As the crow flies

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As the Crow Flies is a novel by Jeffrey Archer.

Plot introduction

The story is about the Trumper retailing empire, though it is told from the (often overlapping) points of view of several of the main characters. The narrative characters are Charlie Trumper, Becka Salmon (later Trumper), Daphne, Colonel Hamilton, Mrs. Trentham, Daniel Trumper, and Cathy Ross. A non narrative character who links most of the viewpoints together is Guy Trentham.

The story begins with Charlie, grandson of a barrow costermonger. His father works on the docks but is absent and usually spends his money on drink. Charlie also has three older sisters. His mother died in childbirth of him. From as long as he could remember, he wanted to sell fruits and vegatables just like his granpa (as he puts it). He learns the trade well, and has nothing good to say about "Posh Pork", a girl in his school who wishes to study art history. Eventually, Charlie's father is handed a white feather during World War 1, and ends up enlisting in the British Army. Charlie, having saved his money, ends up buying the "biggest barrow" for his own enterprise, only to find his granpa dead. Charlie tries running his own business after that, but learns several lessons the hard way, and is bailed out by the Jewish father of "Posh Porky" (Rebecca Salmon), the baker, who loans him money to pay the rent and is impressed with Charlie's ability to learn from his mistakes and be successful. However, Mr. Salmon dies, and Rebecca Salmon approaches Charlie with an offer to take over his bakery on a partnership basis. They agree on a 60/40 split, and Charlie learns the bakery trade as well as he learned the costermonger trade. However, when his father is killed in WW1, Charlie enlists to take his place, with instructions to Rebecca to sell everything, and keep his share secure for when he returns. Charlie fights in WW1 under Colonel Hampton and Captain Guy Trentham. He befriends another recruit, Tommy, (one who was a pickpocket and was given the choice of enlisting or serving time). Twice the charge the enemy lines. The first time Charlie wakes up in a hospital with the loss of a toe. The second time, Charlie, Tommy, Guy get behind enemy lines. After some killing, they retreat to their front, wher Guy Trentham shoots Tommy because he had proof Guy was a coward under fire. Tommy had left a will giving everything to Charlie. The most important item was a painting, which was later shown to have been stolen by Guy Trentham. Tommy was awarded a medal, and Guy Trentham a Military Cross as well, which his mother prompt had custom engraved with his intials on both the regular medal and the miniature. Charlie, after being demobbed from the military, returns to London. He makes inquires and is led to a shop in Chelsa. He is astonished to see a greengrocers shop with the words "Charlie Trumper, The Honest Trader, Established 1823".

Rebecca Salmon continues the tale, with her own version of events. Her prized possession was a book of art given to her by Daphne, a girl of nobility and common sense (though not of brains). She decided she wanted to work in the art field, and became an excellent student. She also learned a lot about the bakery trade via her Jewish father, as well as who was both honest, smart, and had potential. When her father died, she approached Charlie, because her father thought he had what it took. They agreed on terms, and she went off to study art history at university. She shared rooms with Daphne, only after her mother approved of it. She found it impossible to continue the business of Charlie's costermongering and her father's bakery, and sold to the highest bidder. She put the proceeds into investments she was unable to access when Charlie's irresponsible sister, Kitty, told her Charlie had been killed in WW1. A short time later, her ego got the better of her when she found a greengrocery shop for sale in Chelse. She made inquires, and offerd 100 pounds for the freehold. She only had 40 pounds at the time, and didn't know where to go when the offer was accepted. She was bailed out of her fix by Daphne, who had her lawyers draw up very strict terms. Becky hired somebody with potential to manage the store until Charlie returned. When he did, she told him everything. Charlie went about the business of costerminger, rearranging the shop and doing great business. However, when at a foursome for dinner, he finds himself paired with Daphne, against Becky and Guy Trentham. Guy Trentham invites Becky to their country place for a weekend. Mrs. Trentham marked the event with several snide comments about her. Guy tells Becky he loves her, and promises to marry her just before he is shipped to India. With it, he seduces her into bed, and gets her pregnant. However, he fails to provide either a ring or an annoucement of their engagement. At urging, she writes to Guy about the child, but gets no response. Eventually, Rebecca realizes she's been a fool, and a week after giving birth to Daniel, marries Charlie.

Daphne. Daphne was a member of the upper classes of England, though she went to school with Rebecca (Becky) Salmon. She hardly remembered her, except that she gave a book of art to her and got free cream buns from her father. However, when approached by Becky about sharing rooms, she took delight in finding out that Becky's mother was worried about her rather than the opposite. She took Becky in as a roommate, to the delight of her parents, who were worried about a single woman living alone.

Daphne took considerable interest in Becky's future, both as an academic, and as a businesswoman. She learned of Becky's foolish offer on the greengrocery shop, and after careful investigation of the opinion of several people about Charlie, she backed the deal on her terms. When Charlie returned home after WW1, she realzied that Becka's faith in him was justified. She also was determined to fix them up together, and educate Charlie in social abilities. She eventually fixes them up with each other, while she makes her own marriage of her own class. However, having gained great insight into retailing (as paid off by her investment), she also knows the British banking system. She knows that the banking clan is snobbish, and wouldn't back a successful businessman if he didn't have a title. She very wisely suggest the Trumpers get a "front man" - a man with the right background who will open doors by wearing the right tie. Colonel Hampton nicely fits the bill, even though he was not on Daphne's orignal list. The one other thing Daphne does is respond to Guy's letter which tries to explain the events where he ended up naked in bed with Becky. Daphne is totally insulted by it. It assumes she is totally guillible, and would back his story up (essentially, Guy was raped by Rebecca).

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