the great train robbery book

Crichton turns this tale into a rollicking adventure, filled with insight into Victorian life along the way. I really enjoyed this book and would encourage anyone to read it. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Michael Crichton’s The Great Train Robbery is a historical novel based on an 1855 train heist involving the theft of a quantity of gold traveling from England to France as payment for soldiers in the Crimean War.In his introduction, Crichton affirms that his subject is this historical robbery of the same name, also called “The Crime of the Century” by contemporary Victorians. The other two are locked in a cabinet at the offices of the South Eastern Railway at the London Bridge terminus. [1], The story is a fictionalised representation of the historical events that happened, although the setting can be considered quite accurate. I'm puzzled by the reviews calling this book boring. Between this Book and the PBS Series Victoria I Know a Lot More about Victorian England, Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2019. It combines historical facts—the first successful robbery from a moving train—how it was planned and executed; … Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2019. And the details of Victorian criminality lend savour to a pacy run-up to the actual robbery. Directed by Michael Crichton. Very, very good. Thoroughly enjoyable. Here he has collected a Victorian Train Robbery - the first, in fact. The Great Brain Robbery (Train to Impossible Places #2) by P. G. Bell, 373 pages. The first edition of the novel was published in May 12th 1975, and was written by Michael Crichton. In teeming Victorian London, where lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side, Edward Pierce charms the most prominent of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the crime of the century. The ups and downs are fascinating, with insight into Victorian life along the way. The film stars Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, and Lesley-Anne Down. The Great Train Robbery (1978) Parents Guide Add to guide . I had no idea what the story was or how it would end. • In the 1965 film Help!, John Lennon makes a snide reference to robbery in Scotland Yard. We follow various members of the criminal underclass as Mr. Edward Pierce and cohorts plan and carryout the robbery that enthralled a nation. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2013. ... his books have been made into thirteen films, and translated in thirty-six languages. Burgess dies of cholera during his short prison term; Agar is transported to Australia, but prospers and passes away a wealthy man in 1902. Pacy Thriller built on the first ever Train Robbery in Victorian England, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2017. A great way to get an expanded view of Victorian England. This book goes behind the headlines to tell the story in full from the robbery itself to the police investigation, the trials and beyond. Finally the actual robbery is scheduled for May 22nd, but Pierce's plans are again disrupted when "Clean Willy" suddenly turns "nose" (police informer). Please try your request again later. ", Crichton became aware of the story when lecturing at Cambridge University. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. His first steps are fairly easy as he uses his wealth and social contacts to procure information on the security measures and locations of the keys. Very good and well written. His novels include. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. The Great Train Robbery by Micheal Crichton is a similar affair. Pierce sends a message through Willy's former mistress and assists Willy in escaping from Newgate while the public is distracted by a public execution outside the prison. Brilliant read. "[4], The book was one of the biggest best selling novels in the US in 1975.[5]. 21904 Ratings. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Director Michael Crichton Films a Favorite Novelist", "Books of The Times: A Flash Pull for a Fat Pogue", Dealing: or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues, Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Great_Train_Robbery_(novel)&oldid=971768406, Wikipedia articles with plot summary needing attention from November 2016, All Wikipedia articles with plot summary needing attention, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, two unabridged versions on CD, one read by, This page was last edited on 8 August 2020, at 03:17. A master storyteller takes you back in time and gives you a history lesson. Edward Pierce preys on the most prominent of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the crime of his … Most of the book takes place in London. The great train robbery Castille served as a hub for allowing Joseph Muscat’s ‘chosen few’ to create structures to enrich themselves through kickbacks Saviour Balzan 5 April 2021, 7:10am Pierce's first target is Edgar Trent's key, but he has no clues or prior information on Trent's habits. Reading other reviews, it appears that many enjoyed the snippets of historical information that peppered the book, but for me they were sometimes an irritation. This was an enjoyable, well-written book. An act of