Kane & AbelKane & Abel
Score Classic
What it's about
Born on the same day in 1906 on opposite sides of the world, William Lowell Kane, the son of a wealthy Boston banking family, and Abel Rosnovski, a penniless Polish immigrant, are brought together by fate and the American dream. Ambitious, powerful and ruthless, they spend sixty years and three generations locked in a struggle to build rival empires, fueled by hatred.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling novels ever, with about 33 million copies sold, and it's on the BBC's Big Read. It's an epic, page-turning rivalry spanning much of the 20th century.
You'll love it if you liked
The Godfather
Fall of Giants
The Count of Monte CristoGood to know
It's a classic airport saga, fast and dramatic. Its sequel is The Prodigal Daughter.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #31 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #119 of the 762 classics we rank
- #382 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping, Epic
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Quick answers
Is Kane & Abel worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling novels ever, with about 33 million copies sold, and it's on the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #382 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Kane & Abel about?
Born on the same day in 1906 on opposite sides of the world, William Lowell Kane, the son of a wealthy Boston banking family, and Abel Rosnovski, a penniless Polish immigrant, are brought together by fate and the American dream. Ambitious, powerful and ruthless, they spend sixty years and three generations locked in a struggle to build rival empires, fueled by hatred.
How long does it take to read Kane & Abel?
About 12 hours (477 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Kane & Abel?
If you liked it, try The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Fall of Giants by Ken Follett or The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.