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The Great Train Robbery
The Great Train Robbery
Author: Michael Crichton
"A nineteenth-century version of THE STING...Crichton fascinates us." — THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW — 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. Who would suspect that a gentleman of bre...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780394494012
ISBN-10: 0394494016
Publication Date: 5/12/1975
Pages: 266
Edition: 1st
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 19

3.8 stars, based on 19 ratings
Publisher: Knopf
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Fascinating true story written in a compelling way! It is a quick read because you can't put it down.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 105 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Crichton has such range. This book dives deeply into the vernacular of Victorian England - "putter-uppers", "screwsmen", "barkers" and does so in a way rich with history and explanation without detracting from the overall story. So different from Jurassic Park which is so different from Rising Sun. Anyway, a great story that takes you through a lot of quick side trips explaining the times.

4 stars out of 5
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reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 9 more book reviews
Almost a history book of the Victorian era in England, this book goes to great lengths to explain how a train robbery could be a notable event. There was a movie made of this book, starring Sean Connery, which was also good, but lacked the explanations that Chichton included in the book. Highly recommended!
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 57 more book reviews
A very interesting account of the scams common during these times. Intriguing premise, amazing how this heist was pulled off. You won't be dissappointed.
rfdudley avatar reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 75 more book reviews
I bought this book on a business trip when there wasn't much of a selection from which to choose. I like other books by Michael Crichton so went for this one. The book was very enlightening about the Victorian times and I'm glad I live in today's world. There is a bit of reference to animal cruelty which I found very disturbing. I could have used a Victorian dictionary for some of the terminology. It's a true story and somewhat entertaining. I didn't see the movie.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on
This true story was a fascinating read. I especially liked reading about England in the 1850's, the crime element and how they operated. Criminals lived by their wits and not always successful. I would recommend this book.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on
Just read this for the second time, and it was just as interesting. Crichton, as usual, teaches you more than you ever thought you'd learn about an esoteric subject, in this case, Victorian England. This is not sci-fi, and it's better than the movie.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 80 more book reviews
One of Crichton's best. This guy can turn a story. He takes a real life story and makes it into a period setting of the 1850's in London thrilling page turner about one of the largest gold robberies in the history of England. I loved the research he must have done to keep it on track for the language of that period.

BTW, if you catch anyone in the pull of hoof snaffling tell a crusher.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 220 more book reviews
Based on a true story set in 1854, a stunning re-creation of victorian England's most famous crime, and the society that spawned it.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 9 more book reviews
Like all MIchael Crichton books...this one's good and a fast read.The movie is great after you've read the book. Imagine Sean Connery as the main character!
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 146 more book reviews
A thriller that is pure joy...more twists and turns than The Sting. Spellbinding and first-rate.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 2 more book reviews
One of his best books ever. Too bad he died, and won't be writing any more great novels.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 11 more book reviews
What a neat book!! A fictional retelling of a historical train robbery. What a cool idea!! The story is taken from the men involved from their confessions in court. The dialog is period "correct" to give a flavor of being there. Wonderful read!! One of the best I've read in a long time.
jazzysmom avatar reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 907 more book reviews
I loved the way this story is so true to fact. I felt like i couldn't wait to see what was going to happen even though we had all read about this in history class and already knew they were going to rob the train. But you feel like you are right there, in on the plan. I enjoyed this book. If you are a history buff you'll like this one.
PIZZELLEBFS avatar reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 331 more book reviews
From Amazon:

Mr. Crichton at his versatile, confident best - with all the clout of a cosh or an eel-skin or a sack or a neddy (you'll learn all this voker romeny or criminal jargon here) - has written a documentary of that heist and provided along with it a grand tour de force of the criminal underworld. Along with some of its other diversions such as ratting (a prime sport), or a hanging, or even the cure of the French malady obtained by the purchase of a country-fresh virgin. Before you're through, you'll be entertainingly informed and know the difference between rogues and pogues. Among the former are the main participants in this long and carefully planned crime (not the most lucrative if the most sensational - only twelve thousand pounds in gold bullion was involved): Edward Pierce, the "putter-up," doubtful even down to his name but always assured and elegant; Agar, his "screwsman" (safebreaker) - "the key is everything in the lay, the problem and the solution" and there were no less than four keys to be secured; Clean Willy who met his death, garotted, early on; and the railway guard Burgess; along with several other witting and unwitting accomplices. Crichton, who has an authority Steven Marcus might envy, has studied the voluminous fries of the case and memoirs of the era. Surely it will be the highest-handed entertainment of the season and all the money rides, once again.
reviewed The Great Train Robbery on + 36 more book reviews
Fun, early Crichton.

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