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sbnich's review against another edition
2.0
Narrative nonfiction and historical fiction are among my favorite genres, but while this fictionalized account of an actual event had a 4-star description of the actual robbery, the rest of it languished among the same faults as many English classics - simply too many words for the sake of words.
Something about the Victorian setting must have compelled Crichton to write like a Victorian English author (and Victorian English lit is among my last favorite).
Too many words, too much unnecessary detail, too fragmented. Slow read that I only finished because I wanted credit for all the slogging it required.
Something about the Victorian setting must have compelled Crichton to write like a Victorian English author (and Victorian English lit is among my last favorite).
Too many words, too much unnecessary detail, too fragmented. Slow read that I only finished because I wanted credit for all the slogging it required.
cmbhusker's review against another edition
4.0
We chose this for book club in an effort to get away from the "dysfunctional mothers and daughters" rut we had fallen into, and this book served that purpose. Absolutely fun to read, and a great caper story. I appreciated Crichton's use of underworld slang, as he used it in a way that felt appropriate to the characters, but didn't bog down the narrative or obscure his meaning.
letitbrie's review against another edition
3.0
There was nothing wrong. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. Dry, boring, couldn't keep my attention. Definitely not one of his better novels.
thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
This 1975 best seller is an excellent historical novel of a most famous heist, drawn from court transcripts. The author gives us not just the heist but also describes London (and her relations) in 1855, peppered with a dose of Victorian criminal slang.
The majority of chapters are the planning and preparation, many months of work. The heist itself and aftermath are quickly told, but the plot is not without twists for those who don't know the details. I greatly enjoyed this trip through Victorian London.
After reading the wikipedia article, I see that Crichton's account was, in their words, "highly fictionalized". I also somehow missed that this book had been turned into a movie, and will add it to my ever growing list of films to see.
The majority of chapters are the planning and preparation, many months of work. The heist itself and aftermath are quickly told, but the plot is not without twists for those who don't know the details. I greatly enjoyed this trip through Victorian London.
After reading the wikipedia article, I see that Crichton's account was, in their words, "highly fictionalized". I also somehow missed that this book had been turned into a movie, and will add it to my ever growing list of films to see.
abanas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
cah242's review against another edition
5.0
Really good book, though not exactly what I was expecting. Incredible view of Victorian England.
mactammonty's review against another edition
4.0
I like that he explained why certain events were significant, putting them in context for the modern reader. The slang was a little difficult at times. It is interesting enough I would like to do more research on the Great Train Robbery.
saraleoni's review against another edition
3.0
Barely got three starts mainly because the can't was so think it was often hard work to understand.