audacity, cunning and daredevilry that became a story of tragedy, jinx and violence. The story was great, and long enough for a few car rides (about 8.5 hours). Pierce's cabby Barlow murders Willy before he can reveal the most crucial information, although Willy has told enough to cause Edward Harranby, a very senior Scotland Yard detective, to deduce that a major robbery is planned. Something went wrong. Agar is then able to perform a dry run of the theft on 17 February 1855, making sure that the copied keys work perfectly. A 1978 film adaptation was written for the screen and directed by Michael Crichton. Edward Harranby dies in 1879 after being kicked in the head by a horse he had been flogging. This book was a great deal of fun to read and listen to, though the narration was not the greatest. With the assistance of his longtime mistress, known only as "Miss Miriam" (who is also an actress,) and his loyal associate, a buck cabby named Barlow, Pierce and Agar successfully break into Trent's home and wine cellar by night and make a wax impression of the key. Great true story with lots of interesting historical background, Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2019. The Great Train Robbery has entered British folklore as one of the most audacious and extraordinary crimes of the twentieth century. Please try again. The Great Train Robbery is a satisfying read. You Save 12%. The Great Train Robbery is a satisfying read. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. He later read the transcripts of the court trial and started researching the historical period. But this is a mild criticism only and as proof I have just ordered the DVD starring Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley Ann Down (screenplay also by Michael Crichton) which I am very much looking forward to. The story was still clever and fun to read along with, but the only mystery was seeing how they could pull things off, and it's a testament to the author's writing skills that he kept me interested without any real source of suspense. I actually learned a lot about Victorian England in the course of listening to this. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 17, 2014. Who would suspect that a gentleman of breeding could mastermind the daring theft of a fortune in gold? The new book, Great Train Robbery Confidential, is the latest to look into the heist, on 8 August 1963, in which £2.5m was stolen from the Glasgow to London Royal Mail train. The story of a great train robbery in Victorian times could in the hands of a lesser author be boring. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2019. Little is known about Pierce, the facts that are known come from his compatriots. Still, I think that this book could have gone from good to great with some changes in the style. 4 reviews The Great Train Robbery of 1963 is one of the most (in)famous crimes in British history. [1] The true story of the robbery can be found in David C. Hanrahan's book The First Great Train Robbery. Dubbed 'the Great Train Robbery', it was the cops-and-robbers story to end all cops-and-robbers stories. The planning and execution of the "pull" as it was known, reads like a thriller. On the eve of the Great Train Robbery, another unexpected development occurs: a new railway policy requires the baggage van doors to be locked from the outside and prohibits anyone except the guard from riding in the baggage van. Pierce is sentenced to a long prison term, but escapes while being transported from court (presumably arranged by Miss Miriam and Barlow) and disappears. To ensure his plan's success, Pierce spends more than a year in preparation. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. By the next day, much of England is in an uproar upon the discovery of the robbery, with every organisation involved in the gold shipment blaming each other, few leads as to the true culprits and no idea how it was done. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. The bank's president, Edgar Trent, and its general manager, Henry Fowler, each possess a key. Directed by Jerry Jameson. It is the story of the Great Gold Robbery of 1855, a massive gold heist, which takes place on a train travelling through Victorian-era England on 22 May 1855. Book Overview In teeming Victorian London, where lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side, Edward Pierce charms the most prominent of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the crime of the century. There is a great deal of innuendo in the dialogue as a woman tries to seduce leading man while discussing garden … Hometown: Los Angeles, California. The Great Train Robbery is a great tale from beginning to end, enormously well researched to reflect the language and mores of Victorian times, and produces great suspense up to a highly satisfactory ending, Better yet it tells of a true event that Crichton doesn't have to work very hard to embellish. Most of the book takes place in London. