The Great Train Robbery - Michael Crichton

The Great Train Robbery

by

Michael Crichton

Have you seen the movie? Well do read the book. It is just awesome.
It's gripping
It's got amazing descriptions
And ofcourse MC is a master story teller...a master craftsman

This charming book takes us right into Victorian era. The clothes, the places, the slang, and the conversations offer a flavour of the time. Crichton has done tremendous research into the fascinating great train robbery...…it really happened

He has recreated for us the elaborate planning that went into the robbing of gold sent as payment in the Crimean war. The audacious act, the pathetically stupid way in which they were caught and then the surprise end to the entire episode make it a book, you cannot put down.

In the course of his narration Crichton introduces explanations, detours and descriptions that bring in the flavour of the times. You can actually imagine the narrow lanes, the shops, the men dipping their hats as they walk by, and the different language used by the underbelly.

Here are some strange expressions:

Petter cutter for a drill
Eel skinner, this is a vocation...with long explanation provided!!
Neddy is their term for a club
That was a very nice pull. You tool her off? … meaning That was a neat job. Did you pick her pocketby using a hook? (and not using fingers!! and the thief is offended and hastily confirms that indeed he did not tool her off! He has nimble fingers...he does not need a hook)

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a must read
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