First Among Equals

Cafe Society
1

A month ago, I checked out Archer’s First Among Equals from the Camp Walker library. Well, it had some major differences from what I thought I had read in the book when I read it years ago in Europe. Not trusting my memory, and happening to be at a large bookstore in Seoul, I saw the book for sale and got it. Yep, my memory did not fail me (surprisingly, but that’s a different story). There are some major plot and cast differences between the two version.

So, what’s the deal? Why change the story that dramatically for an American edition? I understand changing Bristo to gravy, but the rest of the changes don’t make any sense to me.

And, please, if you’re going post spoilers, put them in a spoiler box. Thanks!

2

My guess? The 1986 mini-series of First Among Equals differed from the original novel, then the novel was changed to match the mini-series.

3

Thanks. Man, that’s a sad commentary on literature in our day, though, isn’t it?