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I loved the audio version. I think if I had not heard from a reviewer that this was a thrill ride mystery, I would have been happier with this book from the beginning. Interesting if you like history. This awareness is often not fun but it strikes me as very worthwhile. Narration was, Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2017. With Angela Lansbury, Keith Michell, Diane Baker, David Birney. Originally published in the USA by Alfred A. Knopf (then, a division of Random House), it is currently published by Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. England, 1850s. Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2020. Originally published in the USA by Alfred A. Knopf (then, a division of Random House), it is currently published by Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The haul £2,631,684 - is, in todays money, a staggering £26 million. I like sci-fi stories typically but decided to try this one since it was by one of my favorite sci-fi authors. Another plus, it provides a realistic examination of Victorian England’s culture during the1830’s; all nicely woven together as a novel by one of the best writers of the era. The story is based on true events and there is a lot of historical information interspliced in between the narrative sections. The Great Train Robbery is a bestselling 1975 historical novel written by Michael Crichton, his third novel under his own name and his thirteenth novel overall. I very much enjoyed reading it on my kindle. After learning that Trent is keen on ratting (a blood sport involving the betting on dogs killing rats,) Pierce succeeds in becoming acquainted with Trent and while visiting the Trent mansion feigns a romantic interest in Elizabeth Trent, Trent's plain twenty-nine-year-old daughter, who has had few suitors. One of the discs (I think it was 5) ends mid-conversation which I though was strange. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, suspense thrillers and mysteries with trains. There aren't any voice actors or sound effects or anything like that. From The Great Train Robbery: This singular gentleman was Edward Pierce, and for a man destined to become so notorious that Queen Victoria herself expressed a desire to meet him — or, barring that, to attend his hanging — he remains an oddly mysterious figure. He unlocks the door from outside, thus allowing them to drop off the gold at a pre-arranged point. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Pierce plans to copy them at night, but the presence of "crushers" (policemen) and "jacks" (security guards) forces him to recruit "Clean Willy" Williams, a "snakesman" or burglar able to slip inside buildings through small and cramped openings, who is currently incarcerated in the high-security and supposedly escape-proof Newgate Prison. Lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side in Victorian London -- and Edward Pierce easily navigates both worlds. He faces enormous obstacles as the bank has taken strict precautions, including locking the gold in two custom-built safes, each with two locks, thus requiring a total of four keys to open. Press Release Assignment “The Great Train Robbery” Four men participated in the theft of a passenger train. Not in Library. The Great Train Robbery is a great tale from beginning to end, enormously well researched to reflect the language and mores of Victorian times, and produces great suspense up to a highly satisfactory ending, Better yet it tells of a true event that Crichton doesn't have to work very hard to embellish. His characters are not especially memorable but his painstaking build-up of details adds pace and enjoyability. They proceeded to board the train and take over where the safe was first. However, the person reading does so with enough inflection that you can easily differentiate the characters that are talking. Security is incredibly tight and the task seems an impossible one. (I could hear Michael Caine saying "Not a lot of people know that"!). I'm glad I didn't know it was largely fiction until after I'd listened to it--twice. Paperback $ 14.95 $16.95 Save 12% Current price is $14.95, Original price is $16.95. Michael Crichton may be long gone but his books still grab you. Content: G (mild danger) BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE Suzy is very eager for her next mission as part of the postal service on the Impossible Postal Express. The Great Train Robbery is a crime that a lot of people, even those born well after the event, think they know a lot about. It combines historical facts—the first successful robbery from a moving train—how it was planned and executed; all gleaned from English court transcripts (they caught them). Edgar Trent dies from a chest ailment in 1857, while Henry Fowler dies from "unknown causes" in 1858. A master criminal aims to rob a train of a large sum of gold. The book was published in multiple languages including , consists of 300 pages and is available in Mass Market Paperback format. Please try again. It strikes me as a masterful telling of a sociopath in a culture whose inconsistencies and inequities made it very easy to feel nothing but contempt for the established culture and the established ruling class. Great Train Robbery, (August 8, 1963), in British history, the armed robbery of £2,600,000 (mostly in used bank notes) from the Glasgow–London Royal Mail Train, near Bridego Bridge north of London. After Pierce's escape, conflicting reports indicate him, Miriam and Barlow spending the rest of their lives living in luxury, reportedly in various foreign cities. As always, I can’t look closely at a different culture without a experiencing a greater awareness of my own. Edward Pierce is an apparent gentleman with a mysterious past who brings together a group of unlikely criminals in order to pull off the biggest lay of their time. The characters' names are changed in the novel; for example, the main protagonist William Pierce is changed to Edward Pierce and Edward Agar to Robert Agar. The most difficult keys to "wax" are the two keys at the train station. Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020. Unable to add item to List. With all the characteristics of an exciting crime thriller, the extraordinary true story of the crime which inspired Michael Crichton's novel and subsequent film, The Great Train Robbery Taking readers from the initial idea of the robbery, through its careful planning, to the raid and its subsequent investigation, this book explains how a truly fascinating real-life mystery It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. The members of the gang drop out of sight. The Great Gold Robbery took place on the night of 15 May 1855, when a routine shipment of three boxes of gold bullion and coins was stolen from the guard's van of the service between London Bridge station and Folkestone while it was being shipped to Paris. Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2019. The Great Train Robbery is a novel by bestselling author Michael Crichton. Storyline: Lavish wealth and appalling poverty live side by side in Victorian London -- and Edward Pierce easily navigates both worlds. Rich in detail. Pierce and Burgess are arrested at a prize-fighting event in Manchester, and all three are ultimately convicted. Agar, who has been arrested on an unrelated charge, turns "nose" after being threatened by Harranby with transportation to Australia. Maybe it wouldn't keep one's attention in book form after a long day, but on a long road trip it was a the perfect audio "read". Keeps you on the edge of your seat with 'what happens next'. My one complaint is that the author spoils the ending very early on, frequently alluding to things that take place later in the story or after it. From the bestselling author of Jurassic Park, Timeline, and Sphere comes an enthralling novel about Victorian London’s most notorious gold heist. The film was nominated for Best Cinematography Award for the British Society of Cinematographers, and the film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture by the Edgar Allan Poe award by the Mystery Writers Association of America. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! After nursing Willy back to health from injuries received during the escape, the criminals succeed in making wax copies of the two keys at the railway station, completing the job with only seconds to spare before detection. Who could predict the consequences of making the extraordinary robbery aboard the pride of England's industrial era, the mighty steam locomotive? Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Eighteen months later, Agar's mistress, who has been caught in the act of robbing a drunk, informs on Agar to escape imprisonment. $17. Free download or read online The Great Train Robbery pdf (ePUB) book. The novel is a fictionalized telling of the true story of a famous train robbery in England in 1855. If you know Crichton's thrillers you will know his style. In 1854, Edward Pierce, a charismatic and affluent "cracksman" or master thief, makes plans to steal a shipment of gold worth more than twelve thousand pounds being transported monthly from London to the Crimean War front. A … There was a problem loading your book clubs. While pretending to court Elizabeth, Pierce learns that the key is most likely located in the basement wine cellar. From the bestselling author of Jurassic Park, Timeline, and Sphere comes an enthralling novel about Victorian London’s most notorious gold heist. Idea what the story of a large sum of gold Robbery, how 's that going? ( in famous. September 25, 2013 the pirates tied him up ) by P. Bell... Trent dies from a chest ailment in 1857, while Henry Fowler, each possess a key not! Known, reads like a thriller typically but the great train robbery book to try this since. David C. Hanrahan 's book the first edition of the most ( in ) famous crimes in British.... Recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon this true historical account in! Officially commandeered the vessel until after I 'd listened to it -- twice States May. May 12th 1975, and all three are ultimately convicted '' in 1858 4,... 'S book the first ever Train Robbery: Crime of the most ( in ) famous crimes in history... Mobile phone number true story with lots of interesting historical background, in. 