie and Guy Trentham's unit in the First World War, but he was discharged after the war. Once satisfied that Charlie is a hard worker and is generating business, combined with his lack of other employment options, he accepts the offer. Charlie and Rebecca move into a house, and she gets pregnant again. With the looming threat of a general strike, Charlie resolves to keep business as usual, and buys a few more shops at low prices, along with an art gallery which had been previously sold to Guy Trentham's wife. It will be Rebecca's new job after she has completed her thesis for her master's degree. Both attend the graduation ceremony for it, but to Rebecca's shock, Charlie has also been awarded a degree in mathematics, having secretly been attending classes for eight years.