The Prodigal Daughter was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1982. Florentyna Rosnovski, daughter of Abel and his wife Zaphia, inherits her father’s intelligence and ambition but applies them not to business but to politics. The novel follows her from childhood in Chicago through her marriage to Richard Kane (son of William Lowell Kane, perpetuating the rivalry from the first novel into the next generation), her entry into Congress, and her eventual ascent to the presidency — the first woman to hold the office.
The novel anticipates the eventual reality of serious female presidential candidacies by decades, and Archer’s treatment of the political obstacles Florentyna faces (sexism, party machinery, media scrutiny of her personal life) proved remarkably prescient.
The First Female President
The novel anticipated real American political developments by decades. When Hillary Clinton ran for president in 2008 and 2016, reviewers noted that Archer had imagined the scenario in 1982 — including many of the specific obstacles (the double standards, the media scrutiny of appearance and family, the party resistance to a female candidate) that proved remarkably prescient.
Collecting The Prodigal Daughter
First edition (Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1982): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $50–$125
- Very good: $20–$50
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation. The novel benefits from the enduring popularity of Kane and Abel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read Kane and Abel first? Yes. The Prodigal Daughter is a direct sequel following Abel Rosnovski’s daughter Florentina from childhood to the presidency. The political and family dynamics depend heavily on events in the first novel.