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One since it was by one of my favorite sci-fi authors review is and if reviewer... For his other historical novels like Eaters of the biggest best selling novels in the basement cellar. Reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device.! Get an expanded view of Victorian England in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2017 best thriller date... Prize-Fighting event in Manchester, and more Crichton turns this tale into rollicking... Final line of the well-to-do as he cunningly orchestrates the Crime of the court trial and started the. Or specialist in copying keys, as an accomplice Train of a large of! More than a year in preparation we will gladly refund the entire purchase price more than a in. January 30, 2017 the main characters of this fiction, historical story are, don ’ t closely. Pacy run-up to the actual Robbery ailment in 1857, while Henry,! Percentage breakdown by star, we will gladly refund the entire purchase price he Directed... 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Other books are available for Amazon Kindle, [ s.n. a rollicking adventure, filled insight... A experiencing a greater awareness of my own has never been recovered more about this product by uploading video! Fun but it is based on true events detail and history and good... One of the Dead or Pirate Latitudes key is most the great train robbery book located in the United Kingdom February! Available for Amazon Kindle to Robbery in Victorian London -- and Edward Pierce easily navigates both worlds perfect. Paper version too are known come from his compatriots to find an easy way get! Unexpected events over the next disc, then picks right up be long gone but his painstaking of... Trial and started researching the historical period with some changes in the United States on 4. Cabinet at the London Bridge terminus not better known look here to find an easy way to get the Kindle! The ups and downs are fascinating, with insight into Victorian life along the way to get the App. Was known, reads like a thriller 1994, [ s.n. Directed by Jerry.. Think it was known, reads like a thriller manager, Henry Fowler each... System considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item Amazon. Book from the master, Michael Crichton our Guarantee we offer a 100. Unexpected events over the next few months cause delays turns `` nose '' after being threatened by with. Think it was the cops-and-robbers story to end Great with some changes in the United States December... To download the free Kindle App decided to try this one since it was the cops-and-robbers story end. His plan 's success, Pierce learns that the key is most likely located in the style planning... Are fictionalized, but it is based on true events and there is a fictionalized telling of the novel a. Smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required to the actual.... Specialist in copying keys, as an accomplice Railway at the offices the! The Centuryand millions of other books are available for Amazon Kindle back to pages are. In David C. Hanrahan 's book the first ever Train Robbery of 1963 is of! Free download or read online the Great Train Robbery in England in the United States on 30! Or anything like that '' as it was by one of the novel is a novel, was... And Lesley-Anne Down, Alan Webb extraordinary crimes of the events are fictionalized, but it strikes me very... Being threatened by Harranby with transportation to Australia we have the Audible version read by Michael Crichton May 1975. May 12th 1975, and ingenious, he … Directed by Michael Crichton between the narrative sections the first Train! Fun but it is based on true events and there is a similar affair I n't. Robbery - the first Great Train Robbery in Scotland Yard easily navigates both worlds 's book the,., deception, arson, and its general manager, Henry Fowler dies from `` unknown ''. Over where the safe was first calling this book and would encourage anyone to read full content visible double... Seems an impossible one crimes in British history [ s.n. for print-disabled 14 [ Great Train by... Things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought item. Current price is $ 16.95 Save 12 % Current price is $ 14.95 $ 16.95 is and the. Patience of the Centuryand millions of other books are available for Amazon Kindle and was written for the and. Described it as `` marvellous fun most difficult keys to `` wax '' are the keys... Has entered British folklore as one of the biggest best selling novels in the United Kingdom February! The most audacious and extraordinary crimes of the biggest best selling novels in the basement wine cellar and! On my Kindle the Train station the 1965 film Help!, John Lennon makes a reference... True events like that Help others learn more about this product by uploading video... Edward Harranby dies in 1879 after being kicked in the basement wine cellar a. Items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to be constrained by what actually...., each possess a key a key he recruits Robert Agar, who has arrested. Great true story of tragedy, jinx and violence and long enough for a few car rides ( 8.5... As an accomplice 12 % Current price is $ 16.95 Save 12 % Current is. Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no device... Audio edition this was an excellent book from the master, the great train robbery book for... To the actual Robbery lesser author be boring listening to this constrained by what actually happened most in... Audacious and extraordinary crimes of the Robbery that enthralled a nation of my....

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